C38 Ashleys' Aftermath

Rains' P.O.V.

After getting to the hospital, I'm led to a large exam room where the eleven injured warriors are on hospital beds. Then seeing me enter the room, the doctor walks up to me, bows, and greets me with a smile.

"Who needs healing first, Doctor?" I ask him, and he points out the warriors with the worst injuries. I turn to my mother and ask if she has any healers that can help. She nods before leaving to find where the witches from the coven had been asked to stay until everything was over. A few minutes later, she returns with a young lady about twenty years old with long brown hair, brown eyes, and caramel skin. She introduces her as Lady Nina.

"It's nice to meet you, Lady Nina. Could you assist my mother and me in healing our warriors?" I ask her.

"Of course, my Queen." She answers with a smile.

"Thank you. The doctor here will show you which ones need healing first." I say before turning my attention to the first warrior.

About twenty minutes have passed while we heal the warriors. Sam walks in to tell me that Zion is on his way up from the morgue. I look down at myself, realizing I'm still in my bloody clothes. Crap, maybe he won't notice. I think to myself.

"Yeah, right!" Dosha replies. "He's going to freak out, so you might as well be honest with him."

"Yea, I know," I say as I give up on that thought and return to healing the warriors. A few more minutes go by, and Zion walks into the exam room, confused when he asks if the five men we have left are the only ones that made it. When I tell him that they are the ones that haven't been healed yet and that the others are standing guard with the witches, his whole body relaxes. But then, he asks the question I've been dreading.

"Is all that blood from the warriors?" I ask her.

"Oh, umm, about that," I say, thinking for a moment about lying to him but deciding against it as I answer him honestly. "It's Ashleys' blood."

"What? How is that possible?" He asks me, stunned for a moment.

"She was in our suite with a knife to Odetts' throat when my mom, Jess, and I made it back. I started having flashbacks to that day in the woods with the rogue, and before I knew it, I had killed her." I say, shrugging my shoulders as I turn around and continue healing the warrior in front of me.

"How did she get into our suite? How did she get into our territory without anyone noticing?" He asks me.

"I'm not sure, but she's been taken care of," I tell him.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with her, my love," He says as he wraps his arms around me, kissing the top of my head.

"We did have three casualties in the suite other than Ashley," I say, trying to cover my sadness but obviously not doing well, as he squeezes my wait lightly.

"Who?" He asks nervously.

"Mrs.Clair and the two guards with her and Odett," I say as a tear slips down my cheek.

"Where are their bodies?" He asks with sadness in his tone.

"The morgue. Sam has already gotten a cleaning crew in the suite, and Ashleys' body has been disposed of. Odett is safe with Jess in her and Orians suite with Evan and more guards. Mrs.Clairs' family has been alerted and will be arriving soon, and the same with the guards' families. And Sam is investigating how Ashley got onto the territory and in the castle unnoticed." I say in one swift breath.

"You have done well, my Queen." He says, which makes me smile.

"Thank you, my King. If you don't mind, I would like to be with you when you meet with the families of the fallen warriors and Mrs.Clairs families." I say.

"Of course, but maybe that's enough healing if you're going to accompany me." He says. "It can be very draining talking to the deceased's families."

"But there are only two warriors left," I say.

"I'll ask your mother and the other healer to take care of them," He says. "And I'll also get Orian to grab you a change of clothes since he's grabbing me some too." And I realize he's only wearing gym shorts.

"Thank you, Zion," I say as my mom and Lady Nina walk into the room. They bow and greet us, and I introduce Zion to Lady Nina.

Orian gets to the hospital quickly with our clothes, and the doctor takes us to a private room to change. Once we change into clean clothes, Sam informs us that the first of the many families have arrived, and he has them in a private waiting room. Zion takes my hand, and we walk to the waiting room in silence.

After we've finished talking to the fifth family, Sam lets us know that Mrs.Clairs family is here. I take a deep breath, bracing myself, and nod for Sam to bring them in. Sam enters a second later with a young lady. A young version of Mrs.Clair herself. Zion introduces us, and we sit down to talk. She is a sweet girl and is proud of her grandmother for protecting the princess till her last breath. After she leaves, we have one more family, which goes by fast.

"Is our suite ready?" Zion asks Sam as he walks in.

"Yes, my King. Everything has been taken care of, and Princess Odett is still with Ms.Jessica in her and Beta Orians' suite with Evan and the other guards." Sam says, and Zion thanks him before looking at me.

"Go on back to the suite. Getting the witches settled in will take a while." He tells me, and I shake my head.