Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Chapter 23

Kas's POV

I peek in through the little window of the hospital room.I can see James hooked up to machines, sleeping peacefully.

A strong pang of guilt courses through me when I see there are bandages around his neck.

Delilah is curled up in the chair that’s pulled up to the side of the bed.

She is holding his hand through the railing of the bed.

"You can’t talk to her from the hallway, Kas,"

Bronx whispers in my ear from behind me, "I'll wait here until you're ready.Just mind link me."

I nod, then take a deep breath.I quietly open the door and step inside the room.I close it behind me and take a step into the room.

Delilah's breath hitches in her sleep, but she doesn’t wake up.I take slow deliberate steps until I am next to the chair.I squat down and put my hand on her forearm.

"Delilah?" I whisper, "Wake up, please."

Her brow furrows as her eyes flutter open.Her deep sapphire blue eyes take a moment for her to recognize my face, but when she does, they immediately turn royal blue.She gasps and throws her arms tightly around me.

"Kas," she sobs in a loud whisper, "I was so worried about you! Are you okay?"

"Oh, Delilah, I’m fine now.I-I’m so sorry.I don’t know what came over me.You know I would never do this on purpose, right?"

I finally stop trying to hold back my tears.

This is my best friend.I can be myself with her, "I thought you would hate me.I didn’t think you would want to see me."

She pulls me back from her embrace and holds me by the shoulders with her long, spindly fingers.

Her eyes and nose are red and puffy from crying, but she looks relieved that I am there, "Kas, I could never hate you.Never.I know whatever happened must have been an accident.This is not you.Whatever happened yesterday, that was not you.I’m sure of it."

I breathe the enormous sigh as I feel the vice around my heart loosen just a little.I will never understand the mind of a pacifist, but I am grateful at this moment that my best friend is one.

"Delilah, when James wakes up, we can talk more about what happened, but I have a couple of questions.Bronx needs information that could be related to my kidnapping or maybe one of my past lives."

"I will help in any way I can.What do you need to know?" She looks at me attentively.

gray or dark magic that can manipulate a person’s mind.Bronx thinks she is part of a group called the Feral.Have you ever heard of a

looks like she is racking her brain, trying to remember anything

of those.I can ask my mother when she gets here

I feel my eyebrows rise in

it would be for the best for her to be here for a while.I hope you don’t mind," she looks at me apologetically, "We don’t know how she can help exactly, yet, but knowing her, she will have some

could have

"We’re going to figure out what is going on here, Kas.We are all in this

Bronx and I would like to speak to James.D-Do you think he

doctor said something about his vocal chords.We are hoping his wolf helped heal it overnight.I

him? I can step out and get Bronx

so much to tell you once we wake James up." I give Delilah a

from a chair in the hall and steps

some tears from my eyes, "Well, how did it go? You're crying and smiling.I don’t know

make sure he is okay speaking with us.The doctor said there is a problem with his vocal chords, so we

how many people try to reassure

think he will let me finish healing

mind reader, Baby.You'll just have to ask him and find out,"

the

out, "You can

face, takes my hand, and leads

short sable hair is ruffed up and his eyes are looking much more alert than I remember from yesterday.He tries to mess with the bandages on his neck, but Delilah steps

stop, she sits in the chair next

tips his head and regards him.He tips his head

Bronx, then

you're

says quietly as he lets go of my hand.I

next to him.I carefully climb up being careful to avoid the wires they hooked him up

finish whatever it was I was going to say, then he takes both my hands in his and places my palms on his neck.He nods and closes his

heart is completely removed now, "Alright Lex, time

it, Kas.Let’s finish what we started," she

back the bandages from around James’s

are not fully healed and bright red marks in

make this right, James,"

a quick nod and closes his

his throat and I begin to concentrate.I send as much of my essence as I can into him, blurring the lines of who he is and who I am.I manipulate the

energy in to help

level, making sure there is no sign of infection before I pull myself back into

open my eyes and look at him, he looks a little