Chapter 77 Chapter 77

Chapter 77 Chapter 77
Amber
“I’m a hybrid,” I whispered, almost to convince myself. “I was changed when I died.”
My eyes burned with tears, but they weren’t because I was upset. In fact, I didn’t feel repulsive towards the idea at all.
“Are you okay with that?” His voice was only a whisper now, yet it sounded so profound and loud.
“I can see, feel and hear everything,” I said instead of answering his question, finally turning away from my glowing eyes.
“I can help you control that and control your speed as well.”
“My eyes?” I asked, and the look that suddenly crossed his face told me that he was just as amazed. I turned to Elma, and she simply smiled at me as she stepped closer.
“It’s because—”
“She’s a Rousseaux,” Drew finished for her. Deep down, I knew that too, but I didn’t say it.
“Yes,” Elma agreed. “Amber is probably one of the only Rousseaux’s who got turned and chose to live. It’s magnificent, isn’t it?”
“And her gifts? What strengths will she possess that Dageian longed to have so much?” Drew asked.
Elma shrugged as Drew snaked his arm around my waist. “You will just have to wait and see. I cannot tell.” She then came closer and offered me her hand. I eyed it weirdly as the sound of my heartbeat increased.
I knew what she was doing, but I didn’t ever think I’d be able to actually feed from a human being.
“Go ahead,” she urged with a small smile. I gulped, finding that no saliva was present to moisten my throat as I looked towards Drew. His arm tightened around my waist as he buried his nose in my hair. I could see that he was almost healed, also.
“I’ll support whatever you choose to do,” he said. But even saying so, I saw that he sincerely wished that I would choose to live this life. And if I were being honest, I wouldn’t dare consider leaving him because I knew he’d just follow me in death, too.
So, I slowly retrieved Elma’s hand in my palm as I gazed at her wrists. As if on instinct, her veins became more pronounced under my gaze, and I could hear her blood rushing through them. My teeth elongated at the very sound without me trying, and soon I could smell it as well. It was utter bliss—the smell of blood. It shocked me beyond measure that it had this aroma. It was then that I learnt the real thirst of a hybrid. Because at that moment, all I wanted—needed— was to sink my teeth into her hand.
And that I did.
My taste buds that were once dead frolicked as the warm liquid slid down my throat. My eyes rolled backwards as I sank my fangs deeper into her wrist. I kept my eyes closed as I fed. I felt strong, but the more I drank, the more I felt my limbs getting stronger. It was as if her blood was replacing the venom in my veins and shoving me to a blissful euphoria that sent sparks from my toes to fingertips. It felt like a drug as I was lifted from the ground and floated in the clouds. I moaned in delight as I hugged her hand closer to my chest as if squeezing it dry of all blood.
It was only when she filched that I jumped away. My eyes were wide and back to their original colour as I felt my conscience gnawing suddenly away at me. I was scared to meet their eyes, but as I did, none were judging. In fact, they seemed surprised.
“You stopped on your own,” Mason mumbled, stunned.
Confusion formed on my face as I turned to Drew again. He caressed my cheek with his thumb as he gently kissed my forehead. “No hybrid has ever stopped on its own on its first drink. It’s the most addictive.”
Elma smiled as she wrapped a scarf around her wrist. “As I said, you should all be in for a lot of surprises in the future as you learn more about Amber. I am thrilled that I could help you all, and thank you too for helping me fix my mistake centuries ago. Before I leave, I’ll do you one more favor.” With a flicker of her wrist, the rumbles of the broken balcony and chairs were reorganized back into place just like magic.
I sighed in relief. That was one less problem.
“Wait, Elma.” I reached out for her and grabbed her shoulder. There was still one budding issue that I did not understand. “Drew and I don’t have a bond anymore.” My voice almost sounded like I was complaining, and Elma’s motherly smile, as if reassuring that all was well, caused me to relax a bit. But not significantly.
“Mates were always wolves. I don’t know why, but I presume it was the universe’s way of making a balance between good and evil. A hybrid can only have a bond with a wolf, not another hybrid—”
“And I am not only a wolf anymore.” I sighed as realization finally set in.
“Hey, hey,” Drew held my face in his hands as he guided my eyes to meet his, “we don’t need a matebond. We have the strongest bond there is—even stronger than a mate bond.”
“What is that?” I asked with a frown.
“Love,” he uttered as his face broke out into his breathtaking smile.
It was then that I saw that Drew didn’t mind that our bond no longer existed, meaning we could no longer share a mental space or mindlink. But he was only happy that I was alive and he had me, whether I was human or hybrid. I soon realized that I did too. He was right. We didn’t need a bond to be connected. Drew had become my entire life in the form of a living being, and that was before he even bit me and put his claim on me. We had the strongest bond of all time, and that was pure and unconditional love.
I tipped on my toes and grabbed him down to me, instantly connecting our lips. The surge of emotions that engulfed my body almost caused my knees to go weak. Even the tingling and butterflies I got when I kissed him were heightened. No wonder he always seemed more passionate in our kisses.
I smiled against his lips. I could finally match his energy and anything that made our relationship exciting. Of course, I knew this new life would need some getting used to, and there was a lot I had to learn. But Dageian was gone, and that meant no more threats to Drew or me. We could finally be together, and this time it will be forever.
Peace can finally reign in Consok, and I no longer had to be wondering what happened to my siblings and how my parents were taking it. Living as a hybrid princess won’t be easy either, and unless Elma can somehow make me fertile, I would have to encourage my parents to have another child who can be king or queen and carry along the Rousseaux heritage. Because if I cannot age, Drew and I would have to leave in a few decades, as people will start to notice.
But for now, I will be Drew’s hybrid princess, and soon, his hybrid wife.
That was the thought that I kept all night long. After Elma left, promising to stay in touch, the twins and Drew had to compel everyone who heard the commotion in my room, including my mother. Of course, my father couldn’t be compelled, yet somehow he seemed to have turned a blind eye away from all that happened as if he knew and understood why we had to keep it silent.
There was obviously a lot I didn’t know about my father’s knowledge of hybrids, but if he chose to keep it hidden, I didn’t mind one bit. He was evidently happier after receiving Alex and Aliah’s letter, and his smile met his eyes even more than usual when I kissed him goodnight.