Chapter 145: Wolfsbane and Bloodstains
Astrid's POV
I pressed my body on Killian as I leaned forward in pain. My lips twisted as the searing pain on my back tore through my whole body, my muscles tightening and my veins freezing. "A-Astrid," Killian choked out, his eyes widening with horror when he saw the pain etched across my face.
"W-What?" I choked out, panic flooding my senses as I started to realize what had just happened.
I took in a deep breath when something sharp was yanked from my back. My body went rigid, and I squeezed Killian's arms, my nails digging into his skin as the agony ripped through me.
At that moment, time seemed to slow to a crawl. I could feel the blood pulsing in my ears, the air catching in my throat. Slowly, I looked down when I felt the wetness of blood begin to soak through my clothes.
"No, no, no," I heard Killian breathe, his voice thick with anguish after he followed my gaze.
His words sounded distant, muffled as if I was underwater. I watched as his expression morphed into one of pure terror as he watched the crimson liquid start to spread through my clothes.
My knees buckled, but before I could touch the ground, Killian caught me this time. He held me in his arms as he knelt on the ground.
Killian swallowed hard as he swept his eyes over me. Dread washed over him, and I knew why.
I was losing blood too quickly. I could even feel my limbs growing cold, and my eyelids were growing heavy.
As Killian held me in his arms, his gaze lifted to focus on something behind me. I followed his line of sight, and I was no longer surprised when I saw Giselle standing there, the bloody dagger still clutched in her hand as she towered over us. The moment I felt the pain in my back, I knew I was stabbed, and there was nobody else who would do that except for her.
Killian's expression darkened with fury as he looked up and saw Giselle holding the bloody dagger.
"Giselle," he growled, his voice laced with anger and disbelief. "How could you,"
Giselle's eyes widened in horror when she finally came to her senses. The bloody dagger slipped from her trembling fingers, clattering to the ground at her feet.
"I-1-1-1," Giselle stammered badly, her voice quavering with fear and guilt.
When she saw the crimson stains on her hand, she roughly wiped it off on her shirt like the blood seemed to burn her skin.
"What have you done?!" Killian still demanded, even though Giselle looked badly frightened.
"Why would you hurt her like this?"Killian questioned her again, forcing Giselle to look at him.
I kept my eyes open, fighting against the drowsiness that I was feeling while I was also bearing all the pain.
Killian pressed a hand firmly on my wound to stop the bleeding; my blood seeped through his fingers as he desperately tried to stop the blood flow.
His eyes were wild with panic and devastation, unable to comprehend the horrific turn of events.
Giselle shook her head frantically, "No, Killian, you have to believe me! I didn't mean to do this. I was just trying to protect you. Astrid was going to kill you."
Giselle's voice cracked with desperation as she struggled to make him understand. "I was so scared. I didn't know what else to do. I couldn't let her hurt you Killian.
I just couldn't."
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Even with the pain that I was in, I still managed to scoff at the absurdity of her words. I had already calmed down when she suddenly attacked me behind my back.
She didn't stab me to protect Killian; she stabbed me because she wanted to kill me, and this was the best opportunity for her to do so while making it look like she didn't mean it. Killian's brows furrowed, his grip on me tightening protectively. "I told you to stay away! Why didn't you listen to me!" Killian snapped at her.
Giselle's face crumpled with anguish, tears streaming down her cheeks. I really admire her ability to call her tears anytime she needed them.
"I know, I know, but I was afraid
Killian. I couldn't just leave you while
she's out of her control. I thought I was saving you, Killian, I swear! I
didn't mean for this to happen. I
didn't want to hurt her.
I coughed out blood when it shouldn't be happening. Killian's brows knotted together when he saw the blood that came out of my mouth.
Wolfsbane! The dagger is laced with wolfsbane, and it's starting to harm my internal organs.
I turned to look at Giselle's bloody weapon again. She wasn't just holding a knife. She was holding a dagger. She had brought the dagger here with her to deliberately kill me. She even had it laced with wolfsbane, a perfect murder weapon to make sure I wouldn't survive this time.
A sound of footsteps interrupted
them in their argument. Everyone turned to look at where the sound was coming from. Their eyes widened when they saw the banners of the Shadowfang Pack and a group of people coming.
Giselle, who knew she had done something wrong, instantly rushed to the Silvermoon Pack's side for protection.
On the other hand, Killian was relieved to see the Shadowfang Pack coming. He knew there was no one else that could save my life except for them.