Chapter 16

Selene’s pov

I stared at the dark veins curling across my arm, the deep gashes throbbing with every shallow beat of my undead body. Blood had stopped oozing out, but it was replaced by a sickly black substance. I would probably have bled more if I had drunk more blood in the past few days.

I took my eyes off the wound; it was making me sicker just looking at it. I clenched my teeth against the pain of the venom passing under my skin like tiny shards of ice. I could feel it as it spread slowly, and I bit my lower lip to stop myself from whimpering.

What was taking Lucian so long? I thought he wanted to send someone to heal me, and when did I begin to rely on him for help? I really hated that my one attempt at defiance had ended this way. If I could turn back the hands of time, I would have stayed put in my room.

I flexed my fingers, testing the movement, but the pain was sharp enough to make me stop. This was so not worth a few moments of freedom.

My gaze flicked to the door as footsteps echoed in the hallway. Lucian's familiar scent invaded my nose, and then he came in, his broad frame filling the doorway like a shadow in the moonlight.

Behind him was Raven, moving with her usual grace, her eyes immediately landing on my arm. "Well," she began, "that looks very unpleasant."

I pressed my lips into a thin line. "You don't say."

Lucian said nothing, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin break out in goosebumps. What was he thinking? I felt my face go hot at the thought of him carrying me up to my room, even though he did so in the most unceremonious way. I had never anticipated being so close to him, our skin actually touching.

I shook my head, taking my attention off him. Looking at him was making me think awry. Still, his presence seemed to suck the air from the room.

Raven placed a box on the table and knelt, staring intently at my arm. She pressed heavily against the torn flesh, and I hissed immediately.

"Relax," she murmured, though her tone held little comfort. "You're lucky this venom has not spread further. A few more hours and it would have been much worse."

"I don't want to pass out again," I whispered. I've had enough of being unconscious for a lifetime. I needed to start taking inventory of my surroundings and figure a way out of here. I couldn't do that when I was unconscious.

She glanced at me, one eyebrow arching slightly. "Understandable, but if this is not treated properly, you would wish you had."

She opened the box and took out a small vial, the liquid inside glinting faintly in the dim light.

I squinted my eyes, trying to figure out what it was. "What's that?"

"Medicine," she said smoothly. "You'll thank me later."

I glanced at Lucian, who was standing by the doorway, arms crossed and his expression unreadable. Why was he watching me? I wondered.

Then I noticed that Raven had opened the vial, and I returned my attention to her. I watched warily as she carefully tipped its contents onto the wound.

The liquid was a deep crimson, thicker than water, and it hissed faintly as it made contact with my skin. I let out a small yelp as a sharp burning sensation tore through my arm, and I instinctively jerked back.

"Stay still," she said sharply, pressing her hand onto my shoulder to keep me in place. "It will hurt only for a moment."

"What the hell is that?" I demanded, my voice tight with pain.

"Something to deal with the venom and stop it from spreading," she said like it was the easiest thing to know. Did she always speak this cryptically?

Her fingers worked quickly to spread the liquid. "Let's just say it's not your typical remedy."

The pain in my arm began to dull, the blackened veins retreating as the crimson liquid seeped into my skin. I watched in stunned silence as the wounds began to close, jagged edges knitting themselves together with unnatural speed.

I was used to self-healing—one of the perks of being a vampire—but I guessed the venom in the man's claws prevented it from happening. Either that, or Lucian was numbing my powers. I was surprised that there was another substance that could induce self-healing in me.

"What is that?" I asked, my tone laced with suspicion.

Raven smiled softly, corking the now empty vial and placing it back into the box. She shut it with a small click. "It's just a little something I keep in case of emergencies," she said airily. "You're welcome."

"That doesn't answer my question," I pressed on.

She rose, tossing her golden hair over her shoulder. "You're alive, aren't you? Let's leave it at that."

I was about to object again when she turned to Lucian and spoke.

"She will heal fully by morning. There's no need for further intervention."

Lucian nodded, his expression still dark. "Good."

"I assume you'll take it from here?" she suggested, and he nodded again. I wanted to plead with her not to leave me alone with him—I didn't want to face him yet—but I said nothing.

"I'd advise against any more reckless adventures, at least until you are fully healed, okay?" she warned me.

I shot her a glare, like I hadn't figured that out myself already. I had enough casualties to last me a lifetime and definitely wasn't going to try anything stupid anymore.

Raven had a small smile on her face as she looked from me to Lucian, and then she picked up her box. Her dark robes billowed behind her as she made her way out the door.

I shifted my gaze to Lucian and gulped. I hated being in his presence when I was still weak and vulnerable, and with the way he was looking at me, I had reason to.