Chapter 32

Sitting next to Willow was not an easy feat. It was awkward and uncomfortable, not just because she had nearly been Oriel’s mate, but because she was Dracula’s daughter. Vampire royalty. Even more, to Cosette’s dismay, she found her timidity had not disappeared completely—it had only disappeared around Oriel.

The realization was highly discouraging.

She sat in the hallway chair beside Willow, wringing her hands together and desperately trying to think of something to say. Oh, how she longed for Oriel’s presence. He always knew what to say.

But Willow didn’t seem to be paying attention to her. Rather, she stared intensely at the closed door Nicolae, her father, and Oriel had disappeared behind. Was she eavesdropping?

“How long has Oriel been sick?” Willow asked suddenly.

In a small voice, she answered, “Just over a week.”

“Not good. There isn’t much time left.”

She clutched her arms around her torso to keep herself from falling apart in her heartache.

Remaining in her seat proved to be difficult as she waited for Oriel to exit the room. Thankfully, she found her excuse to rise from her chair when Adam Degore rounded the corner, his expression serious as it always seemed to be. He spotted Willow, and then his gaze turned to his son playing with Leif before he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

The ex-blood hunter appeared formidable, but she had seen another side of him through the painting in his union gift. She still wanted to meet him, if only to express her gratitude.

Quietly, she stood and approached him with her heart racing. He eyed her, though he said nothing. He certainly smelled human, and she suddenly wondered if young vampires in Ichor Knell ever tried to attack him from lack of self-control. It must make Willow beside herself with worry.

Remembering her manners, Cosette dipped into a curtsy. “Mr. Degore.”

“Covaci.”

His manners certainly weren’t refined, but it was difficult to care when he had saved her brother, Luca, from the blood hunters who had wanted to harm him during the Crusader war. Although she shouldn’t have been out on the field where the danger had been so great, her fear for Luca’s life had been greater. The way Adam had fought to save her kind was admirable.

“I wanted to thank you for the painting. It’s beautiful, and it’s one of my most favorite gifts I’ve ever received. You are too kind.”

“Think nothing of it,” he grunted and looked away, though she thought she spotted color rise to his ears as if embarrassed of the praise. He said nothing more on the subject, and she found herself standing awkwardly. Anxiety started to rise within her, and she just about fled in the other direction when he spoke again. “You and Oriel were mated around the same time we were?”

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, at least until she noticed his gaze lingering on the children playing together a short distance away.

“Oh… No, we weren’t. Only two months ago.”

His mouth quirked to the side in puzzlement. “Then the boy must be a nephew.”

“No,” she replied, finding the need to hold back her amusement. Leif didn’t have the blond hair that all the Covacis had inherited. But his eyes were blue, and his hair full of curls just like Oriel’s and Laurel’s hair. Should they adopt Leif, Oriel and Cosette would likely be trying to explain this for the rest of their lives. But perhaps they would just simply start saying Leif was their child.

Lifting an eyebrow, he asked, “Uncle?”

“I don’t believe that is possible either.” To her relief, she started to relax, which brought a new wave of comfort. Perhaps she hadn’t only lost her timidity around Oriel. She was getting much better around others such as Sarene and Adam, and she had Oriel to thank for it. “We found him on our union trip. He had apparently been an orphan on the streets.”

She didn’t want to go into detail about the vampire slavers.

“Then he is not a Covaci.”

“He will be.” Although Oriel said he didn’t think it was a good idea to adopt, she thought she could convince him by the end of the week.

Their conversation was cut short when Leif screeched in pain, and then Jesper started to wail. Cosette rushed forward, worried Leif might have hurt the other boy, but to her astonishment, it had been the other way around. Glaring fang marks marred Leif’s arm, which were already starting to close as his vampire healing took effect.

“I’m so sorry!” Willow said, rushing into the scene and cradling her crying boy. “He’s been going through a biting phase and refuses to outgrow it.”

“Don’t cry,” Leif said as he patted Jesper’s foot. “I’m fine. See?”

Jesper’s tears stopped, and he let out a sniffle.

“Apologize for biting your friend,” Willow said sternly.

“Sorry,” Jesper said and turned his face into his mother’s shoulder.

Leif tugged on Cosette’s dress and held up his arm. “Look, Mama. I’m not inperb…inpert…inpertus.”

Willow laughed as she switched Jesper around to sit on her other hip. “Is he trying to say impervious?”

“Yes.” Cosette smiled. “Oriel taught him the word earlier.” Her heart warmed as Leif wrapped his arms around her waist, and she ran her fingers across his hair as her own mother had done for her as a child. Other than Oriel’s well-being, there was nothing she wanted more than for Leif to become a part of the family.

Surprisingly, the two boys ran off once again to play, and hopefully there would be no biting this time.

Her attention snapped in the opposite direction as the door Oriel was behind clicked open. Hope filled her, but as she gazed back at him, she recognized the distress in his eyes, and her hope immediately fled.

There was no hope for him. He would die.

She rushed into his arms and held him tight, and she couldn’t stop her tears from escaping as she cried into his chest. There was nothing to be done. She was going to lose him, and she’d only had him for such a short time.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “Please forgive me. I did not mean to leave you with this burden.”

Standing on her tiptoes, she pressed her lips to his, putting all of her feelings into it. The pain in her heart hurt so much. She didn’t want to lose him. With or without the bloodbond, she loved him, and she would be heartbroken for the rest of her years.

Someone cleared his throat behind her, and she broke the kiss, a blush creeping into her face. Her father had seen the whole display.

“Papa.” She wiped her tears and fell into his embrace. Although it had only been two months, she had missed him.

“I am so sorry, Cosette. There is nothing we can do except make Oriel as comfortable as possible. Nicolae and I have lived a long time. If a remedy for the blood fever existed, we would know about it. But I swear he will be placed in the ground with all the honor a vampire of his station and demeanor deserves.”

Her heart ached, and if it hadn’t been for Leif, she would have wished she could die right alongside Oriel.

Nicolae touched her shoulder with a gentle hand. “I will see you two safely home, and Lucian will request elixirs from the infirmary to help with the pain.”

Her father broke the embrace and placed a kiss on top of her head before disappearing in the direction of the infirmary. Her surroundings blurred through her tears. The world around her looked red, just like a bleeding heart. Her bleeding heart.

“Cosette,” Oriel whispered, taking her hand. “Let’s return home. There’s nothing more we can do here—”

“Oriel,” Willow interrupted, her gaze intense. “May I speak to you and Cosette privately?”

They shared a look of confusion before they complied. Willow led them a short way down the corridor and into a room with a view of the gardens. To her surprise, they weren’t the only ones in the room. Both Adam and Zachariah had gathered as well.

Willow closed the door behind her, and as if noticing the sweat beading Oriel’s forehead, she opened the window to let the fresh air inside. Cosette helped Oriel sit in a comfortable chair, still wondering why they were gathered. All she wanted was to return home and hold him until she had no more tears left to cry.

“Adam.” Willow nodded to her mate. “I believe you have something important to share.”

Clearing his throat, he leaned against the wall with his foot propped up behind him. He looked at ease despite the tension in the room. Tension of all sorts, she assumed, casting a wary glance toward Willow.

“As you all know, I used to be a blood hunter. Many secrets we took to the grave. But as I am still alive and I am no longer one of them, I feel no remorse with sharing what I do know.”

“What secrets are you speaking of?” Oriel asked in a weary tone. He needed to rest.

Adam adopted a look of guilt as he stared at the ground. “I have defanged vampires before. I am not proud of it, but it was an easy way to weaken and kill them if done right. But to avoid being bitten and infected with vampirism, a blood hunter would first have to administer an herb called bloodbane.”

Bloodbane…

Cosette had heard mentions of the herb before, but she didn’t know much about it. Only that it was dangerous to vampires.

“I don’t understand what you are saying,” Oriel said, but he appeared hopeful, if only slightly.

“Bloodbane isn’t lethal to a vampire in small doses, but it certainly packs a sting. It stops the flow of venom for five to ten minutes, and in turn, makes a vampire involuntarily sprout their fangs.”

Zachariah cut into the conversation. “We are unable to perform surgery to put your fangs back in because your venom would consume them immediately. But if we had blood bane to ward off your venom beforehand, it’s possible we can safely deliver your fangs back into your mouth, and your body will recover from the blood fever.”

Letting out a relieved sigh, Cosette closed her eyes and pressed her hands to her heart. There was hope after all.

“But,” Adam said, and a new fear dropped to her toes, “I’ve only ever been in possession of blood bane a few times in my life. The last patch of herbs I located took me years to find, as it is very rare and inconsistent in where it grows. The little of the herb I had, I administered to Willow.”

Cosette’s eyes widened as she looked back and forth between Adam and Willow. A guilty haunch lived in his shoulders, and Willow grimaced as if remembering the incident clearly.

However, she had no time to inquire as Adam continued, “We don’t have years to locate bloodbane, but days. Zachariah has petitioned Dracula to journey with me however far it takes to find it. Zach will stay here and ready the surgery room should we be lucky enough to find some. And you, Oriel, will rest. You need to give us as much time as you are able.”

Oriel let out a shaky breath, and her concern grew when a rattle escaped. “How can I ever repay you?”

“By not dying,” Adam said simply.

“We are kin.” Willow smiled. “We look out for one another. We are grateful you warned us about the danger to our son, so this is the least we can do. Adam will leave with my father today. Zachariah will continue to visit you at your home. There is hope yet for you to live.”

“What can I do?” Cosette breathed.

“Take care of him and force him to rest as much as possible. And enjoy the time together. There is still a chance this won’t work.”

She nodded, but she refused to give up hope, now that there was a small chance. She and Oriel shared a look. A tender look. One of love. And right then, she was immensely grateful for not only him, but for her kin surrounding her. They were all family. And she couldn’t be more grateful for their kindness and support.