Chapter 140

• Callan POV
• The sound of our footsteps bounces off the stone floor and echoes up in the high ceiling of the hallway that wraps around the courtyard where the ancient tree stands. Ayla’s excitement bubbles inside my chest; I can feel a strange energy surrounding her; it feels like static, all the hairs on my arm are standing on end, and the energy is radiating from her across the space, filling every crevice of the narrow hallway. I open the door, holding it as she walks through; she glances up and smiles at me, but her eyes make my breath catch in my throat; they are ablaze, bright purple lights shine out from her eyes, but she looks so ethereal. I watch as she walks across the courtyard; her footsteps are light and make a soft padding noise on the stone floor, her hips sway so seductively, I feel entranced by them and her curvaceous ass; her hand is outstretched toward the tree, and as she passes by the beautiful violets my mother planted, I watch in awe as they all seem to bend toward her, as if they are bowing down; their sweet candy-like scent mixes with Ayla's rousing scent, making saliva pool in my mouth. A pleasant chill runs down my spine as a cool breeze brushes against my legs, sweeping up and swirling around Ayla; her hair seems to flow around her. My breath hitches as I grip Ayla's mark on my neck, which begins to burn just as Ayla’s hand touches the tree; the breeze that was swirling around her shoots up, shaking the bare branches above Ayla’s head. Her beautiful long locks blow back away from her face as her body ignites with that angelic glow she had the other day when she was protecting me and Micha from Alister and Riven. The breeze drops along with Ayla's hand. I stand up straight, waiting for her to turn around, but her knees buckle, and she drops. I bolt toward her, catching her before she hits the stone flags and cradle her against my body; her body is limp in my arms, and her skin feels hot to the touch once again, but her heartbeat is steady. I scoop her up and carry her back to our room, gently laying her on the bed.
• *Doctor Whitelock, Ayla just collapsed.*