Luna. Chapter 67

(Kael's POV)

I made it to the hospital in seven minutes, breaking several traffic laws in the process. Nothing mattered except getting to my son and the woman who'd called me when everything fell apart.

When I got to Asher's room, Lyra was sitting beside his bed holding his hand. She looked up when I entered, and I could see the fear in her eyes.

"Any updates?" I asked quietly.

"Dr. Martinez confirmed it. Severe aplastic anemia." Her voice was steady, but her hands were shaking. "He needs a bone marrow transplant."

"What are the chances I'm a match?"

"Higher than average because you're his father. But it's not guaranteed."

I looked at my son lying pale and still in the hospital bed. Four years old, and already fighting for his life.

"When can we test?"

"Now, if you're willing."

"Of course I'm willing."

Dr. Martinez appeared in the doorway as if summoned. "Mr. Blackwood? I'm Dr. Martinez. I understand you're willing to be tested as a potential donor?"

"Whatever Asher needs."

"It's a simple blood test to start. We'll check for HLA compatibility. If you're a preliminary match, we'll do more detailed testing."

I rolled up my sleeve without hesitation. "Let's do it."

The blood draw took less than five minutes. As Dr. Martinez prepared to leave, Victor appeared in the doorway.

"I came as soon as I got Lyra's message." He looked terrible—older, more fragile than I'd seen him since before the antidote. "How's our boy?"

"Sleeping," Lyra said. "They're testing Kael to see if he can be a donor."

Victor's eyes moved to me, and for a moment, I saw something that looked like grudging respect.

"Good," he said simply.

"Victor, you look pale," Lyra said, standing to check on her father.

"I'm fine. Just worried."

But I could see what Lyra saw. Victor looked like he was about to collapse.

"When's the last time you ate?" I asked.

"This morning. Maybe yesterday." Victor waved dismissively. "It doesn't matter."

"It matters," Lyra said firmly. "Asher needs all of us healthy right now."

"I'll get him something from the cafeteria," I offered.

"You don't have to—"

"Victor, let me help. Please."

He studied my face for a long moment, then nodded. "Coffee. Black. And maybe a sandwich."

I was halfway to the cafeteria when my phone buzzed. Dr. Martinez.

"Mr. Blackwood? Can you come back to the room? We have the preliminary results."

I ran. Actually ran through the hospital corridors like a man possessed.

When I got back to Asher's room, Dr. Martinez was waiting with what looked like good news on his face.

"You're a match," he said. "A very good match, actually. We'll need to do more detailed testing to confirm, but the initial results are extremely promising."

Relief flooded through me so completely that I had to sit down.

"What does that mean?" Lyra asked.

"It means we can proceed with transplant planning. The surgery itself is relatively straightforward, but the recovery process will be intensive."

"When?" I asked.

"As soon as possible. His blood counts are declining rapidly."

"Tomorrow?"

"If the detailed compatibility tests confirm what we're seeing, yes. Tomorrow."

I looked at Asher, still unconscious but breathing steadily, and felt something I hadn't experienced in years: the absolute certainty that I was exactly where I needed to be.

"Whatever he needs," I said again.

"There are risks to you as well," Dr. Martinez warned. "Bone marrow donation is generally safe, but there are always complications possible with any surgical procedure."

"I don't care about risks to me."

"Dad—" Lyra started.

"No," I said firmly. "This isn't negotiable. He's my son, and he needs this. I'm doing it."

Victor, who'd been quiet during the medical discussion, spoke up. "You might not be his biological father, but you'll always be his daddy after this."

I looked at the man whose life I'd saved through years of sacrifice and lies, and saw something like forgiveness in his eyes.

"I already am his daddy," I said quietly. "This just makes it official."

And for the first time since Asher was born, that felt completely true.