Chapter 34

Happiness and sadness mingled within Cosette’s heart. Although she’d thought she loved Oriel before, she now knew a depth had been missing before the bloodbond. It was an intense bond filled with anguish, knowing she might lose him. But it was also filled with an enormous amount of love. She didn’t feel an ounce of regret. If he were to die tomorrow, her heart would break beyond repair, but she would never regret forming the bond.

“I am honored you finally allowed me into your music room.” Oriel chuckled from the corner where he carved into a block of wood. Two blankets lay across his shoulders, and he sat in the most comfortable chair in the entire estate—she had personally seen to it.

She sat at the pianoforte, playing while Leif watched in fascination from her lap. She let her fingers flow across the keys, hardly thinking as she allowed her emotions to come alive through her music.

“I had to think about it long and hard,” she teased. “But if you promise not to bother me while you sit in the corner, I see no harm in it.”

He mimed locking his lips with a key, but he didn’t stay silent for long. “Your music is beautiful. I have never heard anything so pleasant in my life. I bet you were the envy of every female in the entire castle.”

She bit her lip as she fought back a blush. She certainly blushed easily, but she thought few things could make her blush anymore after…

She bit her lip harder, now fighting a smile. “Which was precisely why my music room resided in the very corner of my family’s side of the castle. I would rather not attract attention.”

“Wishful thinking on your part, I suppose,” he replied with a wink.

Relief washed over her to see him in such good spirits, despite the situation. Zachariah had visited earlier today, only to inform them he had a few days left as he entered the last stage of the blood fever. Breathing became harder for him every day—let alone waking up each morning—and he was always in terrible pain.

Thankfully, she found playing music helped keep his mind off the pain.

More time passed in which she proceeded to teach Leif some of the basics of how to play the pianoforte, and he took it in with wide, excited eyes. Perhaps she could make a musician out of him yet.

“I would like to take you somewhere tomorrow, Cosette. And you, Leif. I would like you to come as well.”

“No,” she said sternly. “You will stay here and rest. You can hardly make it down the stairs as it is.”

“It’s important. Consider it my last wish if no blood bane is to be found. You would deny me my last wish?”

She clenched her jaw and looked away. “Don’t talk like that. Adam and Dracula have yet to return, and when they do, you will have a successful surgery. All will be well.”

Doubt turned his mouth downward. “Perhaps so. But I would like you to indulge me. It will be a surprise, but I am sure you will like it.”

“A surprise?” Leif gasped. “I love surprises! What is it, Papa?”

Leif’s words broke her heart a little further. He mustn’t call Oriel “Papa.” She had thought she could convince him to adopt Leif by the end of the week, but she found she couldn’t bring it up again. Not with his declining health. To beg him for this one thing felt wrong, no matter how much she wanted it.

“You will see tomorrow.” He gave Leif a weak smile before patting his knee. “Come here. I made something for you.”

Sliding off her lap, Leif jumped onto Oriel’s knee and gasped when he handed him an intricate carving of a swallow.

“A bird!”

“Not just any bird.” He ran a finger over the detailed wings. “This is a swallow, which is what my transformation is. I hope when you see it, you might think of me.”

Don’t cry, Cosette, she told herself. Don’t cry.

Handling the bird with delicate hands and wonder in his eyes, Leif said, “Thank you, Papa. Mwah!” He kissed Oriel on the cheek and then ran off, flying the bird through the air as if he was off on some grand adventure.

Without Leif watching, Oriel’s posture slumped. He closed his eyes and took deep, rattling breaths before his teeth began chattering.

On quiet feet, she crossed the room and placed her hands on his shoulders, gently massaging with her fingers. It provided temporary relief from his ache, but at least it was something she could do.

“Thank you,” he said, his eyes still closed.

“Would you like to sit beside a fire? Or perhaps I can draw you a hot bath. It’s a warm day outside. The warmth might help as well.”

“All of those sound wonderful, but I am afraid I have little energy to move. I must save what I have for tomorrow.”

She frowned. “I don’t like surprises. What are you planning? Is it something for Leif? Really, Oriel, it’s more important for you to rest.”

Finally, he opened his eyes and turned his head to look up at her from where he sat. “This is important to me, more important than resting.”

If only he could see how much she feared for his health. Didn’t he understand the more he rested, the longer he could live, and the more time Adam would have to find bloodbane? It was all she could do just to keep him sitting.

But if this surprise outing was what he wished, who was she to deny him?

“Fine,” she said as she softly kissed his cheek. “But don’t surprise me too much.”

He chuckled weakly. “That isn’t a promise I can make.”

****

Cosette wasn’t sure what spurred more anxiety—this supposed surprise or Oriel’s health as they traveled in the carriage toward Ichor Knell. She felt every jolt in the road on the bumpy ride. For Oriel, he likely felt every jolt like a stabbing pain, as he often grimaced when the ride became rougher. Still, he appeared jovial despite his worn-out posture. A thick blanket lay across his lap, and a scarf adorned his neck as if it were mid-winter and not the beginning of autumn.

“I want to be a bird when I grow up,” Leif said as he excitedly bounced up and down in his seat. “Can I be a swallow just like you, Papa?”

Again, her heart ached at the way Leif called Oriel “Papa.” Only a couple of days remained, slowly shattering her hope. But she pushed the unwelcome thoughts away and instead focused on how much she enjoyed spending time with them.

“Perhaps.” He chuckled. “I am surprised it has taken you this long and you still haven’t transformed. Most children can do it by age two or three.”

“Three?” Leif asked as he counted on his fingers. “But I am this many!” He held up four fingers.

Oriel looked up and smiled at her. “Perhaps Mama will be able to help you learn how to transform.”

Don’t say that, Oriel. I am not his mama.

Leif bounced up and down in his seat again, almost as if he were about to jump out and fly away. “Can I play with Jesper? I like to play with him. Even though he bites me.”

“Not today,” she answered, though she wondered if she and Willow might be able to make it happen once in a while. But then her heart sank at the thought. Leif was more likely to go to another family. The possibility chipped at her heart, but she tried to hide her feelings. Oriel had enough to worry about for her to add her heartache on top of his burdens.

The carriage rolled to a stop in front of the cathedral, and her eyes widened, a sense of panic engulfing her. It was not the right day to attend church. There was no reason for them to be here.

“What is the meaning of this?” she demanded. “You are not gone yet, Oriel, if you are trying to arrange your funeral ceremony.” She gasped as another thought hit her. “Are you trying to get the Diviner to release our bond? Oriel, you can’t. You simply can’t.”

“There will be nothing of the sort today.” He grunted as he sat straighter. “I would never dream of releasing my bond with you. And I have not planned a funeral. If you will join me inside, I will show you what this surprise is about.”

“Wow!” Leif gasped as he stood in the carriage and looked up at the beautiful stained-glass windows. “I want to touch it. Can I go inside?”

“Of course,” Oriel answered. “We will all go inside.”

Her heart thrummed nervously as she tried to think of what possibly awaited her within the cathedral. A union, perhaps? Were they to witness a ceremony? But she had been privy to all the letters they had received, and none of them had been ceremony invitations. Perhaps it was a special service. The Diviner held them once in a while, but mostly for certain celebrations such as the Blood Moon or Harvest Eve. However, today was neither of those days.

She released a nervous breath. “Oriel, just tell me why we’re here. I need to be prepared. I really dislike surprises.”

Leif grabbed her hand. “Come on, Mama! Let’s go inside. Papa says we can.”

“Only a minute longer,” Oriel reassured.

One of the monks stepped forward and helped Oriel down from the carriage, but even with the added support, he struggled to stay on his feet without his legs collapsing from beneath him. The panic for the surprise turned into panic for Oriel. He had never not been able to stand before. Zachariah had assured her this shouldn’t happen until the last day of Oriel’s life.

Her hands flew to her heart as she realized something. This was it. Oriel must have known this was the end. Adam wouldn’t come back in time. And he knew he was going to die.

But still, she grabbed Leif’s hand and followed after the monks who supported Oriel on either side of them. And then they entered the cathedral.

Her jaw dropped. It was just like their union day when she had entered the cathedral and found their guests holding white candles in their hands. But as she entered, she found many more guests who held candles giving off a green light. A symbolism of life. Of fertility. Of birth. Of hope.

This was a naming ceremony.

She released a choked sob, her hand flying to her mouth as she glanced around the pews. Her entire family was here, brothers and sisters alike. Her parents. Laurel. Zachariah. Willow. Jesper. Nicolae. And more Covacis than she could count.

Today, she was truly going to become a mother.

When the initial shock wore off, she turned around to find Oriel smiling at her. She couldn’t help herself as she dropped Leif’s hand and flew into his arms.

“Thank you, Oriel. Thank you.”

“Did I not say you would be surprised? I hoped you might choose a second name for Leif. He doesn’t have one yet.”

She’d already given thought to it. Zachariah had shown so much love, he had given so much time and energy, and he had gone above and beyond to care for Oriel in such a kind and selfless way. “Back when I first thought to adopt him, I sought permission to name Leif after his future uncle. Zachariah has granted permission.”

If Oriel was surprised, he didn’t show it.

“Then let’s go add an addition to our family.”

With the monks’ help, Oriel took a step forward, but he stopped when his legs collapsed. He only remained upright because of the monks. She rushed forward to help, but her father beat her to it. Her father firmly held Oriel’s belt to keep him standing, and being as strong and old as he was, he wasn’t in need of anyone else’s help. Oriel was able to maintain his dignity at the same time.

After her father helped him down the aisle and into a kneeling position at the altar, both Leif and Cosette joined him. The altar was adorned with green lace weaved into a pattern to resemble leaves. A symbolism of life and new growth. In a normal naming ceremony, the new baby would be laid on top of the lace and given a name. But because Leif would be adopted into the family, the ceremony would be different.

“I’m sorry,” Oriel said quietly to Cosette. “You had me limit the number of guests at our union ceremony, but I could not do so here. Once the word got out, everyone wanted to come. I’m surprised they managed to keep it hush so you wouldn’t find out.”

“Don’t be sorry,” she said, wiping yet another happy tear from her eye. “This is perfect.”

The three of them held hands—Leif glancing around excitedly at the colorful stained-glass windows—and then the room fell into silence aside from the flickering flames crackling from each of the green candles in the room.

The Diviner stepped forward, his expression troubled as he looked at Oriel. Although Cosette knew Oriel often fixed the stained glass the twins broke, what she didn’t realize was the Diviner was fond of him. It made the situation much more heartbreaking.

“We are gathered here today to witness the naming of a child, to be adopted into a family and become One with each other and One with our gods.” The Diviner wore a sash of light green around his neck instead of his necklace of fangs. “When a child is born, both the mother and the child share a bond stronger than life itself. The father does not get the same privilege, and so he is given the opportunity to form a bond also stronger than life itself, here in the cathedral, by giving the child a name. As the child was not born of the mother, she, too, will be strengthened with this bond as the father might.”

He nodded to Oriel. “And now we will witness the naming of the child. Oriel, if you will.”

Oriel dropped Cosette’s hand and started to bring his hand to his mouth, but he stopped short and dropped it, a pain filling his eyes. He seemed to have forgotten he no longer had fangs to bite his finger and draw blood.

“Cosette,” he whispered. “May I ask one more favor of you?”

She swallowed hard and nodded before she sprouted her fangs. She gently took his hand in hers and pricked the tip of his finger with her fang.

His blood became a droplet on the top of his skin, and she watched as he drew Leif near. She held her breath as she waited to see what symbol Oriel would draw on Leif. The blood became a smear across his forehead as Oriel connected the lines together with shaking hands, not from nervousness, but from the chills. And when he finished, she drew in a sharp breath of surprise before a smile formed on her lips.

The symbol was a bird.

“Leif Zachariah Covaci,” he said in a voice that addressed the crowd even though he looked only at their new son. “I give you the symbol of a bird, that you may know freedom and have a keen perspective to see the world around you with wise eyes. And I welcome you into our family as our son that we may be One. With each other. With our gods. To look after one another in sickness and in health. From our time on earth and well into the afterlife.”

His voice caught on those last few words, and he said no more. Tears trailed down her cheeks, both from the beautiful naming and for the aching sadness inside her heart. Sniffs and muffled sobs rose from the audience—a bittersweet ceremony.

The Diviner stepped forward again and handed Oriel a goblet of human blood, and noticing his hands still shaking, she helped him drink from the goblet before she, too, drank from it. And when she handed Leif the goblet, he took it from her eagerly and drank the remains, spilling on himself in the process. Their audience let out a collective chuckle. Both Cosette and Oriel shared an amused look.

“Now you are One,” the Diviner said as he raised his hands. “Vii si prospera.”

The entire audience echoed the Diviner’s words, their voices reverberating off the stained-glass walls around them.

She heard Oriel let out a long breath as the audience started shifting and speaking in low murmurs. He rested his forehead on the altar as if he could hardly keep himself upright. With a crease of worry between her eyes, she started toward him, but the Diviner intercepted her, touching her gently on the elbow.

“I will speak to Oriel privately, if you will. Please, receive your well-wishers and hold your son close. I will return your mate shortly.”

Although difficult, she nodded and turned away, but not without looking over her shoulder to where Oriel still leaned heavily against the altar. He was on death’s door, and there was nothing she could do about it.

Please, Adam. Find blood bane and return to us soon. There isn’t much time left.