The Trial

Chapter 18

When I started to come to, it took me a few seconds to remember where I was and what had happened. my body felt like it was of fire. my head was pounding, and my neck felt like one giant bruise all the way around it. 

I was laying on my left side and needed to move, but, when I tired to move, I groaned a little at the stiffness and soreness everywhere and stayed put. as my other senses slowly began to awaken, I thought I could hear muffled voices out in the hall. I could tell who was out there, and I wasn't sure if I even cared. I was far too exhausted and definitely wasn't feeling well enough for anyone to visit me, so I let my eyes close and drifted off to sleep again. 

I drifted in and out several times, before Jamie's urgent voice startled me awake. "Becca?" he whispered in a frantic tone. "wake up."

I groaned but opened my eyes. "they'll be here any minute. we need to go now." 

"what?" I asked with obvious confusion. 

"I don't have time to explain right this second, but we need to get out of here, now."

"move. I'll carry her. meet us at the gate." Ares snapped in a whisper and stepped into the room. 

"what's going on?" I groaned as I tried to push myself up. 

"I'll explain on the way." Ares murmured and quickly pushed the blanket back, before sliding his arms under my knees and shoulders. in a movement far too quick for my bodies liking, he lifted me off the bed and hurried out the door. everything swam in and out of my blurred vision, and I whimpered and curled against his chest, closing my eyes and holding on tight. 

"I've got you, Becca. I won't let them take you to him." 

with my face still buried in his chest, I groaned "what's going on?"

"do you remember what the beast said to the princess, before you passed out?" 

"I think so. why?" I muttered, barely able to speak above a murmur.

"he said they'd come to an agreement for a truce. well, they did, but the cost is you."

"what?" I blurted groggily and tried to lift my head to look up at him. 

"when they met after the sun was up again, he told her if she kept the hunters in check that he'd keep the vampires in check. everything has changed. you did it. you changed everything, but his one condition for peace was that he meets the princess here on this very day, after the sun sets."

"okay?" I mumbled with my head still against his chest but tilted up to attempt to see his face. I wasn't sure if this was some sort of game or trick or what. It didn't make any sense. 

"if she wants the peace to remain, she has to give you to him, willing or not."

"why?" I managed to ask, before I had to close my eyes again against a dizzy spell. the world just didn't want to stop spinning. 

"we're not entirely sure. my guess is that he likes your blood, since he healed you, but the last thing he said to you makes me think otherwise. then, there's the way your body is reacting since he bit you. I think he may have marked you."

"what? how?"

"the same way I did."

"wait?! what?!" I squeaked and lifted my head, snapping my eyes open. I instantly regretted it and had to drop my forehead against his chest again. "start ... explaining." I breathed. 

"I sort of marked you as a potential mate."

"when?" I managed to get out just above a breath.