Dr. Luna
Chapter 77

Pain. The first thing she felt when she started coming around. She shifted. Trying to put together the foggy pieces. Tyler! She shot up. Wincing from the pain as she did. Her body was healing, but not fully healed. This pain was different though. This was pain past the point of exhaustion. She had been away from her mate for too long. She was wearing a long shirt and someone had put shorts on her. She glanced around. She spotted Rosa and her two boys. They were safe. She felt arms on her and turned to look. It was Cedric. "Lilly? How are you feeling?" Cedric's calm voice called out to her. "Where is Tyler?" Lilly looked around. He wasn't there. Tristan and Kade were also gone. She winced as she felt a rippling pain inside of her body.

"We haven't found him yet. Kade and Tristan are still looking. Rowan and his mate are searching the rivers while Kade and Tristan are searching either side of the riverbanks." Cedric's voice was quiet. He was worrying about Lilly. He knew she needed to be with Tyler. "Cedric... undo the block." Lilly looked at him and then noticed his worried look.

"Lilly... I... I already did." Cedric's voice was barely above a whisper as Lilly held her hand up in a gasp.

She couldn't feel him. She couldn't hear him. Maybe he was unconscious... but she should still be able to feel him.

"Maybe he is too far away." Cedric tried to reassure her seeing the distress in her eyes.

"Momma!" The two boys echoed out as they ran into her arms.

Lilly scooped her arms around Jason and Cody. "I bet you two were so scared. I'm so glad you are all right."

"Rosa kept running and running and running. She was really fast." Jason said excitedly.

"She ran until she couldn't anymore then she climbed us up a cliff side and hid us in a small hole. She said we had to stay there no matter what. Even if she left us, we had to hide there. Then Kade finally came and brought us back." Cody explained to Lilly. She smiled as she rubbed their backs. Pain was coursing through her body but she refused to show it. She didn't want them to worry.

"Is daddy dead? Did we lose another daddy?" Jason finally whispered out what he was afraid of.

"Why would you say that? Your daddy is strong." Lilly felt her chest tighten as her voice constricted with her words.

"That's what I heard them saying. They don't think daddy made it." Cody looked over at the centaurs in the distance.

Lilly squeezed her hands in anger. How dare they give up on him?! They didn't even know how strong he was. He was fine! He is out there waiting for their help and they have given up on him. She snorted out an angry gush of air.

"Don't worry. Your daddy is fine. In fact. Mommy is going to go and bring him back. You be good boys and stay with Rosa. I'll be back soon." Lilly motioned for Rosa. "Please watch over them a bit longer." She kissed both boys on their heads and gave them a gentle push into Rosa's arms.

"Lilly... you need to still be resting. On top of your injuries-" Cedric began but was cut off hard.

"I know about my condition Cedric. You think it is going to get any better just sitting here waiting for him? It won't." She then softened her voice. She didn't mean to lash out at him. "Cedric. If I was missing... if Merida was missing... would you be sitting here and waiting around?"

"What if we miss them? What if while we are out looking, they find him and bring him back? Then we are out there searching while he is back here." Cedric protested minorly. He knew he would be out there looking too. In fact, he wanted to be looking for Tyler but needed to be near Lilly's side.

"Surely we can be reached by a mind link. Honestly, anything is better than waiting around here. I can't not look for him. He would be looking for me. You know he would be out there looking for me. He is always keeping me safe..." Lilly frowned as her bottom lip began to quiver. She walked away and out towards the river. Cedric stayed at her side. "He is always protecting me. The one time he needed me, and I couldn't be by his side. I don't even know where he is."

The soft sounds of clopping came up behind her. "We don't heal as fast as you guys do. A lot of my men are wounded. I am good enough to help you search though."

Lilly turned and looked at Drake. He had cuts and bites on his legs. He was in no condition to help search for Tyler. She gave him a thankful smile. "Please just keep my boys safe. I'll be back as soon as I find him. I'll feel better knowing you are here with my boys." He sighed. She was protecting him now. He nodded to her with a smile. "I'll make sure they are safe."

"If we are not back by tomorrow, take my boys back home. Please." Lilly wanted them back in the safety of her pack's territory.

"Okay, but then we will be coming back to help you." Drake turned and walked back to their camp.

Lilly took in a deep breath and started walking down the river's edge. Cedric was carrying a pack of supplies, in case they found Tyler. He also brought food and drink for them. He reached his arm out and clasped it around Lilly's waist. She looked at him, but didn't protest. He knew she was exhausted and in pain. Without Tyler being around she wasn't getting recharged. He didn't need her collapsing. So, he would keep a supporting arm around her.

Tyler... where are you... Lilly echoed the call in her mind, hoping that he could hear her. Pain shot through her like bolts of lightning. Her body was feeling limp and unresponsive. She cursed her body. Her mate needed her. All because she was pregnant, her body refused to give her energy. Instead, it devoured it all for her little princess.

They heard a noise in front of them, the soft snapping of twigs. Then, they got the scent. It was Tristan and Kade.

I have Lilly with me. You guys aren't far ahead of us. Cedric linked to Kade.

What?! Why isn't she back resting? Kade growled in his head.

The sounds came towards them. Tristan came through the brush and immediately lifted Lilly away from Cedric and into his arms.

"You are in no condition to be walking around." Tristan growled out, though his eyes were looking over her warmly.

"I have to find him, Tristan." Lilly smiled at him weakly.

"I know. I know. We will find him. We have scoured the area. He must have gone further down..." Tristan frowned. He and Kade had searched both sides of the river with not a trace. The Kelpies haven't reported anything either, which was a good thing. It meant they didn't find his body in the water. "I can't feel him Tristan..." Lilly frowned as she leaned her head into his chest.

His heart was breaking for her. He glanced at Cedric and Kade, who were also looking concerned. A mate not able to feel the other is very serious. Either he is that far away... or... he didn't want to think of or. Tyler was about to have a baby, he had to be there to see her. Tyler had a pack to lead and he had Lilly who needed him. She needed Tyler while she was pregnant. How would she get through the pregnancy without him? It would be so painful for her. Mentally... physically...

Tristan held her body close as they continued to trail the river. Suddenly, Lilly gripped at Tristan's chest. "I can smell the faint smell of licorice."

He also smelled it too.

"Over here!" Kade yelled at the side of the rivers edge. Someone washed up to shore over here.

"It was Abaddon... you can smell his scent. It looks like he wandered back into the woods." Cedric looked at the trail. It was old. Still... there was no sign of Tyler.

"If Abaddon was able to make it to shore, then Tyler had to have too." Lilly said confidently. She felt the warm arms of Tristan tighten around her as he held her to his chest.

"I'm sure he made it too Lilly." Tristan smiled down at her. "Let's keep searching."

It had been days. There was just no sign of him. The centaurs had joined in the search. A fresh healthy herd of them showed up joining in the search. Lilly had sent Cedric back to let her parents know what was going on. Lilly refused to leave. She could not head back to the Diamond pack without him.

Tristan was carrying her. She was weak and in pain. Her wounds were all healed, but her pregnancy was taking a toll on her. A few hippogryph's screeched in the air and landed nearby. Alice, Ethan, Cedric and Dylan all hopped off and walked up to Tristan and Lilly. "Lilly. My dear baby. Look at you. You need to rest. This isn't good for you." Alice reached up and stroked her daughter's hair.

"I won't leave him out here." Lilly shook her head.

"Lilly... by now his wounds would be healed." Ethan's eyes met with his daughters. He watched her green glow pin against him. A rage built up behind them. "I know you don't want to hear it. Damnit Lilly! I know. Okay? I have been through it. I have lost my mate before. Can you feel him? Can you sense him? It's been days now. If he was alive, he would be here."

"Then, where is his body?" Lilly spat back angrily.

"Lilly... Abaddon probably took the body with him. The fairy prince's body would be a prize." Ethan looked down the river. There were so many people looking for him. Cedric had filled them in on everything. "Between the kelpies searching the water and everyone searching up here... baby... I'm so sorry. You know it's true. You all know it is true." Ethan's hands shook slightly as he watched their eyes fill up with tears. He was gone.

Lilly felt the warm liquid hitting her cheek. She glanced up to see a steady stream trickling down Tristan's face. She looked over to Kade and Cedric... they were crying as well. No... no... no... I won't believe it.... I can't believe it. I need him. Lilly bit her bottom lip. And stared at everyone. They all were telling her...that Tyler, her mate, the love of her life... was dead.