Chapter 39

**ADAM**

Two days, she’s been out for two fucking days. I don't dare leave her bedside for fear that she will wake up and not be the first face she sees.

“It’s not normal. Why hasn’t she woken up yet?” I ask Rosalie and Dr. Fischer for the umpteenth time.

They both look at me with the same look they’ve had for two days, and I know they’re going to give me the same answer they’ve had.

“We don’t know. Her vitals are fine, she’s sleeping peacefully but I don’t know why she’s not waking up.” Dr. Fischer replies to me. “I think her body is just taking a while to get used to the change.” She answers reassuringly.

“Do you think it could be related to the fact that we marked her both at the same time? Like some kind of overdose?” I ask worried.

“Anything is possible, but from the tests I’ve done, everything is fine.” She sighs. “I have other patients to see. I’ll get back to her later.” She pats my arm as she walks out of the room.

“Adam, I know it’s hard to see her like this...it’s hard for me too but...” Rosalie sighs as she sits at the foot of Aria’s bed. “She’s stronger than she looks. She’s going to wake up. I know it, I feel it... She just needs time. So we should give it to her. Be patient.”

I know she’s right but I can’t help but worry. I find myself relatively calm compared to Austin, who is still waiting for the Council’s decision. They are still deliberating because they can’t all agree. The microphones that were installed in David’s office and bedroom still haven’t yielded anything. If he is involved in anything suspicious, he doesn’t talk about it in those two rooms. On the other hand, Riley still hasn’t tried to contact Aria and I find that odd. Sure, they had a fight but they were supposed to be best friends and Rosalie reported to me her suspicions and that she told her she was going to contact Aria.

Aria’s dad has tried to call her twice today and I honestly don’t know what to tell him, so I didn’t answer. I don’t want to worry him and have him try to visit her, but if she stays like this for even one more day, it’s going to be hard to avoid him. I know that if I tell him she is not well he will try to see her and I don't see how I can arrange that here.

“I’ll try to work a little bit. Just to take my mind off it.” I say to Rosalie.

“I’ll stay with her and call you if there’s any news.” She ressures me.

As I walk towards my office, I pass Leila coming back from her workout and looking upset.

“Is everything okay?” I ask her as I stop at her level.

“No, but once I’ve had a drink it will be better.” She answers annoyed.

“By drinking you mean...”

“Blood, yes. I’ve been cutting down on my drinking lately and it’s been affecting my physical abilities.” She cutts me off.

“Well, you just need to train more...”

“What? You know we’re hybrids, right? We need blood as much as food to be at our best.” She starts walking again before stopping. “By the way, I was told yesterday that no blood bags were delivered. We need to keep an eye on that, it wouldn’t be good for us if our vampire brothers need to hunt for food.”

“Thanks for the heads up. I’ll take a closer look.” I reply before we each go our separate ways.

If this information is true I will have to contact our supplier. The purpose of getting blood delivered in bags, was so that the vampires wouldn’t have to hunt for food, whether it was human blood or animal blood. that’s what made some werewolves agree to join us. If we were hunting humans I don’t think we would have many non-vampires in our ranks. The timing is still incredible, we get attacked and now this. It would be a perfect plan for someone to try to harm us. But who is this person or these people.

**AUSTIN**

I have always hated waiting, patience is not my greatest quality, far from it. Especially when my mate has been in a coma for two fucking days and someone is trying to harm us. And I would also add, when my main suspect gives me nothing. Alex is monitoring the wiretaps automatically and apart from an argument between David and Riley, there has been nothing special. I try to do my best to act as if nothing had happened in front of him but it’s getting harder and harder. He used to be the person I would turn to in this kind of situation but now I can’t tell him anything. I pray to the goddess that the one I consider a brother is not the one planning my downfall.
Only Garrett knows about Aria’s condition. Until I know more, I don’t know who I can trust.

A phone call brings me out of my thoughts, David’s father informs me that the Council has finally made a decision and I am expected in the meeting room in an hour to hear the result of the deliberation. His voice doesn’t give anything away, so I have no idea what they decided. A few seconds later, I receive a message from Adam.

*Adam: Aria just woke up. She’s a little groggy but she’s fine. She’ll call you in a few hours when she’s feeling better.*

I’m so relieved, everything seems to be getting better all at once. Knowing that Aria is okay is the main thing, anything can fall on me now, I can take it. I’ve already received one piece of good news, it remains to be seen if a second one awaits me. I'm finally going to know what the Council decided.