Chapter 149

CAMILLA’S P.O.V

I felt a shudder go through me as I let out a ragged breath. My knees buckled beneath me and the only thought going through my head was of my daughter who was in my arms and how I didn’t want to drop her. I didn’t even realize when Ryker instantly appeared by my side and took her from me. I fell to my knees momentarily dislodging Briggs’ hold on me and I gasped at the sudden relief. I wasn’t sure how many seconds had passed since Briggs put his hands on me but it felt like an eternity.

“Are you alright?” he reached out for me but I brushed off his touch a bit too harshly. “Was it something I did? Do you need me to bring something for you?”

I knew he wasn’t the cause of the issue, he looked more confused than I had ever see anyone but I wasn’t going to risk that kind of rush again. I felt like I was going to pass out if it happened again. I tried to pull myself to my feet but I couldn’t even stand. My limbs felt like jelly and it was almost like I had lost all control of my body.

“No, I’m,” I stopped to catch my breath. My heart was pounding wildly in my chest and there was a sheen of sweat on my brow. “Are you ill?”

He looked taken aback by my question. I realized it was a weird thing to ask someone especially considering the context. There were a million ways it could have been taken but I didn’t care enough to do small talk. I needed to know what was causing all of this and how to stop it. I needed to know if there was a way that I could shut it off.

“That is a very out of pocket question, your majesty,” he responded slowly. “We can focus on my health at a later time when you don’t look so sick. There is a physician in the other quarters. Would you like me to-”

“No,” I cut him off and he fell silent. “All I need right now is for you to answer my question as quickly and as honestly as possible.”

He looked over at Ryker who had his eyes fixated on me. He looked poised to grab me if anything were to go wrong. Aurora nestled in his hand oblivious to what was going on and for a split second, I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to be a child again, even if it were just for a few minutes.

“Is it that obvious?” he joked as he rocked on his feet slightly. “I have a condition, it rarely affects wolves seeing as we have a much better immune system than anyone else but I suppose my grandfather is to blame. He was careless in his youth and somehow managed to contract a regenerative disease. It affects our bones and they don’t quite get to full strength.”

I let out an exasperated breath and decided to test my strength once more by trying to

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Chapter 149

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get to my feet. Ryker was instantly by my side helping me up and I couldn’t help but notice that Briggs was still standing away from me as if terrified to touch me now. His explanation offered some insight but it still wasn’t enough to understand exactly what was happening to me. A crazy idea formed in my mind and I knew I had to do it quickly before I managed to talk myself out of it.

“Is it alright if I try something?” I asked and he nodded. Ryker was by my side and he wrapped his arm around my elbow.

“Are you insane?” he whisper yelled. “You could pass out. This isn’t the kind of experiment you should not be trying. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I’ll be fine,” I tried to assure him but he shook his head at me. I simply gave him a soft smile. I was going to be fine. I turned to Briggs who was taking in our interaction with careful eyes. “Whatever happens, please do not grab me or you might just make it worse.”

“What are you doing, your majesty?” he asked but I didn’t respond, I slowly held onto his arm and waited.

I felt the lurch again, this time like a tug in the center of my gut and it was somehow even worse than the last time. It felt like someone had ripped a hole in my center and the power was just flowing freely. I closed my eyes trying and failing to see if there was a way I could clamp the hole shut but no matter what I did, it kept ripping free. It was Ryker who grabbed my arm and pulled me off Briggs.

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“I think that is enough experimenting for an entire day,” he sounded a little annoyed and on a normal day, I would have rolled my eyes at him or something but I was exhausted and barely standing. I felt faint and dizzy and I was almost sure that if Ryker moved even an inch away from me, I was going to fall flat on my face.

“Are those part of your powers?” he asked in a soft voice almost as if he didn’t want anyone to overhear. “I know about your lineage having powers and I might have seen your father use his a few times but it never had this effect.”

“I suppose it likes to manifest differently,” I attempted to joke but it turned into a wince when my head began to pound.copy right hot novel pub