Everyone in the room fell silent except Cedric. Cedric said, "Princess Ashina, if you were to cry, none of us would blame you one bit. This is all a lot to handle. I don't know that anyone in this room has gone through half of what you are going through, right now. I don't know that I could take it without breaking down." That was when my mom raised her hand and said, "I've been through it. Well, I haven't been shot with a silver bullet, but I was stabbed with a silver blade." I chuckled, "Mom has been through many of the things that I'm going through, but I don't think you ever had an explosives expert sent against you, did you?" Mom looked like she was thinking, "I don't believe anyone tried explosives with me, so that's new." I said, "While I appreciate the kind words, Cedric, I really don't have time to cry at the moment. I will cry when I do have time." He smiled, "I'm just saying, take care of your emotional needs too. We all care about you." I put my hand over my heart and sa

I felt tears start to well up and I said, "It's just going to piss me off more than I already was." I cleared my throat, and said, "You are going to make me cry, and I really hate crying. So, I already told my parents about the surgery. They are coming up for it." I looked at them both and they each had the saddest of looks on their faces. I said, "Really, guys, I'm okay with whatever happens. I don't know if Nyla will also be paralyzed. I just know that the silver in body is suppressing Nyla and keeping my wound from healing. I can't tolerate either of those things. So, Conri, if the doctor comes out and tells you that the silver is not able to be taken out because it's too close to my spinal cord, you tell him I want it out. I can live with being paralyzed. I cannot live without Nyla and my quality of life would be horrible if I have the open wound for the rest of my life." Conri said, "I understand, I just don't want to have to make that decision." I said, "You aren't making the

                                                          Ashina's POV I was half-awake, not wanting to open my eyes yet, when I heard a voice that I hadn't heard since before I was stabbed, "Wake up, girlie! We got shit to do and you have a ton of people to interrogate. You need to get your ass in gear!" I said, "NYLA! I've missed you so much!" She said, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. The fucker thought he could take us out, but we're gonna show him we are nothing to be messed with. Now, you do not have the use of your legs. The doctor couldn't save them. But Selene made our magic even more powerful to make up for it." I smiled, "I like the sound of that." Nyla said, "So, let's get all the pity over with and start kicking some asses. Your wounds are already healed, so the doctor shouldn't hold you here anymore." I said, "Thank you. You're the

I walked to the last cell, and there was a man and woman in it. I said, "Well, this must be the wolfsbane couple." Conri said, "Yes, it is. I recognize her. Nico said that she was with a guy." I said, "So, anything you would like to contribute?" The guy said, "I didn't do anything to you. Would you please let me go?" I laughed, "But you didn't try to stop her, either did you?" His face paled, "I was afraid to. She is Abel's mate!" I said, "There is one way to verify that." I asked Nyla if she has the ability to talk to her wolf, she said, "No, you still need to get momma." I called mom and asked her to come to the dungeons. When she got there, I said, "This guy is saying that she is Abel's mate." Mom said, "No, she isn't. Her wolf says she is his mate." Then my mom's eyes went wide, and she started laughing, "Dude! Did you seriously throw your mate under the bus to keep yourself alive?" My mom and I started laughing while Conri said, "You know what you did is a major offense in any

I laughed all the way to our bedroom, because Conri was in a huge rush to get there. I said, "You can take your time. I'm not going anywhere." He said, "The way things have been going lately, I'm not taking any chances." I laughed harder as we got to our room. I opened the door and he wheeled me in. I said, "I would love a shower first." I wheeled myself into the bathroom and noticed a seat in the shower. He walked behind me and said, "I know this is not easy for you. I wanted to try to make it a little easier for you." I immediately started crying quietly. I suddenly realized what a life-changing event this is. I can't help but wonder if Conri is going to bored with me. I was quiet long enough that he moved to stand in front of me. He saw my tears and immediately lifted me out of my chair and held me closely. He said, "I will never get bored with you. Stop thinking like that. You are my life; my everything. There is nothing I would rather do than take care of you... Forever." I sai