Eutus, Izzy and Ramsey all worked until dawn to attempt to stabilize Finn. They had stitched her wounds closed and sanitized the area. Eutus has made a potion for her with healing properties, Ramsey had fed it to her one drop at a time. Her normal healing wasn't working and none of them were convinced that a healing potion would help, but it was worth a try. They had cleaned and dressed her in loose clothing which allowed access to her injuries without the need to move her. She was as white as paper. Her breathing was shallow and a fever had begun. They had moved her from the table onto her small cot. They wrapped her in blankets with the hope it would help break the illness. Sweat beaded on her as Finn's body attempted to fight the infection. Carter cared for his mate. Cleaned the sweat with cool, clean clothes.
Carter had threatened them, begged and pleaded they do something, but none of the enchanters had any more ideas. They had stabilized her and she was currently still breathing. Their only hope was that her enchanter side may be able to fight off the wolfsbane in her bloodstream before it killed her, but there was no research or anecdotal evidence to fall back on. Izzy had left to see if he could find more information, the others stayed to care for Finn and each other.
"We should get my dad," Carter said, his words cut into the heavy silence. His exhausted body was only held up by the camp chair he was sitting in.
"That's not a good idea..." Ramsey responded.
"She loves my dad. They're family. If she's going to die, he should at least be here to say goodbye," he was staring at his mate blankly.
Eutus and Ramsey exchanged a glance. Eutus sighed and walked over to Carter and placed a hand in comfort on his shoulder.
"Darling, it would be unwise to bring the Alpha here. It's too far from the pack. Perhaps that's what Helmut hopes we will do."
"But... if she dies and he isn't here..." Carter's face paled more, his eyes dewy.
"I know, sweetheart," Eutus said as he encapsulated the larger man in a hug. "But she wouldn't want anyone to risk themselves to say goodbye. If the worst happens, the Alpha will understand that this was the right choice. She has us. She won't be alone."
Carter shook his head, "she doesn't love us. She should die surrounded by people she loved." His exhaustion and grief clouded his judgement.
Ramsey pushed his exhausted form up and walked over to the others. He placed his hand on Carter's shoulder as Eutus continued to hold him. "Of course she loves us. What on earth makes you think differently?"
Carter just looked sad. Eutus broke his embrace and stood. His eyes fell onto Finn's unmoving form.
"If she didn't love us, we'd all be dead. She'd have killed you the night your mating bond was created if not for the love of you. Albeit, the child she knew and loved, not yet the adult. She would have killed me along with Obeus if she didn't care. Izadore would have come no matter what, which was her plan."
"And she'd have left me to face the consequences of not stopping her and Iz from taking father's prized book if she didn't care."
"But..." Carter started.
"There is nothing else to say. She loves us. And should she die here, she will be surrounded by those who return that love. You need rest, both of you. I will stay with her until someone wakes or Izadore returns," Eutus stated. Before either man could voice their disagreement, he shot them a silencing glance. Ramsey retreated to their shared room, but left the door ajar to hear any requests of help. Carter remained seated in the camp chair, his eyes on Finn. After less than ten minutes, Eutus heard his breathing become heavy and regular. He placed a blanket over him as he continued his silent vigil.
(2)
Everything felt like a watercolour painting. It had the outline of reality, but the colours all swirled and blended together in an unnatural way. What she found most distressing was that her tattoos were gone. Her skin was a pale pink, no colourful patterns and no scars that she could find. Even her midsection was fine, healthy pink flesh. No crisscross evidence of her self-evisceration. She was dressed in her normal attire, her large black jumper, leggings and no shoes.
I guess I'm dead, she thought to herself. She hadn't tried her voice, fearing that it wouldn't be there. Tentatively, mostly out of fear, she tried her bond with Carter. She reached for him, but all she felt was herself. Herself and the crushing emptiness of loss.
Finn was sitting cross legged on the grass overlooking the fjord that she had shown Carter. She wasn't sure how she got here nor how long she had been here. The water below lapped at the rocks, spraying glittering sparkles as it broke across their face. The sky was a continuous sunset, pinks, purples and oranges encompassed her view. There were puff grey clouds that indicated a possible storm on the horizon, but they didn't move. She also wasn't sure that the light that surrounded her was emanating from the sun.
She stretched her body, her arms above her head. It felt like her physical form though there was no lingering pain. She remembered pain, it was her last conscious memory. That and Carter screaming for her. She remembered being wet, covered in her own blood, but the rest was as hazy as her surroundings.
At a loss for what to do, she let herself fall back into the grass and dirt. The ground was warm as though holding the heat from the day. She stared up at the sky, enjoying the different colours and a breeze that seemed to be coming from everywhere, but nowhere all at once. She closed her eyes and sighed. This isn't how she had intended to die; Saving her family, freeing Carter and the Ironblood pack from Helmut was as noble a death as she could have wanted.
"Hello, my black Dahlia," said a sweet voice.
Finn shot up and realized that Anna was seated beside her. She stared at her mother, she had heard no movement and smelled nothing to indicate that she had arrived. She was more youthful than she had been in life. Taller. Her skin was smooth and her hair was a chestnut brown. Her blue eyes caught the light of the perpetual sunset and turned green.
