The Alpha Assassin novel Chapter 68

The next time I woke, it was darker outside; gray overtook the afternoon sky. Dread sunk in cold and heavy. I wanted to be there, to control what was being said and done after the challenge, but instead, I was stuck here. I knew Ezra was more than capable of handling it, maybe even more so than I, but I was desperate to be in control of the narrative.

I tried to reach out to Aksala, but she was silent.

I knew she must be working hard to heal my leg. I tried to move it, and a dull pain shot through my body. It wasn’t half as bad as I thought it would be. I wondered when I could stand. I hoped nothing was too wrong with me, but I was fairly certain there would be more lingering pain.

My throat felt both raw and thick. I shifted up in bed, searching for water I hoped was in arms reach.

A dark figure came from the shadows, and my heart stopped for a moment, but it went back to normal when I realized it wasn’t him.

“Can I get you something?” A tall man with dark red hair and a short beard stood eerily still; his stillness reminded me of Ezra.

“Water,” I croaked.

He disappeared into the bathroom and came back with a full glass. He helped lift it to my lips and gently tilted it down my throat. I was about to protest, but my body was aching, I was grateful for the help.

“Thank you.”

The mad nodded and retreated to the shadows. “I’m Slater,” he said. “One of Ezra’s friends.”

“One of his brothers,” I corrected.

A pause. “Yes.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, “Thank you for being here.”

“We’re here for him. And now for you.”

The implication of that settled over me in a comforting warmth.

He spoke again. “Thank you.” I searched the darkness, his face gave nothing away, but I thought I saw his adams apple bob a few times before he spoke again. “You have changed him more than you know. Helped him into the person he was supposed to be.”

I tried to grab at words to accurately respond to what he said but the sleepiness pulled me under.

______

When I woke again, I felt foggy, but there was no pain, even lingering. The night sky beyond the open window haunted me.

An entire day was wasted.

Each of the minutes I lay here were minutes that threatened to unravel the precarious hold I had on this place.