A Vow Of Hate

“Sweet dreams,” he laughed.

CHAPTER TEN

Julianna

I woke up with a headache and my body was extremely sore, like I had been flung into a wall several times.

At first, I was confused.

Then, I was filled with dread as the memories came crashing into me.

Someone tried to shoot me; Killian saved me; he took a bullet for me; he was hurt.

Oh God. Who would someone try to kill me and why?

The island was supposed to be safe – it was, up until today.

A wretched sob escaped me and someone popped in front of my blurry vision, leaning over me. “Hey, little one. You’re awake. How are you feeling?” Gideon asked gently.

Panic threatened to seize me but I breathed, reminding myself to take small and deep breaths. I licked my lips and finally noticed that I was wearing my veil. I remembered now. Gideon had covered my face before Killian could see me and my scars.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice cracking.

“No need to thank me.” He waved a hand, dismissing my words. “How do you feel?”

“Sluggish,” I responded truthfully. “My head hurts and it feels like my whole body is sore. How’s Killian? Is he okay?”

He nodded in understanding. “He’s fine. Samuel was able to take the bullet out and Killian is sleeping right now. There’s nothing to worry about. But I’m worried about you.”

I swallowed and took in a shuddering breath. An invisible hand clutched my heart in its fist. “You know; you saw me,” I choked, my eyes growing teary. “I have no control over it.”

“You had a seizure, Julianna,” Gideon said softly. It felt like someone was pounding a hammer into the back of my head and blood rushed between my ears.

Gideon grasped my hand in his and he gave me a gentle squeeze. “I won’t ask y–”

“The first time it happened was when I was ten years old,” I spilled out, practically choking on the words. “I had sustained a brain injury after falling off my horse.”

His brows furrowed. “You have regular seizures?”

“Not exactly.” I shook my head. “I used to, and they would be really bad. But I take medication regularly. I can better control it now, but epilepsy can’t be cured. It was wired into me and my brain. The last time I had a seizure was a month before Killian came back to the Island. It was a smaller one, not as bad as today’s. Emily and Mirai know. And now you.”

Stress and uncontrollable emotions were major triggers for my seizures. Sometimes I could better control them, but once I lose grasp of that tight control or if I ended up missing my daily medications… my seizures could get really bad.

Before I came to this island, only a handful of people knew of my condition, including my father, sister and Selene. I didn’t see epilepsy as a horrible thing; it was part of my life and I had learned to accept it at a very young age – but it was difficult for my father.

He saw it as a weakness – one that could embarrass him. So, I confined at home, in my room, within my four walls.

My father didn’t want anyone to know of my condition, and when I was younger, it was harder to control when or where I had my seizures.

Stress triggered them, and unfortunately for me, I stressed easily. And I was also an emotional person.

So, I became Julianna – the forgotten daughter.

“Does he know?” Gideon asked, breaking through my thoughts.

“No,” I said too quickly. “Please, Killian can’t know.”

“I won’t tell him,” he promised. “It’s not my business to get between husband and wife.”

I cracked a small smile under my veil. “And yet you report back to William Spencer…”

Gideon let out a low chuckle, not taking my words to heart, and I was glad he didn’t. “He’s my boss and I have to do what he tells me to.”

I finally propped myself up against the pillow, in a somewhat seated position. “Are you sure Killian is okay?” I questioned, still feeling… guilty at the fact that he took that bullet for me. He didn’t have to; he hated me – then why?

He could have been seriously injured; it could have been fatal; he could have died.

The thought left a bitter aftertaste on my tongue and my stomach heaved almost brutally and I fought back the urge to throw up.

Maybe I was still in shock.

Gideon patted my hand. “He’s fine. Killian just needs to rest up for a few days.”

“Okay,” I murmured, closing my eyes because I didn’t have the strength to keep them open any longer.

My body was still weak and sluggish – but that was just a side effect of my seizure. I would also be sleepy for days, my brain mushy and slow. My body needed time to recuperate after such a stressful toll.