Nico seemed to get worse as the sun rose. The bleeding from the bite had been bandage by Bleu but he was still pale and unresponsive. It took all of me to push away the intrusive thoughts of his death. I did the only thing I could and stayed by his side. I held his hand and Lu held the other. 

Jia and Robie stood outside to keep watch as Bleu left to get clean bandages. 

I grabbed Lu by the hand, connecting us into a circle. I was never one for religion, but I prayed. I'd do it forever if it meant Nico would open his eyes.

Please, I begged. If there's a god out there. Please don't take him from me.

I opened my eyes, hoping to find Nico awake and getting through it like he always did, but he still lay dormant in front of me. I squeezed their hands as if I too were slipping away. For a moment, it felt like he squeezed my hand back.

Then Lu screamed, making Bleu drop their bandages. 

Nico rolled his head to the side and made an attempt to sit up and we all panicked. With all the screaming going on, Robbie and Jia bolted in and saw Lu laying on the floor crying followed by me singing. Nico looking at us with utter confusion. 

"Just give them a minute," Bleu told him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As we celebrated, Robie inspected Nico, whose body seemed to be healing on his own. I followed his eyes as they fell on one of the blades in Jia's throwing fan. I jumped to stop him but couldn't make it in time as he nicked Nico's arm. This proceeded to cause more screaming from Lu.

"Robie! Are you out of your mind?" Lu shrieked. But he remained calm.

"Look at the wound on his abdomen, it's healing quite quickly on its own." He pointed out.

"What are you trying to say?" I questioned. 

"Typically, when someone gets bitten by a wolf, especially a rogue that powerful," Robie explained, though the suspense was killing me.

"What is it, Robert?!" I exclaimed. They were all watching us like a tennis match.

"You either die or you turn." He said. "And Nico is still alive."

He pointed to Nico's wound again. It was closing slowly, but sure enough, healing a lot faster than it should've been.

"M-maybe Bleu's just that good." I offered but Bleu snorted. 

"I have basic knowledge in first aid. All I did was stop the bleeding." They replied but Lu and I had started the conspiracy theories. There was no way Nico was a werewolf. There couldn't be. He'd already been through enough. 

My thoughts were interrupted by groans of agony.

"It stings," Nico cried.

"Yep, he's a werewolf," Bleu said casually as they went to tend to his wound.

My heart dropped. This was all my fault. I got him into this mess. He's going to be stuck like this, all because I made him come with me. I had him open old wounds all under the premise of wanting to know about something that might not even have anything to do with him. All he wanted was for me to find my mom and get out and I didn't want to go alone. I made him into what he is.

Nico cupped my head in his hands and looked me straight in the eyes. His eyes were still shining like they always did. One like a never-ending pool of caramel and the other like a sapphire in the dark sea. 

He gave me a crooked smile. "[something cute probably]"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bleu suggested we spend another night in the temple. We would leave for their house in the morning. 

Robie was the only one who didn't sleep by Nico's side. He kept staring at the door as if waiting for something to jump out. I fought with myself to stay away but couldn't stop the nightmares from coming. When I woke again, Robie was sound asleep. I fidgeted aimlessly, anxious about what the morning would bring.

"Hey," Nico whispered softly. "You still up?"

I rolled my sleeping bag next to him and lay in comfortable silence

"I had a nightmare that you left me," I whispered.

Nico snorted. "That's ridiculous. You know I have no sense of direction."

I managed to crack a smile but it faded just as quickly. I couldn't stop thinking of how scared I was. 

"You don't have to do this," I said. " You don't have to put yourself in danger for me."

He stared at me, puzzled. [I was always the first to help someone in need]

"Why are you so against this?" He [pried].

"Don't you realize how valuable you are?" My voice was cracking now. I could feel the tears coming but I willed them away. I had shed enough for one day.

"To the mission?"

I looked down. 

"To me," I mumbled.

I cleared my throat. "Get some rest, sunshine." 

"Goodnight, sunflower." Nico said, giving me a smile before falling out of consciousness.