Chapter 659
While Flora’s vitals had stabilized, her eyeballs moved frantically beneath her lids, the rapid motion a sign that she was still locked in a silent struggle to break through the final barrier of her subconscious.
Sora remained by her side, her fingers interlaced with Flora’s cold ones to channel the healing energy through her.
Outside the chamber doors, the family waited in a state of tortured suspense. A nurse stood guard at the entrance, ensuring the specialized doctor had the quiet he needed to perform his final assessments.
The doctor straightened up as he looked at Sora with a grim expression. “If Miss Flora doesn’t fully wake up within the minutes, she might slip into a permanent state of unconsciousness. At that point, the trauma to her mind will be too great. It will be nearly impossible to bring her back to us p>
Sora nodded and looked down at Flora, whose face was pale. “She’ll wake up,” Sora whispered, more to herself than the doctor.
Sora had navigated countless spiritual and physical crises in her long life, but Flora was a puzzle. It was rare to see someone so desperately clinging to a thread of life while simultaneously trying to let it go. The internal war between Flora’s guilt and her will to survive had created a confusion that even the most powerful healing magic struggled to break.
Suddenly, Sora felt a genuine, living warmth bloom in Flora’s palm. She looked up, signaling to the doctor.
“Miss, open your eyes slowly,” the doctor instructed. “You’re in the palace. You’re safe with us. Just a little more effort p>
Flora’s eyelids trembled, then slowly parted. The light of the room seemed blinding at first, and she squinted against the brightness.
“Water… I need water,” she rasped.
The nurse moved, supporting Flora’s head as she held a glass to her lips. Flora took small sips, quenching her thirst. As she settled back onto the plush pillows, Sora finally withdrew her hand, though she remained close, her gaze watchful.
The doctor proceeded with his final checks, and pressed the stethoscope to her chest to check her heartbeats. Beside him, Sora leaned forward, gently stroking Flora’s hair away from her forehead.
Flora’s eyes tracked the movement, finally settling on the woman who had guided her through the dark. “Thank you for saving my life,” she murmured.
“You saved your own life. I merely provided the spark,” Sora replied, her voice carrying a weight of ancient wisdom. She reached up to her own neck, peeling back the bandage to reveal the claw mark she had sustained yesterday. A faint glow emanated from her palm, knitting the skin back together until only a faint, fading line remained.
The doctor tucked his stethoscope away, checking the monitors one last time. “How do you feel, Miss? Much better, I hope p>
Flora nodded, a fragile but genuine smile touching her lips. “Yes… Thank you p>
As the nurse slipped out to deliver the news, everyone was happy and relieved. Flora’s parents were the first to burst through the doors, their faces tear-streaked as they rushed to her bedside to shower her with quiet sobs of joy. Amelie and the others followed, filling the room with the warmth of family.
Outside, however, Zander stood leaning against the cold stone wall, away from the celebration. He covered his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking as he finally allowed himself to cry in the shadows to a love that had almost cost him everything.
Zander jumped slightly at the firm hand on his shoulder as he hastily wiped the dampness from his cheeks. He turned, straightening his posture immediately when he realized he was standing before Gabriel.
“Your Highness,” Zander murmured, his eyes dropping in a show of deep reverence. “Forgive me… I didn’t mean to lose my composure p>
“I am the one who should ask for forgiveness,” Gabriel said, his voice surprisingly soft, devoid of its usual icy edge. He looked at the door, then back at Zander. “I have a mate, yet in my anger, I forgot the unique agony of a wolf watching his mate slip away. I am sorry, Zander, that you had to endure this pain. Forgive me p>
Zander froze, his breath hitching in his chest. He was stunned to hear such a sincere apology from Gabriel. The Prince was a man who rarely admitted to a lapse in judgment, especially to someone outside the inner circle of the royals.
Zander offered a small, grateful smile and a respectful nod before finally turning to walk into the chamber.
“I didn’t expect you to apologize to Zander,” Casaio remarked, stepping out from the shadows of the arched corridor.
Gabriel turned toward him. “You have a persistent habit of eavesdropping on my conversations, Cas,” he noted dryly.
“That’s not true. I merely returned from finishing my duties,” Casaio replied with a casual shrug, though a glint of amusement danced in his eyes. “I just happened to be passing by when I heard my brother showing his more… Human side p>
Gabriel let out a short, breathy huff. He looked back at the door Zander had just vanished through.
“Now, don’t tease me about it,” Gabriel chuckled.
“Carlos’ vision turned out to be wrong. What could be the reason?” Casaio’s voice shifted, the playful glint in his eyes replaced by a seriousness.
Gabriel leaned back against the stone pillar, his gaze drifting toward the palace windows. “Maybe his vision for Flora was only meant for this phase,” he replied thoughtfully. “Visions are fickle things; perhaps the intervention of a healer as powerful as Sora changed the thread of fate p>
“You’re forgetting what he specifically said,” Casaio countered. “He saw her end p>
Gabriel’s brows furrowed as he recalled Carlos’ words. “He’s not around yet,” Gabriel murmured. “I’ll find him and ask for a clarification later p>
Casaio hummed and the two of them walked inside.
Carlos stepped out of the moon temple, carrying a basket with fresh white flowers inside them. He paused as he spotted Cynthia; she was poised and authoritative as she directed the servants clearing the sacred pond.
When Cynthia turned to enter the temple, she caught his gaze and stopped. After they exchanged polite greetings, she glanced around. “Prince Gabriel didn’t come with you today p>
“No, he didn’t,” Carlos replied. He studied her for a beat, a sudden glint in his eyes as a frown creased his brow. “Do you know Gabriel personally p>
“No,” Cynthia said quickly. “The Alpha Prince sought blessings here recently, so I simply assumed he had returned.” She offered a slight, respectful bow and moved past him, her figure eventually disappearing from his sight.
Carlos made his way back to his car, placing the basket carefully on the passenger seat. He settled into the driver’s seat and pulled onto the main road. Suddenly, a pain exploded behind his eyes. It was a violent sensation that stole his breath.
His knuckles turned white as his grip tightened on the steering wheel, the car swerving slightly. His breath hitched; he was seeing a vision of himself. It was terrifying; he hadn’t seen his own vision since the day he witnessed his parents’ deaths years ago.
In the vision, he saw himself looking at the blood-covered dagger which was driven into his heart. The car screeched to a halt as the vision ended, causing his breathing to turn erratic.