<h4>Chapter 323: Chapter 323</h4>


    ~Samantha~


    The healer pulled me to my feet. The room swayed dangerously but I stayed upright.


    Dominic was asleep. Not unconscious. Not seizing. Just sleeping peacefully. The bracelet still glowed faintly on his wrist.


    "How long until he wakes up?" I asked.


    "Hard to say. His body needs to recover from the trauma. Could be hours. Could be a day." The healer checked his vitals. "But he will wake up. The danger has passed."


    I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Walked to the bed. Touched Dominic’s face. Still pale but warming up. The ck veins werepletely gone.


    "Thank you." I turned to L. "I don’t know how to repay this."


    "You don’t need to. Just stop ck Moon. That’s payment enough." L moved toward the door. Stopped. "The bracelet is yours now. Keep it. You’ll need it before this is over."


    She left before I could respond.


    I turned to Killian. He’d copsed in the chair. Purple veins still visible on his skin but lighter now.


    "The purification helped you too." I said it quiet. "You look better."


    "Feel better. Not cured. But better." He tried to smile. "Guess we make a good team."


    "Yeah. We do." I sat in the other chair. Too tired to stand anymore. "Thank you. For helping. I couldn’t have done it alone."


    "Yes you could have. But I’m d I could share the burden." His hand reached across the space between our chairs. Found mine. Squeezed gently. "You’re amazing. You know that?"


    "I’m exhausted. That’s what I am."


    "You’re allowed to be both."


    We sat there in silence. Holding hands. Watching Dominic sleep. Both of us too drained to move.


    The door opened. A healer poked her head in. "Luna? There are children demanding to see you. Should I send them in?"


    "Yes. Please."


    Devon and Diana rushed in. Climbed into myp despite me sitting in a chair. Both talking at once.


    "Is Dad okay?"


    "We heard screaming!"


    "Gamma wouldn’t let use!"


    "Is he gonna wake up?"


    "He’s okay." I hugged them both. "The poison is gone. He’s sleeping. He’ll wake up soon."


    They settled down. One twin on each side of me. Both watching Dominic sleep.


    "Mom?" Devon asked after a minute. "Why is Uncle Killian holding your hand?"


    I looked down. Realized we were still holding hands. Hadn’t let go.


    "He helped heal Dad. We’re both tired." I tried to pull my hand back.


    Killian held on for another second. Then released it. "Sorry. Didn’t realize."


    "It’s fine." But my face felt hot. "You should rest."


    He stood up slowly. "I’ll leave you with your family. Come find meter. We need to discuss the blood moon situation."


    He left. Closed the door quietly.


    I sat there with the twins. Feeling awkward. Confused. Guilty for reasons I couldn’t quite name.


    Time passed. The twins eventually fell asleep in myp. I dozed off too. Sitting upright in an ufortable chair. Too tired to move.


    I woke up to someone saying my name.


    "Sam."


    Dominic. His voice. Rough but real.


    I opened my eyes. He was awake. Looking at me. At the twins asleep in myp.


    "Hey." I tried to smile. "You’re awake."


    "How long was I out?"


    "Few hours. Maybe five." I carefully moved the twins. Laid them on the couch against the wall.


    He looked at his wrist. At the bracelet. "This saved me?"


    "L’s mother’s relic. Silver w purification magic." I sat on the edge of his bed. "We channeled royal blood through it. Burned out the poison."


    "We?"


    "Killian helped. I was draining myself too fast. He stepped in."


    "Of course he did." Dominic’s voice went t. "Of course he was here. Holding your hand. My body wasn’t even cold before he reced me."


    "Be nice. He was helping save your life."


    "While I was unconscious and couldn’t see it. How convenient." Dominic sat up. Winced. "How long were you two alone together?"


    "Dominic, don’t even go there. We should be thankful that you are alive instead of caring about what I did with Killian."


    “I am but I’m just curious to know why every time I’m injured or unconscious, Killian is right there? Comforting you? Supporting you?" His voice was rising. "Don’t notice that you two keep finding excuses to be close?"


    "That’s not fair. We were healing you!"


    "And holding hands afterwards. The twins saw it. They asked about it." Dominic’s eyes were hard. "What was I supposed to tell them? That their mother was getting cozy with another man while their father was dying?"


    "I wasn’t getting cozy! We were exhausted! We both nearly killed ourselves saving you  and we held hands for two seconds!"


    "Two seconds too long!"


    "You’re being ridiculous!"


    "I’m being observant!" Dominic threw off his nkets. Started trying to get out of bed. "Why does he have to be so touchy when I’m not there?"


    "Because he’s my friend!"


    "No friend of yours gets to touch what’s mine!" Dominic was on his feet now. "Do you have any idea what that’s like for me? Watching you with him? Wondering if you’re going to choose him instead?"


    "I’m not choosing anyone! I’m mated to you! I chose you years ago!"


    "Did you? Because it feels like you’re always one bad day away from leaving again!" Dominic took a step toward me. "I almost died today. And the first thing I see when I wake up is you holding his hand. How am I supposed to feel about that?"


    "With these constant usations, would you still stay if you were in my shoes? You already have me but every single time, you are bothered about someone who isn’t a threat!"


    “If he wanted to rece you so badly, he wouldn’t have helped save your life. For once, think!” I cried out.


    “I can’t spend the rest of my life proving myself to you because you are never going to believe me. You better work on your trust issues, Dominic. This would be thest time.”


    “Or else, what?”