Free Web NovelChapter 182: Chapter 181: Margaret’s Condition became worse
The incident happened three hours after the shadow construct’s departure.
Eve had retreated to the library after the war room meeting. needing space to process Malachai’s threat, to prepare mentally for tomorrow’s meeting with Seraphine, to simply exist for a moment without the weight of everyone’s protective concern pressing down on her.
Maya had found her there, curled into one of the oversized armchairs with a book she wasn’t really reading, her mind clearly elsewhere.
"Hey," Maya said softly from the doorway. "Elena said you might be here. Mind if I join you?" freēwebnovel.com
Eve looked up and managed a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Please. Company would be good, actually."
Maya settled into the chair across from her, pulling her legs up underneath her in that casual way she had. She studied Eve’s face with the particular attention of someone who had known her long enough to read what wasn’t being said.
"You look stressed," Maya observed. "More stressed than usual, which is saying something given that you’ve been operating at a baseline stress level of ’moderately concerning’ since I arrived."
Despite everything, Eve laughed. "That’s accurate."
"Want to talk about it?" Maya asked. "Or should I distract you with stories about the absolutely insane brunch shift I covered last week before coming here?"
"Distraction sounds good," Eve admitted.
So Maya launched into a story about a customer who had tried to pay for eggs benedict with what turned out to be Monopoly money, complete with dramatic reenactment of the manager’s face when he’d discovered it. Eve found herself genuinely laughing, the tension in her shoulders easing fractionally.
They’d been talking for maybe twenty minutes when Lora appeared in the doorway, her expression apologetic.
"Luna, I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s a call for you. From the hospital."
Eve’s stomach dropped. Margaret.
She was on her feet immediately, the book falling forgotten to the floor. "What did they say?"
"Just that they needed to speak with you urgently," Lora said. "I have the charge nurse on hold in the main office."
Eve moved quickly toward the office, Maya following without being asked....the instinct of a good friend who knew when to provide support without waiting for explicit invitation.
In the office, Eve picked up the phone with hands that trembled slightly. "This is Evangeline."
"Ms. Seraphim, this is Charge Nurse Patterson from Mercy General. I’m calling about Margaret."
Eve’s heart was pounding so hard she could hear it. "Is she...."
"She’s stable," the nurse said quickly, clearly reading the panic in Eve’s voice. "But there’s been a change. Her vitals have been declining over the past few hours, nothing catastrophic, but consistent enough that Dr. Morrison wanted you notified. She’s been asking for you."
Relief and new worry warred in Eve’s chest. "I’ll be there as soon as I can."
"We’ll let her know you’re coming."
Eve hung up and immediately started moving toward the door, her mind already cataloguing what she needed....keys, her bag, her phone....
"Eve," Maya said, catching her arm. "What’s happening? Is Margaret okay?"
"She’s....her vitals are declining. She’s asking for me. I need to go to the hospital." Eve was pulling on her jacket, looking around for her things with the fractured focus of someone operating on pure adrenaline.
"I’ll drive you," Maya said immediately.
"No, I can...."
"Eve." Maya’s voice was firm. "You’re shaking. You’re in no state to drive. I’ll take you. My car’s out front."
Eve wanted to argue, but Maya was right....her hands were trembling, her thoughts scattered. "Okay. Thank you."
They were halfway to the front entrance when Damian appeared from a side corridor, clearly having felt her spike of alarm through the bond.
"What’s wrong?" he demanded.
"My mom. Hospital. Her vitals are declining, she’s asking for me, I need to go now." The words came out in a rush.
Damian’s expression shifted immediately to protective alpha mode. "I’ll drive you. Or better....we’ll arrange security detail, take one of the estate vehicles...."
"Maya’s driving me," Eve said. "It’s faster. We’re leaving now."
"Eve, after this morning’s threat from Malachai, you cannot leave the estate without...."
"I’m going to see my mother," Eve interrupted, her voice carrying an edge that made Damian stop mid-sentence. "Now. With Maya. If you want to follow us in a separate vehicle, fine. But you’re not stopping me and you’re not delaying me."
The bond pulsed with complex emotion from all three mates....protective fury at the idea of her leaving in a potentially vulnerable state, understanding of why she had to go, frustration at being unable to immediately protect her.
Silas and Damon appeared from different directions, clearly summoned by Damian through their connection.
"What’s happening?" Damon asked.
"Margaret," Damian said shortly. "Eve’s going to the hospital. With the human. Alone."
"The hell she is," Damon started.
"The hell I’m not," Eve countered. Through the bond, she pushed all the emotion she couldn’t articulate...the fear, the urgency, the need to see Margaret now, right now, before it was too late.
The brothers felt it. Felt her genuine terror that she might not make it in time.
Silas spoke first. "We’ll follow. At a distance. Close enough to respond if needed, far enough to give you space with Margaret."
"Fine," Eve agreed immediately.
They moved quickly, Maya’s car was indeed parked near the front entrance, a slightly battered sedan that had seen better days but was clearly well-maintained. Eve climbed into the passenger seat while Maya got behind the wheel.
As they pulled away from the estate, Eve could see in the side mirror that a large black SUV was following...the brothers, keeping their promise to stay close but giving her the space she’d demanded.
The drive to the hospital should have taken thirty minutes.
Maya made it in twenty-two.
They didn’t speak much during the drive....Maya focused on navigation, occasionally glancing at Eve with concerned eyes. Eve sat with her hands clenched in her lap, trying to calm her racing heart, trying to prepare herself for whatever she was about to face.
Margaret had been improving. The healing Raphael had done had given her clarity, strength, more time. She was supposed to have more time.
But even as Eve thought it, she knew it wasn’t true. Raphael had been clear....the healing wasn’t a cure, just a reprieve. The cancer was still there, still progressing, just slowed enough to give Margaret quality time rather than painful deterioration.
Quality time that might be ending.
They parked in the hospital lot and moved quickly through the familiar corridors to the fourth floor, to Margaret’s private room. The door was partially open, and Eve could see nurses moving around inside with that particular quality of careful attention that meant the patient was being closely monitored.
Eve pushed the door open fully and entered.
Margaret lay in the bed, smaller than she’d seemed even a week ago, the decline visible in the sharp angles of her face, the fragility of her hands where they rested on top of the blanket. But her eyes were open and clear, and when they found Eve, they filled with relief and love.
"There you are," Margaret said, her voice soft but steady. "I was worried you wouldn’t make it in time."
