This is Book 1 of the Arcelia Series.* Book 2 is in the works!
*Can be read as a stand-alone
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Malik Jackson needed help. After being exiled from the ocean, he washed up on the beach covered in injuries and missi...
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~ ~ Xander ~ ~
When I woke up the next morning, I was really groggy, which was a huge red flag. Then I realized I wasn't in my bed, I was in a hospital bed. I sat up a little too quickly and got really dizzy, and then felt a hand on my chest, pushing me back down.
"Easy, Xander. You need to rest," Virgil's face came into view, concerned red eyes looking over me.
"What the hell happened?" I croaked. "Where is Malik?"
Virgil's hesitation didn't go unnoticed. "Just focus on getting better now, okay?" He responded.
"Where the hell is Malik?!" I sat up again, looking around the spinning room. Virgil and I were the only ones here. "What happened?!" I roared. "Give me some damn answers!!"
"You need to calm down!" Virgil pushed me back down so my head hit the pillow. Desperation and despair hung over my chest like fog, clouding my thoughts until his safety was all I could think about.
"What happened to him?" I felt hot tears fall from the corners of my eyes and into my ears. "He's gone, isn't he? D-Did she kill him?" I hated to even think about that. I could feel my heart breaking as I realized I couldn't feel his soul anymore. Does that mean he's dead?
"We don't know if she killed him, but she definitely kidnapped him. She gave you a heavy lethal injection to kill you, but it didn't work. I got the call from Connor saying you were dying, and Adrian and I rushed here right away. You've been asleep for the last two days."
"W-We need to find him, then," I whispered, as if I'd break into pieces if I spoke any louder.
"We're already working on it. Leon saw what happened and has been tracking her. He would've intervened while it was happening, but he knew she could lead him to Damien, too. By letting Malik get kidnapped and then following her, he could bring them both back."
"He watched his own son get kidnapped?!" I scowled. "First it was me he was willing to sacrifice, now Malik? I'm gonna punch him," I tried to get out of bed, but Virgil just pushed me down again. I didn't know if the pain of losing Malik, or the effects of the poison weakened me, but I couldn't fight back.
"You need to relax, okay? We're handling it, you don't have to worry."
"I don't have to worry?!" I gripped my hair in frustration. "My soulmate is out there, he's probably scared! Does he think I died? Besides, how do we know Leon can handle something like this? He has no idea what's waiting for him at Vanessa's hideout!"
Virgil sighed softly. "You're right, and I'm sorry, Xander. We're doing all we can."
"Well, maybe that's not enough!" I snapped. He visibly flinched at my harsh words, and I knew I struck a nerve. But I couldn't think straight, I needed Malik back.
