Chapter 176: Chapter 176 

~ NYSSA

I awoke with a gasp.

I could not remember the contents of my dream or even a memory of what had terrified me so much but I sat up, clawing at my throat as I fought to breathe. My throat had dried up in a second and it felt like the fucking desert.

“Nyssa?” Rowan’s concerned voice filled my ears. “Are you alright?”

I ignored him, pulling myself out of bed. I cursed when I realized we were no longer in the palace and there was no jug of water sitting by the bedside.

With a groan, I headed for the doors but Rowan was quicker. He grabbed my wrist with one firm grip and turned me to him.

“What’s going on?” he asked, brows knitted in confusion. “Are you hurt?”

“Water!” I choked out.

I jerked my hand from his grip and rushed down the stairs. I didn’t even bother to grab a cup, I just turned on the tap and lapped up the water.

The cool liquid trickled down my throat but it did not soothe the dryness I felt. I drank even more, nearly choking on it, but I kept going, ignoring the burning in my lungs as I fought to breathe and the pounding of my head.

“For fucks sake,” Rowan hissed, tugging my back by my arms. “You’ll fucking suffocate, use a cup.”

I exhaled shakily.

My—Rowan’s—shirt that I wore to bed was completely soaked and plastered to my body. I’d consumed so much water and yet, it still wasn’t enough. I wanted—no, needed more.

The thirst remained, deep and hollow. I could feel it everywhere—in my head, in my chest, down to the depths of my bones.

“What is going on?” Rowan asked, running his eyes over my body.

“I just… I’m thirsty.”

He raised a brow in amusement. “You drank enough water to fill a pool.”

I stared at him blankly. “I don’t know what else to tell you.”

With a sigh, he pulled open the fridge, grabbing a small lime. I watched as he sliced it up before placing it in a clear bottle. He filled the bottle with water and ice cubes from the fridge then handed it over to me.

“This might help,” he said softly.

I took a sip and warmth spread through my entire body. It was refreshing, that much was true, but the thirst remained. It had not ebbed, not even a little bit. If anything, it seemed worse now than when I woke up.

“Perfect,” I lied.

How could I tell him that the water wasn’t helping? It didn’t make any sense to me and it sure as hell wouldn’t make any sense to him either.

His shoulders sagged with relief. “You should go back to bed.”

I forced my feet to move back up the stairs, each step taking me further away from where I wanted to be. We crawled into bed together, his hands handing around my waist as he pulled me into his chest.

Through a gap in the window, I caught a glimpse of the moon high up in the sky. A sideways glance at the clock told me it wasn’t even five yet. No wonder he seemed so confused when he woke up.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked softly, voice cutting through my thoughts.

“Of course, I am,” I said cheerfully. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

He hummed softly, pulling me closer.

It was a testament to how tired he was because he drifted off to sleep easily, his soft snores filling the air. I tried to sleep, tried to will my eyes to close, but the gnawing thirst grew, settling over me like a weighted blanket, tugging at the frayed edges of my sanity.

There wasn’t much I could do so I just lay there, eyes wide open, chest heaving with each deep breath.

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By the time morning came around, the thirst had ebbed to a subtle throb at the back of my mind. It was easier to ignore but that did not mean that it was not present.

I pretended to be asleep when Rowan climbed out of bed in the morning. I felt him press a soft kiss to my temple before disappearing through the door and once he was gone, I sat up, downing the rest of the lime water.

I sat in bed, searching up quick ways to get rid of thirst. I noted down a few to try later, hoping that one would work when the door creaked open.

The smell of bacon and fresh coffee filled my nose and my stomach churning with hunger, but when I looked up at the plate of hash browns, eggs and bacon, something inside of me twisted violently.

It looked good, it smelled good too, but the very sight of it brought a bitter taste to the back of my mouth.

“I brought—”

Rowan didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence before I was on my feet, dashing into the bathroom. I barely made it to the toilet before I was gripping the edge of the seat with both hands and emptying my insides violently.

Bile crawled up my throat as I threw up, shoulders shaking violently as my insides were wrung out of me.

I felt a hand on my back, rubbing soothing circles around while the other gathered my hair into a makeshift ponytail, pulling it out of my face.

“Now I’m worried, Nyssa,” Rowan said softly. I could hear the frown in his voice. “You’re sick.”

“Werewolves don’t get sick,” I reminded him.

“I can also feel you, and I know that you feel off. I’m taking you to a hospital.”

I groaned, letting myself fall onto the cold tiles. I lay in a fetal position on the ground, shivering slightly at the cool feeling against my skin.

It felt surprisingly good.

“I don’t want to go to a hospital,” I said pointedly but all I got was a snort in response.

“It’s too fucking bad,” Rowan said, pulling me into his arms. “After breakfast, I’m taking you straight there.”

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