Chapter 106: ONE HUNDRED AND SIX

CASSIAN’S POV

The moment the doctor left, Nicholas’s condition became difficult again.

He squirmed about in bed, muttering about how uncomfortable he was.

Roman knelt beside him, pulling down his trousers to expose Nicholas’ hardening dick.

I went up to him, placing my hand on his chest, tweaking his nipples through the fabric as he squirmed from the pressure. "Stop running, Nicholas. Let us help you."

A strangled moan left his lips as Roman’s lips wrapped around his cock, tongue dragging along the underside.

This was it. This was how we were gonna contain his situation until it faded away. We would continue to satisfy him sexually and in any other ways he needed.

After all, what were we here for? He was our priority.

The situation continued for another two days before Nicholas finally began to feel some relief. By the morning of the third day, the penthouse had become more quiet.

I was already seated at the dining table with Adrian and Roman when Elijah came downstairs alone, and Adrian immediately looked up from his breakfast.

"Where’s Nicholas?" Adrian asked.

"I went to get him," Elijah replied as he pulled out a chair. "He’s coming."

Roman glanced toward the staircase. "Did he say how he was feeling?"

"He said he was fine."

I frowned at that answer. Nicholas had been saying he was fine far too often lately, when most of the time, he clearly wasn’t.

A few minutes later, Nicholas finally appeared at the top of the stairs. He walked slowly, one hand briefly touching the railing as he made his way down. The moment he entered the dining area, I noticed something that made my stomach drop.

He looked thinner. When the hell did he lose that much weight?

I stared at him as he approached the table, trying to remember when I’d last noticed him getting this thin. Huh. I couldn’t exactly remember. It simply had happened out of the blue, it seemed. His clothes seemed looser around him, and the way he walked made me know that he should be resting.

He was weak.

"Nicholas," I said, pushing my chair back slightly. "Come here."

He looked at me with confusion but walked closer. "What?"

I looked him over again before turning toward the others. "Have you noticed how much weight he’s lost?"

Roman’s expression changed immediately and Adrian looked at Nicholas, then seemed to realize what I was talking about.

Elijah’s eyebrows pulled together. "He does look different."

"That should’ve been obvious," I said, frustration creeping into my voice. "We’ve been so focused on the heat that we didn’t notice how lean he’d gotten."

Nicholas shook his head. "I’m fine. I just haven’t been eating properly."

"That isn’t it, Nicholas," Adrian said.

"No, don’t worry. I can eat now."

He pulled out a chair and sat down before any of us could argue. Roman immediately moved the food closer to him, and Nicholas began eating. He seemed determined to prove his point, taking several bites while the rest of us watched.

I didn’t like how weak he looked even while doing something as simple as eating breakfast.

"You need to eat more than that," I said.

Nicholas gave me a tired look. "I’m eating."

"I’m saying you need more. You look like you’re about to pass out."

"I’ll eat." Nicholas grunted.

Adrian leaned back slightly, watching him carefully. "And after breakfast, you’re going back upstairs to rest."

Nicholas looked like he wanted to protest, but he apparently decided it wasn’t worth the argument. He continued eating instead.

For a few minutes, everything seemed normal. Then Roman glanced toward the sideboard. "We’re out of wine."

"I’ll get it," Nicholas said.

I looked at him immediately. "You don’t need to."

"I’m already here."

Before anyone could stop him, Nicholas pushed his chair back and stood. He barely had time to straighten before his body suddenly gave way.

"Nicholas!" I was out of my chair before I even realized I’d moved. I caught him as he collapsed, lowering him carefully to the floor while Adrian rushed around the table.

"Move back," Adrian ordered.

Roman was already beside us, his face tense. Elijah dropped to his knees on Nicholas’s other side. "Nicholas, can you hear me?"

His eyes remained closed and my heart hammered as I looked at his face.

Oh fuck.

"Come on," I muttered, tapping his shoulder. "Wake up."

Adrian checked him quickly while Roman called his name again. "Nicholas."

Nothing. For those few seconds, none of us knew what was happening. After everything the doctor had told us, seeing Nicholas collapse without warning was enough to send panic rushing through us.

Oh fuck, we couldn’t lose him now.

Then his eyes finally opened and they were unfocused at first.

"Hey," Adrian said immediately. "Look at me."

Nicholas blinked slowly, trying to focus on him.

"What happened? What the fuck just happened?!" Elijah asked.

Nicholas swallowed. His voice was barely audible. "I’m tired."

Adrian’s jaw tightened. "You collapsed."

"Oh? I feel very faint." His voice was so weak that I almost broke at the sound.

"Can you sit up?"

Nicholas shook his head weakly. "Just take me back to my room," he whispered.

Adrian didn’t hesitate. He slid one arm beneath Nicholas and carefully lifted him from the floor. "I’ve got you."

Nicholas rested his head against Adrian as they headed upstairs. Roman and Elijah followed immediately, and I stayed close behind them.

Once we reached the bedroom, Adrian placed Nicholas carefully on the bed. Roman pulled the blankets over him while Elijah went to get water. Nicholas looked exhausted, his eyes already closing again.

"Drink some of this," Elijah said when he returned.

Nicholas managed a few sips before handing the glass back.

I stood beside the bed, staring at him. My anger had nowhere to go. The doctor had told us his wolf was weakened. We’d known he was sick. We’d seen him struggling for days, but not to this extent. How had he suddenly deteriorated in just a day?

I clenched my jaw. Jayden was dead, but that didn’t make me any less angry at him.

If he had never touched Nicholas, none of this would’ve happened. Nicholas wouldn’t be lying here unable to stand for more than a few seconds. We wouldn’t have to watch him deteriorate while waiting for poison to leave his body.

I looked at Nicholas again and the anger in my chest only grew.

Jayden had done this to him. And no matter how many times I reminded myself that the man was already dead, I still wished I could make him answer for what he’d done.