I knew that my days were numbered; I didn't want to tell anyone. I didn't want to see them hurt because I was foolish and would let something that could kill me go until the point that I was losing my life for it. Being a witch had many perks, but it also had many drawbacks. One of the drawbacks was having a mate, which was especially true for me. My mate was none other than Tony Stark; I had spent so long ignoring him and ignoring the feelings that I was now slowly dying. I didn't mind at first, but now it was really starting to hurt.
"Alice, are you all right?" Natasha asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Nat. I'm just a little tired. I haven't been sleeping well," I lied effortlessly. I had been telling that lie for so long now that I almost believed it myself.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure Nat, I'll be okay. I always am.
Natasha walked off, leaving me to head to the living area alone, but before I could make it, Loki stopped me. I knew what he was going to say; he had been saying that to me since he found out. I was slowly dying due to not acknowledging my mate.
"Alice, you can't go on this way. How long have you left now?" Loki asked, looking at me sadly.
"According to my theories, maybe two weeks left before I die," I said sadly.
"Alice, this could all go away if you just told Mr. Stark the truth," Loki chided softly.
Loki had been my best friend and greatest confidant; I was always grateful for everything Loki did for me. He had always been here for me, even more so when he found out I was slowly dying. I hated how much it hurt me to go this route, but I could not be mated to Tony Stark.
"Loki, do me a favor. I need to see Steve, and I can't make it to the living room today, so will you send him in to see me?" I asked weakly as Loki nodded and took me back to my room before going to get Steve.
"Alice, Loki said you wanted to talk to me," Steve said, doing his best to conceal his shock at how frail I looked.
"Sit, Steve," I said, watching him comply before continuing, "There's no easy way to say this, Steve, but I'm dying, and I have been since the day we met. According to my theories, I have two weeks left to live. This is a slow, painful death for a witch; it happens when we refuse to love our mates. I have refused to love my mate, and I'm paying the ultimate price for it. You've always been a great friend and good leader, Stevie; I didn't want to burden you with something that could not be changed," I said, feeling even more tired than I had been before.
"Alice, there has to be a way to stop this," Steve said, tearing up as he took my hand.
"There is Steve. I would have to admit and accept that I love my mate, but I can't do that," I said sadly.
"Who is your mate, Alice?" Steve asked the question I had hoped he wouldn't ask.
"Tony," I whispered.
"Alice, you need to talk to Tony before this kills you. This mate bond is not worth your life, Alice," Steve said.
"You really think that, Steve?" I asked.
"I do," Steve confirmed.
"Stevie, would you go get him, please?" I asked, sighing and praying that Steve was right.
"Sure, Alice," Steve smiled, standing up and making his way out of the room.
A short while later, Tony came into my room; he looked just as shocked as Steve but couldn't hide it as well. He sat on the edge of my bed, and I was scared of how this conversation was going to go.
"Ali, Steve told me you were dying. He didn't say anything else; how can I help Ali? I love you, and I can't lose you," Tony whispered as he looked at me.
"Tony, it is true I am dying, but you have it within your power to save me. Remember what I told you about witches and how we have mates? I never did tell you who my mate was; it was you, Tony; it's always been you. I never told you because I didn't want you to feel like you had to be with me or I would die from rejection. I wanted you to want to be with me because you loved me. I wanted you to have a choice, and I would have and would still give up my life for you to have that choice, Tony," I said, feeling the heaviness in the air.
"Alice, I accept you, being your mate, all of this because I can't lose the woman I love," Tony said, kissing me before I had a chance to say more.
"I love you too, Tony," I said as we pulled back. That was when my magic restored me instead of trying to kill me.
"How do you feel, Alice?" Tony asked.
"I feel better than I have in three years," I smiled.
"Wait, you've been suffering with this for three years?" Tony asked, looking at me deathly serious
"Yes, Tony, that's about how long it takes for a witch to die when refusing their mate," I said sadly.
When we walked out to the living room, Steve and Loki looked relieved; Natasha was surprised at how much better I looked. So was everyone else because I no longer looked like the living dead.
"You finally did it," Loki said, pulling me into a hug.
"What was even going on?" Bruce asked.
"Well, long story short, I was dying from refusing my mate," I said, shocking the whole tower.
"Are you still dying?" Natasha questioned sternly.
"No, because after a nice talk with Steve, someone I trust more than anyone, I decided to tell my mate the truth," I said.
"Well, who's your mate?" Thor asked.
Before I could speak, Tony cut me off, kissing me and telling the team with the most flagrant use of PDA I had ever seen.
