Her Blood, His Madness

rm in the sterile hospital room, his fac

" he mumbled,

r, Declan. Her backward ways. She didn't trust modern m

me with sudden, chilling clarity. "You did

ming down my face. "It was because he di

in smoothly, placing a comforting hand on Declan's arm. "You brou

hose... those primitive superstitions. You thought your ways were b

This is what happens. This is your

ng I fought for – proper care for Liam. He was making m

n!" I sobbed.

lazing, "you would have let proper science

f the truth, a complete denial

t threatened to swallow me whole, De

her to a chair,

urmured, his voice suddenly soft. "The bab

oncern for her and their unborn child, even a

e, and Declan's only thought was for the woman who ha

fussed over her comfort, en

uncomfortable reminder of the tragedy h

h in my own suffering, while the archit

e Liam there, i

or his small body to be taken, to be prepared for a jou

d, a frail, weepin

was nearing its end. My plasma donat

y, the ledgers of the Thorn

at, devoid of emotion. "Liam i

a sorrow that seemed genuine, yet

nued, "it's fulfilled. M

re moment of his lucidity, a moment before Cassie's poison had

ding this pregnancy. I cannot c

d. "Elara, no. The ch

with Liam," I sa

ayed in my mind, a con

ll, hot ha

ored br

as to Declan to

the medici

roting Cassie's cruel words. "No. Her f

steady beep sl

h of nurses, th

, terribl

m at the doctors to do something, anything, but h

with your supersti

s, as my son slipped away, a v

r Liam, whispers followed me

oices low, not rea

woman. And

dmother. Miss Lowell has h

r her and her baby. Says the mountain

Her eyesight was failing,

see. I saw her weeping over th

ys it's good for her soul. Pe

her, under the guise of some twisted spiritual need. And Declan, in hi

ity room off the main kitchen, a pl

pattern half-finished, the thr

wasn't

called, p

an old outbuilding, one used for storing

the maid stammered. "Miss Lowell said... said the old w

eclan, fed l

t pounding wit

outside. I fumbled with the r

it was f

damp earth floor, cur

as so

beside her, sha

eyes were closed, a faint

the biting winter cold,

r, she had scratched a message wit

home... m

, physical force,