CHAPTER 603: -CHAPTER 603-

Despite knowing that Asher was only sleeping, the air in the car was tense, neither Jael nor Caspian seemed inclined to hold a conversation.

There was already an in-house doctor at the mansion, and with the mishap around the heat inducers, there was also a specialist on standby to attend to Caspian if the need arose.

The unspoken consensus was to get Asher cleaned up and then have him briefly looked over. If the doctor’s report was satisfactory enough, they would let him sleep like Davian suggested. And if there was any danger, they would drive right back out to a hospital.

Caspian originally sat stiffly in the back seat, his worried blue gaze occasionally drifting over to Asher. In the heat of the moment, it had been easy to ignore the litres of blood and guts that clung to his mate, but right then, he wasn’t all too eager to get close.

Asher didn’t give him a choice though, the sleeping Alpha abruptly leaning in his direction like he was seeking him out even in his sleep.

Caspian let him lean on him, his nose wrinkling at the smell of death that clung to his mate. He was already messy anyway, there was no salvaging his outfit.

Getting Asher to their room was easy because Caspian didn’t have to do anything but walk beside the men who easily carried their sleeping Mafia King up the stairs.

Word must have spread about what Asher had done, because there was admiration and a hint of fear in their eyes as they appraised him.

Jael didn’t leave after Asher was taken to their room, Caspian had the Alpha taken right to the bathroom. If he wasn’t so worried about Asher, he would have suggested that they hosed him down right outside before bringing him in.

In a short time, his clothes were in a bloody pile in a corner, one that was quickly disposed of. It would have to be set on fire because no amount of cleaning was going to get that much blood out of his clothes.

Getting Asher clean was easy with Jael’s help, and afterwards, they were both stained and damp, but Asher was perfectly clean in a bathrobe, fast asleep on the bed.

"You should clean up," Jael said to him, "I’ll bring the doctor over."

Caspian simply nodded, even though he had no plans to leave Asher’s side until he got the confirmation that his husband would be fine.

He stood next to the bed and leaned close, unable to sit on the bed because of his messy clothes. Asher’s hair was frizzy from the bath, his brows smooth, expression peaceful - he seemed to be in a very deep sleep.

Caspian reached out to touch him and then pulled back when he heard the doorknob turn.

The doctor had already been alerted while they were on their way back, so it didn’t take long to bring the doctor over.

He was a familiar face, it was the same physician who had treated Caspian the first time Asher had gone berserk. The doctor walked in easily, going right to his Mafia King’s side.

After a few surface checks, the doctor’s previously tense expression relaxed a bit, and Caspian couldn’t help but pick up on it, some of the tension easing out of his frail shoulders as well.

The doctor drew some blood for further tests, pronouncing his Mafia King perfectly fine and healthy, just a little tired.

Caspian and Jael stood in stunned silence for a few minutes after the doctor took his leave, after promising to get the blood results ready in the shortest possible time.

"He’s just sleeping," Caspian sighed out. He hadn’t been present for most of what had happened, and from Jael’s detailed description, he had been expecting the worst.

Jael’s dark eyes were liquid with an unnamed emotion as he stared at Asher, "Yeah. He should be fine."

"What’s going to happen to Gage?" Caspian brought up now that they had some reassurance that Asher wasn’t in any danger.

Jael pushed a hand through his hair, it was already messy, so he didn’t care about tousling it up further. "I’ll have some men investigate," He murmured, sighing heavily. "After Asher recovers, I might go find him in person."

Caspian nodded, despite Jael’s reassuring words, something dark hung in the air, unspoken. He didn’t know much about Gage, but he did know that the previous Mafia King hadn’t been himself since Asher’s mom died.

With his sudden, unexplained disappearance, the possibility that the Alpha had hit his limit was high.

Caspian said nothing about this, the air fragile. Asher didn’t seem to care if his dad lived or died, but Gage was very important to Jael, Caspian hoped it was just all a little misunderstanding.

"I’ll keep an eye on Asher. I’ll call you if anything happens." He said solemnly, watching Jael leave with slumped shoulders after acknowledging his words.

It was still early in the afternoon, but his mate was already back home and fast asleep. Caspian looked away from Asher and started for the bathroom to clean up for real this time.

He had taken his mate’s rings off before they cleaned him up, and he could tell that some were missing. Lost in the fight that Asher had been in for hours before he showed up.

Caspian slowly slid down the shower glass as warm water ran down his skin. The muted terror in Jael’s eyes when Asher had shown up at his banging was hard to ignore.

He knew that that was why the Beta hadn’t told him about Asher’s situation, even though the chances of him having a connection to it were high.

To Asher, Gage had been the cause of his mom’s death; he had taken his side, decisively. But to Jael, Gage had killed a part of himself when he lost control around his mate. He had to witness Asher’s rage and Gage’s pain, forced to pick a side.

There was already no explanation for why Knight Alphas were prone to losing control around their mates, and now there was this strange behavior to add to that.