The Wedding Curse - Book 2 (Complete) Extras coming Sept 2021

Spark of Hope

My deepest apologies, dear readers.  I wanted to update sooner because I know I left you with a cliffhanger (nothing unusual there, I suppose) but I received my Covid vaccination (YAY) and had a slightly bad reaction which left me not feeling very well for a few days (BOOOO).  But I'm feeling much better and I'm so excited to see what you think of this chapter!  Thank you for your patience and please enjoy!!

Like a thin piece of paper torn from the pages of a book, Lan Zhan was ripped out of Wei Ying's mind. His deepening scream shredded his constricting throat. He awoke gasping for air next to his lover who was stiff and shaking wildly in the bed. Wei Ying' eyes fluttered but all Wangji could see were the whites of his eyes.

"Move!" a hysterical voice yelled from behind him. "Now!" it roared.

Lan Zhan's dazed mind could not understand what was happening. His body shook almost as much as Wei Ying's while his hands desperately tried to hold onto his husband.

"Get out!" the voice screamed.

Lan Zhan was thrown off the bed and landed roughly onto the hard floor. At first, he thought those words had come from Wei Ying and his insides threatened to turn upside down. But, his eyes slowly focused and he realized he was not alone in Jingshi. Lan Wangji looked up at the man now standing over Wei Ying.

"A-Yuan?" Wangji asked hesitantly.

Sizhui ignored his father and rolled Wei Ying onto his side. The unconscious man continued to shake so violently that Lan Zhan thought Wei Ying would break himself into pieces. Lan Yuan quickly turned to look down at his father and the torment on Lan Zhan's gentle face broke his young heart.

"We have to keep him on his side so he doesn't choke." Sizhui directed as calmly as his tattered heart would let him.

Lan Zhan scrambled over to the bed and did exactly as he was told. He held Wei Ying's upper body while Sizhui stabilized his legs. Their holds were firm but tender. Lan Wangji watched helplessly as his husband convulsed under his hands. His ragged breaths were trapped in his chest like a fly in a spider's web. The more he fought to breathe, the heavier the air felt in his chest.

He stared down at his own hands holding Wei Ying's arm and his tears glistened with betrayal. His hands that he believed were strong and infallible failed him time and time again in the one thing he wanted them to do. The one thing he needed them to do. Protect his beloved.

Lan Zhan had never felt so weak, so vulnerable until Wei Ying came into his life. It was ironic how love could make you feel invincible and yet, at the same time, make you as weak as a newborn bunny.

Within seconds, Wei Ying's flailing stopped. Sizhui very slowly and carefully laid Wei Ying on his back and began checking his entire body for any injuries. He looked inside his mouth to make sure he had not bitten his tongue or cracked any teeth from the extreme pressure of his tensed muscles. He ran his hands over every inch of his dad. He did not leave any part unchecked.

He then placed two fingers against the inside of Wei Ying's wrist and another on his stomach. He closed his eyes and concentrated. He let nothing distract him. Not even Lan Zhan's worried voice could break his internal examination of Wei Ying.

Lan Zhan lovingly cleared every stray strand of hair from Wei Ying's pale, sweaty face with his delicate fingers. When all of those were gone, he began straightening Wei Ying's crumpled robe. He continued to attend to his beloved husband until his son finished his assessment and was satisfied with Wei Ying's current condition.