Chapter 50 Make Your Choice
INDIE
Leon's forehead rested against mine for a moment longer, his breath ragged, his lips swollen from the kiss we'd barely started. His hands were still braced on the arms of my chair, caging me in, and I could feel the tremor in them, the bracelet's red shimmer pulsing brighter now.
Enid spoke again, her voice softer but insistent.
"Indie? The visitors are waiting in the foyer. It's urgent."
Leon pulled back just enough to meet my eyes. His pupils were wide. He didn't speak, but the look on his face said everything: 'Don't go alone.'
I swallowed hard.
"Stay with him," I whispered. "Please."
Leon's jaw ticked. He straightened slowly, dragging one hand through his red hair.
"I'm not leaving this room until you're back," he said, his voice husky. "But if they try anything—"
"I know." I touched his wrist, right over the bracelet. The metal was nearly fever-hot. "Just... don't do anything stupid while I'm gone."
He flashed me a humourless half-smile. "No promises."
I stood on shaky legs, smoothing my robe. Zade was still asleep, his chest rising and falling too slowly under the thin sheet. The IV drip sounded louder in the quiet, each drop a reminder of how little time we had.
I glanced back at Leon one more time. He'd already moved the chair closer to the bed, one hand resting lightly on Zade's forearm.
So, I slipped out.
The hallway felt even colder. Enid waited just outside the door, her arms folded. Her expression was unreadable.
"They're in the foyer," she repeated. "Two of them. They asked for the Alpha."
My stomach twisted.
"Who are they?"
"Witches," she answered. "From my old coven. One of them is a healer, someone I trusted once. They want to see Zade."
I narrowed my eyes. "And you didn't invite them?"
Enid hesitated.
"I believe they know things about metaphysical siphons that Giselle doesn't," she said carefully. "And right now, we're running out of options."
I hated how right she sounded. I hated even more that part of me wanted to believe her.
"Stay here," I told her. "Don't let anyone near this door until I come back."
She nodded, but her gaze drifted down the hallway as if she wanted to follow as well. I turned away before I could second-guess myself and headed down the corridor.
The foyer lights were low. Two figures waited near the grand staircase. They were both women, cloaked in dark green wool that smelled faintly of sage and iron. The taller one had silver threaded through her black braids. The shorter one's hands were already glowing faintly, pale blue light curling between her fingers like smoke.
They turned as I approached.
The taller one inclined her head. "Flamekeeper."
I stopped several feet away. "You asked to see the Alpha."
"We did," the shorter one said. Her voice was calm and melodic. "We learned that his life force is being siphoned through a vessel. If we don't act soon, he won't survive the week."
My throat constricted.
"How do you know it's a vessel?"
The taller one's eyes darted towards the stairs. "Because the signature is unmistakable. It's old and angry, tied to the dead plane. And because..." She paused. "We've seen it before. In someone who came back from the pit."
My blood went cold.
Did they know about Zade's past? About the resurrection? About Sweetpea?
I crossed my arms. "And what exactly do you want in return?"
"Nothing," the shorter one said. "Enid called us. She said the Alpha had taken her in when no one else would. This is her repayment."
I didn't believe that for a second.
But Zade was dying. His pulse was crawling. His body was shutting down piece by piece. And every hour we waited, he was inching towards death.
I exhaled through my nose.
"Wait here."
I turned and climbed the stairs again, my legs heavy.
When I slipped back into the bedroom, Leon was still beside the bed. He'd pulled the sheet higher over Zade's chest, one hand resting lightly on his shoulder.
Zade's eyes were half-open now and hazy but aware.
I knelt beside him immediately, cupping his face with both hands. His skin was too cool.
"Hey," I whispered. "There are people here. Witches. They say they can help with the drain."
His gaze sharpened slightly. "Witches?"
"From Enid's old coven." I stroked my thumb along his jaw. "They claim they can feel the siphon. They want to see you."
He closed his eyes for a second, his breathing shallow.
"Trap," he rasped.
"Maybe." I leaned closer, my forehead touching his. "But you're not getting better, Zade. And I'm terrified."
He slowly lifted a trembling hand and covered mine, which was resting against his cheek.
"If they try anything..."
"They won't dare," I finished softly. "I promise."
A ghost of his old feral smile touched his lips.
"Then let them in."
I pressed my lips to his forehead, lingering there, breathing him in.
"Hold tight," I whispered against his skin.
He didn't answer. He just squeezed my hand weakly. I stood, straightened my spine, and looked at Leon.
"Stay with him. If anything feels wrong—"
"I'll rip their throats out," he said.
I nodded.
Then I went back downstairs to fetch the witches. They were exactly where I'd left them, their hands folded, serene expressions on their faces.
"Follow me," I said.
They did, their silent footsteps following behind me all the way up the stairs. When we reached the bedroom door, I paused briefly. Then I opened it and led them in.
Leon was already standing, his shoulders squared, his fangs barely visible behind his lips. The taller witch's eyes darted to him, then to the bracelet on his wrist.
"Vampire prince," she murmured. "Your father sends his regards."
Leon's smile was all teeth.
"Tell him to choke on them."
It was strange how it felt as though they knew who he was right away. Were they really healers? Or spies? The thought made me uncertain.
Zade was propped up against the pillows now. His eyes were open, but the violet was dull.
The air in the room seemed to change as the witches stepped in.
The shorter one's glowing hands shimmered brighter for a moment, then it dimmed. She looked straight at Zade. Then at the exposed doorway behind us.
Sweetpea was suddenly standing there, smiling. Her violet eyes locked on the witches. She waved at them and took off running. Chills ran down my spine. She had to be possessed. That was the only plausible explanation for how creepy she was.
"That little girl... is she yours?" One of the witches asked Zade.
He shook his head slowly. "Why are you asking?"
"You have to kill her, Alpha Zade."
I froze. And so did Leon.
"What?" The word didn't come out right. It scraped up my throat, laced with utter disbelief.
"She's a child. How can you even say that?" he said.
"You'll have to trade one life for the other either way. That little girl is the vessel. The longer she lives, the faster he deteriorates," the taller one said, her gaze hardening.
I took a step back without realizing it, my hand coming up to my chest as my heart beat out of its usual rhythm.
"You're wrong," I said again, louder, but my voice cracked with uncertainty. "You have to be wrong."
Because if they weren't—
My gaze darted to Zade. He looked so pale, it was painful to look at him. Everything spun.
One life for another.
The words repeated themselves in my head, over and over, until I couldn't hear anything else.
"No," I whispered, but it sounded smaller now.
Zade was barely breathing, his hands gripping the sheets. The witches refocused their attention on him, their expressions tight with sympathy.
"So, make your choice, Alpha Zade. Which will it be?"