Wolf-Shifter

Dancing among the Stars 31

As Nyesh put the cup down, he clutched his chest in pain and fell to his knees with a cry, gasping for air. What was going on?

Slowly, his eyes closed in unconsciousness and he didn't hear the cry of his friend, or the shouting of others and the comments of bystanders as they carried him to the infirmary.

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Rose sat in a chair, her mother holding onto her and stroking her hair. "It'll be alright." Namid crooned, glancing up at Salem, who stood nearby.

"I-I found him lying in his room. His skin was blue…Blue, Mother!" Rose replied, tears falling from her eyes.

Rose winced as she heard a stifled cry of pain from the closed door of the infirmary and resisted the urge to go to him, her trembling hands wringing a handkerchief. She sniffed and stood, pacing the room. "What if he's dying and when I get to him he'll be already—Stop it Rose and have hope for him!" "But why hope when it may be doom to fail?"

Rose turned to the door and, unconsciously, her hand reached for the doorknob.

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His fingers reached to close on air and he reach again to grasp something soft and warm. Opening his eyes slightly, he noticed the panther goddess, Thorna, sitting by him and holding his hand. The panther's unruly copper-black hair and orange eyes looked down on him. Dressed in a flame-orange gown, the goddess took his other hand in hers. "You are no longer in the infirmary but somewhere else in between time." She whispered.

Nyesh felt a wave of dizziness swamp him and his vision swim as her husky voice rang in his ears, louder this time, "Now, see here, my kin, poison throbs in your veins and still you hang onto life? It's unpromising what you are doing."

"Thorna?"

"Yes." The panther goddess' voice softened, "I have come to take you to the skies, boy. You are dying, there's no question about that."

"Poison?" he replied, blood choking him as his breath caught in surprise.

"Aye, boy. Poison." The woman nodded curtly, "Do you doubt my word?"

Nyesh groaned softly and Thorna caught him as he fell backward from trying to sit up, "Rose." He murmured.

"Ah, yes, the girl," The panther goddess of fire smiled slightly, "She waits outside."

"M-may I see her." Nyesh asked, voice barely audible.

"You may." The goddess then disappeared in a quiet hiss of flame.

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A nurse opened the door, "Princess Rose, he wishes you to come inside."

Rose nodded, and calmly walked inside where Nyesh sat on a bed. "Nyesh?" she whispered as the nurses and one doctor around his bed, left, to give them privacy.

The man turned to her, and smiled weakly his face covered in a thin sheen of sweat, "I never expected this to happen. It must have been drugged…" Rose noted that his leg had been bandaged and that a clean knife sat with other strange instruments on a table and she winced inwardly.

Rose took his hand and dragged a stool over to sit by him. "Thank the gods your alright."

Nyesh laughed, mockingly, "Alright?" he whispered, confused, "I'm dying, Rose and I can't stop it."

The princess stared at her friend and down at his hand, not saying anything. Finally after a long pause, she whispered fiercely, "Who did it?"

The man sighed, "A maid, I suppose. I don't really remember…"

Rose edged closer to him, body trembling, and fingers longing to move the black strands from his face. "I see." "Do you remember when we were on the ice yesterday?"

"Yes." The man nodded, slowly.

"You know how you said…that you owed me your heart?"

Nyesh flashed a crooked grin, "Surely you do believe that I—"

Rose shut him up with a hand to his lips and smiled as she leaned down and kissed him softly. She broke the kiss and a single tear fell to their intertwined hands, "I'm sorry." She whispered.

The panther goddess of fire appeared next to Nyesh and took his hand again. "Come now, boy," she murmured, "Now's your time."

Rose shook her head in disbelief, "No, you can't take him. Not yet."

Thorna smiled gently, "I can and I will."

Nyesh winced as a fiery pain entered his leg and gasped as it only increased. He gripped her wrist and held on, his violet eyes begging her to stay with him as he died.

"Nyesh!" Rose shrieked, panic engulfing her as she sat on the bench, helpless. "Fight it. You know you can!" she cried, sobs choking her as she gripped onto his hand.

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"Should I get her?" Salem's eyes were dark with sorrow as he faced his mate.

"No. She will not let us take her away." Namid replied, glancing at the closed infirmary door, "She will come when ready."

Salem nodded and took Namid's hand, giving her comfort.

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"I—I can't fight…" Nyesh drew in a slow, uneven breath; eyes beginning to close and Rose gripped his hand firmly as her friend's skin slowly acquired a pale glow and the sparkle in his eyes began to fade as Thorna took his life. A bright silver light suddenly blinded the princess and she was forced to turn away, eyes shut tight.

"Release this boy, now Thorna of the Fire." A familiar voice replied.

"Ylva, he is dying." Was Thorna's terse reply.

The Lupine goddess of the moon growled softly in annoyance and placed a gentle hand on Nyesh's forehead for a moment and, after a while, smiled. "Come on, Nyesh, son of Rakab, up you get."

He sat up and rolled down the pant leg of his slacks, staring in shock at the goddesses. One moment he had been hanging onto life, the next he was cured. "Thank you." He murmured, bowing his head in respect.

Rose threw herself in his arms, tears of happiness in her eyes, "Oh gods, Nyesh I was sure that you were a goner."

Nyesh smiled tiredly, "I was."

Rose took his hand, "Come on."

"Wait." Nyesh took her shoulder and spun her around into him, "There's something I almost forgot to tell you…"

Before Rose had a chance to reply, Nyesh kissed her. She felt his mouth on her own and, a love she knew never had existed, surfaced and she was almost drowned in a hidden excitement that left her shaking and giddy when they pulled apart, gasping for air. The kiss had lasted barely a minute and yet it left Rose feeling breathless.

She looked up into Nyesh's eyes and found herself unable to look away from his sparkling gaze. "Do you believe," she heard him say, "In love?"

"Yes, of course I do. Why-ever not?" she replied in a soft, husky voice, as she cupped his cheek in one hand and leaned in to claim another kiss, the second kiss left her warm and feeling as if she could fly. It seemed to leave Rose's heart in a tight knot, a pleasurable knot, that seemed to freeze this moment in time.

With a giddy feeling in her chest, one thought passed her mind.

"I love him."

Breaking the kiss, Nyesh grinned, "Your parents are probably wondering what happened to you."

"Let them wonder, meanwhile lets not speak of this, they may worry." Rose replied, casually.

"About what?"

"I'll tell you later." She told him, opening the door and leaving, Nyesh behind her.