by Rachel Jonas
“Elle, would you run cold water in the tub?” he asked in a rush.
“Right away.” After answering, she sprang right into action.
She was maybe a few steps ahead of him and the rest of us trailed behind them. Gently, Aaric lowered Corina’s limp frame into the bath as it began to fill. He made quick work of splashing the cool water on her face, calling her name every few seconds with hopes of awakening her.
Nothing.
No signs of life.
Panic filled me to the brim, long before it dawned on me that, soon, if we were unable to bring Corina back, the four of us would fall to our deaths as well. Even when I was reminded of this detail, I didn’t fear for my own life. Only hers.
Aaric seemed to hold the same sense of desperation when he climbed into the tub fully clothed, holding Corina upright while Elle took over dousing her with water.
“You have to come back to us.” Aaric’s words were spoken so low in Corina’s ear I suspected he hadn’t meant for anyone else to hear them, but I did, taking in their gravity.
Silas leaned in to lift her lids and stared curiously, which immediately prompted Aaric and I to do the same. Hours ago, they’d taken on a strange marbling that blended her usual brown with the familiar silver that only monarchs bore.
Only, now, they’d changed. Cool silver filled them completely.
“What do you think it means?” I dared to ask, knowing none of us held definitive answers.
Silas confirmed this when he shrugged. “Not sure, but … it could be a good sign.”
He’d barely gotten the words out when Elle quickly turned off the water and called out.
“Look! Her toes! They moved!”
Our gazes shifted to where Corina’s feet barely peaked above the surface of the water, and sure enough, they twitched.
“It could just be her nerves firing off, but …”
Silas’ voice trailed off and we all observed when he lifted Corina’s eyelid again. This time, he breathed a short laugh that held so much relief within it that my heart leapt once.
“Her pupils are responding to the light,” he shared.
“That means—”
“That means she’s alive,” Silas cut in, answering Levi’s question before he even had the chance to fully ask it. “She needs to rest, though,” he added. “This has been hard on her body and we have to give her time.”
Aaric didn’t seem as easily convinced, weighing his words before speaking them aloud. “So, we just … leave her?”
Silas offered a comforting smile.
“No one has to leave,” he clarified, “but we can move her back to bed now, sit with her quietly until the change is complete.”
Aaric’s gaze lowered to Corina, where she rested in his arms and, eventually, he gave a nod. With that, Levi stepped closer and lifted her from the bath. Water drained from her clothing, prompting Elle to reach for a towel.
“Set her on the rug and I’ll get her dry and changed,” she offered. “Grab something from the blue suitcase. That’s where I packed all her comfy clothes.”
Silas nodded and headed straight to the closet. He returned with a sleeveless white gown Elle thanked him for.
“If you four will step out a moment, I’ll get her ready. Then, you can come back and get her settled into bed.”
I didn’t want to leave her for even a second, but knew Elle wouldn’t have it any other way. Sometimes, I questioned whether her loyalty to Corina had somehow overshadowed her loyalty to me. While that may have been a problem for some, I appreciated Elle’s devotion to my mate. It was unwavering, genuine, and mutual.
“Shoo, boys!” she practically barked out when the four of us didn’t move quickly enough.
I was the last to exit the bathroom and closed the door behind us. Some of the tension had dissipated, but not all. I don’t think I was alone in fearing we could have lost her today.
“Well, I suppose the hard part is behind us now, fellas,” Levi chimed in.
Silas nodded. “We’ll keep an eye on her throughout the evening, but … come morning, Corina should awaken with very little recollection of the transition.”
“Lucky for her,” Levi joked wearily. “I wish I could say the same for the rest of us.”
Aaric peeled his soaked shirt off and over his head with a sigh. “I second that,” he added.
My gaze slipped toward him, and it seemed he immediately regretted joining into our conversation. I guessed as much by the way the faint smile he wore faded and then disappeared.
“Listen, I know you three still aren’t sure of me, but … I’d like to be here when she opens her eyes in the morning. If you all don’t mind, of course.”
He didn’t put on airs, but instead, made a point of expressing humility through the request.
We’d been hard on him since arriving, and rightly so. However, I made Corina a promise. She wanted me to be open minded, wanted me to put my preconceived notions about Aaric and this place aside, and see where it led me.
Today, I’d seen him stick by her side like the rest of us had. I’d seen him open his home to Corina and my brothers. I’d seen his devotion to her. And … I decided that was enough.
He stared at my hand when I placed it on his shoulder, and then his gaze flitted back toward mine.
“I think she’d like it if you were here,” I finally answered. “She needs all of us.”
The statement earned me a curious glare from Levi, but he didn’t object or question my decision. As I saw it, we had a long road ahead of us, and the more allies fighting on our side, the better.
It may have taken some time, but Corina got her wish.
If I hadn’t already known she was my weakness, that fact had just been proven.
Chapter Twenty-One
Corina
Yesterday.
That’s how quickly things had changed.
That’s how quickly I had changed.
The eyes staring back at me in the mirror’s reflection were not my own. Only, I knew my opinion on that would change over time. One day, this would become my version of normal.
Awaking as something else, while still living in the same body had been surreal. The insurmountable strength I possessed in just a single touch of my finger was more than I could have mustered with a full-powered punch before.
I’d been left alone for most of the day by request. If the princes, Aaric, and Elle had their way, the six of us would have been joined at the hip from now until eternity. However, processing changes such as these took time, it took silence, and constant mental reminders that I wasn’t dreaming.
Or … was it a nightmare?
Using that finger with the strength to overturn a mid-size SUV, I traced my jaw. Skin as smooth as porcelain met my touch. Not a blemish in sight. Old scars remained, but even those had faded some, including the island of melted flesh that marked my thigh.
A shaky breath filled my lungs, but the action was solely out of habit. Breathing was optional, and I was alarmingly aware of the strange stillness in the center of my chest. No heartbeat should have meant I was dead, but…
Had I really felt it beat all that powerfully before? Or was I simply missing what I knew I’d never experience again? Or, at least, not very often. However, it would be this way for as long as I shall live, which could very well be forever.
Forever.
That word hit hard and fast. It felt … unnatural, imagining the many changes our world would undergo over the centuries, millennia even, and I’d be alive to witness them all.
Then, there was the thirst. I’d downed several glasses of water from the bathroom faucet, and I knew that would never quench it. What was worse, I was keenly aware of what would.
At the thought of it, my stomach rumbled, causing me to resent the pangs of hunger that followed. Not even an entire feast would settle me. The one and only thing I wanted, the only thing I craved … was blood.
“Don’t give in, Cori,” I said quietly to myself, g
ripping the sides of the vanity. “You got this.”
But who was I kidding?
My survival depended on sustenance, and the only form of ‘nourishment’ capable of doing that was blood. A sharp breath left my mouth. My life had become the epitome of being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The next phase of the plan seemed to rest on my shoulders. With the transformation in the distant past, the subsequent step would be for the princes and Aaric to feed from me, and then for me to feed from them. After that, the baton would be passed to Silas and Felix. The new strain of the virus they’d create would be touted as a cure for the sickness, but it would be much more than that.
It would rid Ianite-kind of their need to feed on humans, thus lessening the danger to my people’s lives. Although, I was no longer one of them, they would always be my people.
Silas had given promising updates. Apparently, he and Felix had made several meaningful strides. They managed to isolate key antibodies in Abigail’s blood that made her successful at delivering the sickness to Ianites without it eventually killing her, too. Not being a scientist myself, I had no idea what that meant for our plan, but Silas’ enthusiasm about it gave me hope. Then, once the last claiming was complete, they’d use my blood to finalize their formula. From what I understood, with the major strides in medicine over the centuries, only a few trial runs would be needed. However, Silas seemed to believe they could have a viable sample within twenty-four hours or less. From there, he had a handful of trustworthy colleagues in his field—longtime, undercover sympathizers whom he vetted himself—that would handle mass production.
Then, the final phase: distribution.
“Come in.” The light knock at the door would have startled me just yesterday, but today, I heard the soft footsteps long before the visitor was even close.
Elle peeked her head inside and I knew she’d only interrupted—despite my request for privacy—because it was nearly time.
“You look well,” she beamed.
She gazed toward where I sat at the vanity and, indiscreetly, scanned my hair and outfit, which hadn’t been a surprise.
“You’ve even done something new with your hair!”
This shouldn’t have brought her so much excitement, but it had. Now, I was smiling just as broadly as she was.
I faced the mirror again, eying the curls I worked on after a rigorous wash and blow dry session. Apparently, I’d had quite a high spike in fever during transition, which accounted for the matted nest I awoke to on top of my head. I imagined this new style was a drastic change.
“You like it?”
Elle nodded eagerly. “It suits you quite well, Mistress.” She took a step closer and I didn’t miss her menacing grin. “I’m quite sure the princes will approve of it as well, but not nearly as much as they’ll approve of that dress.”
With those words, I glanced down, wondering if it was too much. Tonight was … special. We were doing something completely selfless for the cause, yes, but … the ceremony would be quite intimate, from what I gathered. So, the moment I laid eyes on the contoured, black dress with spaghetti straps Elle brought from my closet in the Blue Suite, I couldn’t stop myself from slipping into it.
“So, you don’t think it’s too much?” I asked.
Before I’d even completed the sentence, Elle shook her head profusely. “Are you kidding? No!” she insisted. “You look stunning!”
Her reassurance eased my mind a little.
“My guess is, those four won’t be able to keep their hands off you tonight,” she added cheekily. Then, she pursed her lips in such a way I knew she regretted saying so much. When I laughed, it loosened her up again.
At some point, she would finally realize I wasn’t as easily offended as the women with whom she was used to interacting. The guys on my team rarely filtered their words or thoughts, so I’d pretty much heard it all.
“This isn’t about … their hands on me,” I teased. “Remember?”
She shrugged when I pointed out that what would take place was merely a means to an end.
“Well, maybe not, but … it does have a romantic ring to it. Wouldn’t you agree?”
There was no point in arguing with her once she made up her mind. Also, I kind of agreed with her on some level. At least a little.
To start, I was nothing short of desperate for the guys to return. Spending the day apart had felt necessary for a spell, but more than anything, I wanted to be near them.
Always.
All of them.
When this began, I couldn’t have imagined how our circumstances would evolve. Couldn’t have imagined how my feelings would evolve. Yet, there was no denying that they had. So much. Even for Aaric.
The thought of it brought an incredulous smile to my face, but it was true. Although my feelings for him had not yet been rooted as deeply as they had for Julian, Levi, and Silas, I had no doubt that day would eventually come. Despite the first impression the lost prince had left with me, I now knew him to be charming, thoughtful, and a surprisingly gentle soul.
Yes, one day soon, he’d steal my heart completely, too.
A surge of excitement filled me. Elle’s smile made it clear I hadn’t hidden it well.
“Shall I tell them you’re ready?”
I drew in another unnecessary breath and released it with a nod. “Sure.”
Her smile turned sweet as she stopped to first light the fireplace, and then left me alone with my thoughts. I had maybe a few minutes before another knock hit the door, and this time, it would be the guys.
I stood, smoothing both hands down the form-fitting dress, and then readjusted the thin straps on my shoulders. The reflection on which my eyes were fixed was still jarring, but it was admittedly more bearable to accept because I wasn’t alone.
I had my team, Elle, the guys.
And soon, after tonight, we’d be one step closer to victory.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Julian
From the moment we fled the Capitol, one number had repeatedly flashed across my phone’s screen. Day and night.
My father’s.
Seemed the longer I stayed off the radar, the stronger his persistence grew.
The phone buzzed in my palm and I felt the weight of it. Not in the physical sense, but in every other way imaginable. I wouldn’t be able to avoid him—or his fury—forever.
“Let me guess. His Royal Highness again?” Levi spoke, a subtle, crooked grin marking his expression. There was an air of cynicism present as well.
“Who else?” With that short response, frustration dragged my tone down an octave.
Levi let out a heavy sigh. “Just bloody answer it already! We all know he won’t stop until you do. And even then, there’s no guarantee.” He added that last part under his breath.
He was right. There was no way to duck and dodge my father forever, and when Silas raised a brow, I knew he agreed. Still, avoidance had been the more favorable option.
The ringing stopped and I lowered the phone to my side.
“Levi has a point,” Silas finally weighed in. “You should call him back. If for no other reason than to get an update on the situation back in the Capitol.”
“Don’t we get enough ‘updates’ from the news?” I scoffed.
“Perhaps, but we all know you can only believe half the information that comes from those outlets,” Silas retorted.
I couldn’t argue with that.
Levi sighed for a second time, and then reiterated his thought. “Call him.”
I considered it, despite myself.
My gaze shifted to the large clock hung above the fireplace. The day had slipped by rather quickly. Mostly because it had been one filled with worry and uncertainty. Just upstairs, Corina rested alone, weathering the final phase of her transition in silence. At several points throughout the afternoon, I nearly went against her wishes, storming into her room, forcing my way into her space. Not so much because I believed she needed me, but rat
her because I craved being near her.
I think it killed us all a little inside, thinking of her bearing these final stages on her own, but she insisted.
I peered up at the sound of the parlor doors easing open. Aaric entered with a weary expression, and I could only guess he was still unsure of our stance when it came to him.
“Pardon me,” he said, peering around the room at each one of us. “Julian, you’re A.I. has just informed me that Corina’s nearly ready to begin the ceremony.”
I nodded, pleased to have an excuse to shove my phone back in my pocket, but a stern look from Levi accompanied strongly spoken words.
“We’ll go,” he began, “as soon as Julian places a quick call.’
I met his gaze and his didn’t falter.
“It’s probably for the best,” Silas added.
Aaric waited a moment to see if I’d protest, and then slowly started toward the door when I, again, palmed my phone.
“Wait,” I called out, staring at the screen as I dialed. “You may as well stick around.”
I hadn’t peered up, but it was easy to imagine the surprise on Levi’s face, hearing that I’d invited a man whom we once considered to be enemy-number-one to stay and witness me being chewed out by my father.
After hesitating a moment, the newest member of our quad slowly latched the door again.
“May I ask who you’re calling?”
I glanced up at him a moment before answering, hearing the phone beginning to trill in my ear.
“My father. He’s pissed and this will certainly be ugly. Consider yourself warned.”
I’d just managed to finish the statement and switch the call to speakerphone when the Emperor himself answered.
“I’m almost hoping your excuse is that you’ve been taken against your will,” he seethed.
“Good to hear your voice, too.” That response was the wrong response. It was dry and oozing sarcasm. Knowing my father was already furious and likely had no tolerance for smugness, I should have refrained.
Slamming my eyes shut, I clutched the phone.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Any idea what sort of hell I’ve been through, trying to cover for you three? From sunup to sundown, I’ve had nonstop reporters and sentinels breathing down my neck for answers. And not to mention, the magistrates are convinced that your … plaything is Blackbird. In fact, they’re threatening to share that very tidbit with every major news outlet in the Dynasty if you don’t come out of hiding!”