to cheer her up while I fought not to continue crying in relief.
She sighed and sat back on her knees. I let go of her hair and removed my tie, offering it to her to clean her mouth.
"Are you going to strip to make me feel better?" She looked like she was going to be sick again, yet was trying to lighten the mood.
"You're insane," I huffed.
She frowned for a moment, not a reaction I was expecting.
Whenever I teased her like that, she'd have a comeback about how amazingly insane she was, but her lingering silence made me realize I could have just fucked up.
"I meant it as a joke," I whispered, reaching out to press my hand against her cheek.
She blinked a few times before she nervously laughed.
"Yeah...my bad. I think the headache isn't helping me think correctly. Jade is not processing. " She gave me the best smile she could muster, but I knew she was struggling.
She took the tie and patted her mouth, but when she tried to stand, I stopped her.
"No. Don't stand. The others will be here in a few seconds."
We hadn't communicated since I saw Jade's body— or the fake Jade — but their presence was super close.
My thoughts were interrupted by a crash, the doors of the gym literally breaking open.
Zeus, Zackery, Zion, Calvin, and Alaric ran into the gym, only to skid to a stop, their eyes on dead Jade.
"Fuck!" My brothers said together while Calvin and Alaric merely stared in horror.
"Over here!" I called out, catching their attention.
I looked to Jade, who was looking down at her shaking hands. I reached out and placed my hands on hers, catching her attention.
"I'm right here. The real me. All right?"
"I'm...not dirty to you, right?" Her gaze lifted, showing the most vulnerable pair of now-red eyes I'd ever seen.
"Fuck," I cursed and kissed her with as much love I could.
She didn't react, which only made me worry about what lies that man fed into her mind, but after a few seconds, she lightly pressed back.
When I pulled away, she blushed.
"I just vomited, and you kissed me. Your commitment level is really stratospheric."
"If it reassured you that I love every part of you and have never hated or thought of you as dirty, I'd French kiss you until you begged me to stop."
"Romantic," she sighed. "I need to lie down. My head won't stop pounding." She really looked miserable.
My brothers had snapped out of whatever shock they were in, rushing over to the stage.
Zion was there first, his athletic side always kicking in when it needed to the most.
He was at Jade's other side, his hand on her back as he leaned his head down to look at her.
"Hey, Queen. You scared us a little."
"Define ‘a little.’" She gave a weak smile. "Also, can you tell Dad to stop staring? I'm over here and not on the floor."
Zackery and Zeus crowded to my right and we looked to Alaric, who was still looking at Jade's dead copy.
"Headmaster Masters! It's a fake!" Zackery declared.
Jade lifted one of her hands up and flopped it side to side. "Over...here...Dad." She sounded loopy now.
"She needs to lie down," Zion said.
I nodded and helped her onto my lap. Zeus took off his blazer and folded it. Raising her head just slightly, he placed the material under her head like a pillow before I lowered her head back.
She closed her eyes but still looked miserable.
Calvin and Alaric were finally at the stage.
"Queen Jade! Are you okay?! Let me come help," Calvin called out, attempting to raise himself onto the platform but failing miserably.
"The stairs are on the side, Calvin, but you can just stay there. We're going to move Jade once her stomach settles," Zion explained, rubbing Jade's back.
"He's gone." Alaric spoke, the sound making the four of us freeze in actual fear.
He was hiding his eyes with the reflective flare of his glasses, but I was kind of glad I couldn't see his eyes or it would have surely freaked me out.
The others looked at me and I nodded.
"He told Jade to kill herself and vanished when she did. I tried to stop him...but he deflected my attack and faded. He's skilled in wind and dark magic. That's what he used to deflect my attack and pushed me away far enough to run," I explained.
"Then...who is on the ground?" Zackery asked.
"Zeus?" Jade asked, catching our attention.
"Yes, Jade?" Zeus was attentive, moving closer and gently stroking Jade's cheek. "I'm right here.”
"Did