She's been unconscious for nearly two days now. Pacing around the private room within the castle, I wiped an invisible hair off my face. The room was painted a dark purple with streaks of lighter purple, making it look similar to the northern lights. They are memorizing in the smaller room. They may be the only reason why I haven't gone on a murderous rampage through the dungeon. The troops had brought back a few hunters from the human village after they tried to stop us in the woods. There was nothing I wanted more than to make them suffer for what they did to her. To hear their screams as they bagged me for mercy. I have no doubts that they caused some of her injuries directly. Her injuries were severe when I found her. She could have died in that cellar if we didn't get there when we did.
"The girl is definitely not a human, but I don't believe she is a vampire..." Adele said, her eyes never leaving her notes.
"What?" I said through gritted teeth.
My frustration and need for violence got the better of me as I turned toward her. I blinked and shook my head before taking a seat on the corner of her desk. To her credit, she didn't even flinch at my outburst, only stared me down. A dare lined the intent in her eyes. Sighing, I opened my mouth to apologize.
"Let me finish... She possesses the traits of a human, but she also possesses the traits of a vampire... not to mention she is healing extremely slowly for a regular vampire, but her healing is still faster than a regular human." She said, turning her body toward the girl.
She was lying on a small medical cot, designed for a single person. A white blanket covered her small frame, only her face was exposed. It was so thin I could see the colour of her clothes underneath it. Her long dark black hair was slightly tangled around her shoulders. Her features looked almost relaxed as she slept. Closing my eyes, I focused my hearing on her heart. It was faint, but it was beating, and that is all that matters right now.
"What does that mean?" My voice softened.
"I believe she may be a half-blood." Her head tilted slightly as she spoke.
I had no words in reply to that statement. It wasn't unheard of for a half-blood to exist. All I could think to do was walk closer to the girl and examine her features again. Her soft skin was closer to a pale peach. Her black hair made it look almost strange against the colour of her skin. Taking her hand in mine, I let the warmth of her skin melt away whatever anger remained in me. Her features were soft, but her bone structure was strong. She is, without any doubt, the most gorgeous woman I have ever laid eyes on.
"Half-bloods are extremely rare... Is there a way to be sure of this?" I asked, holding her limp hand against my cheek.
The question seemed pointless to me now. Feeling her warmth against the chill of my cheek. Her human features matched that of the older woman's from the images she showed me. But the shape of her eyes and the slight point to her noise reminded me of someone I knew long ago. A male I fought with in the war... I wonder.
"Yes... Um... If she feeds and heals, then it will be proven." Adele said with sheepish eyes.
"Explain," I asked.
"From what I understand about half-bloods, they heal like a human unless they can feed. The vampire genes then take over and, well, escalate the healing process." She said while waving her hands around like she couldn't find the right words.
"And how is she supposed to feed in this state?" That was a stupid question. I already knew the answer before she could reply.
"You would have to." I held up my hand to stop her.
I lifted the woman into my arms, carefully leaning her head against the crevice of my shoulder. Adele nearly screamed in protest as I walked toward the door. She jumped in front of me, waving her hands around in the air between us. I shot her a warning glare when her hand got a little too close to the woman in my arms.
"What do you think you're doing? She needs to rest, not be moved around every which way." She squealed.
"She will not be forced to rest on a scratchy cot with a curtain as a blanket," I said before sidestepping her and walking out.
I thought about taking her to one of the guest rooms, but they were all on the other side of the castle. The closest room is mine, and I just so happen to know it has the most comfortable bed around. She doesn't just need rest she needs to be comfortable. Not to mention, she may appreciate the privacy when she wakes up.
"Zane!" Jasper hollered from down the hall.
He ran up behind me until he reached my side before falling into step beside me, he glanced at the young woman in my arms. His lips tipping into a frown before he cleared his throat.
"Shouldn't she be in the medical wing?" He asked, keeping his eyes straight.
"There was nothing more they could do for her," I said.
"I see, so where are you taking her?" He asked, his tone neutral.
"My quarters," I said.
He had stopped in his tracks. I felt his eyes on my back as I continued down the hall. I swear I could see his mouth drop open from the corner of my eye. He ran up beside me once again. Yep, I was right. His mouth was open, but no sound came out. I stopped in front of the door to my room before turning to him.
"Are you sure about this?" He asked while reaching for the door handle.
"I wish for her to be comfortable when she wakes," I said, as he opened the door.
Stepping inside, I kicked the door shut behind me with enough force that the wall shook. Setting her down on the soft cotton mattress, my fingers trailed over the goosebumps on her arm. Quickly, I covered her with my best and fluffiest cashmere blankets. "She will need to feed." My brain reminded me.
Running my hand through my hair, I walked over to my work desk that sat in the corner of the room. Bending or the desk with both hands braced against the surface. I eyed the shiny steel letter opener, I used practically every day. "She won't heal fully unless she feeds," I whispered into the quiet of the room. I glance over at her for a moment before gripping the letter opener tight in my hand. Walking over to the side of the bed, I lifted her torso and slid underneath. Resting her head against my chest, I lifted her chin with two fingers. Before I could second guess myself, I pushed the letter opener into my wrist until a trail of blood trickled out. I used my thumb to open her mouth and pressed the open wound on my wrist to her lips. I watched every inch of her face, memorizing every detail. Her long eyelashes could make any woman jealous, and the slight pink to her plump lips made my heart skip a few beats. But that word... That awful word was still carved into her forehead. It was faint now but still very visible.
Her head jerked slightly to the side, and my grip tightened just a little to keep her in place. Then I felt it. She licked my wrists and swallowed. Her hands lifted off the bed, one wrapping around my forearm, the other wrapping around the back of my hand. I felt her two pointed canine teeth pierce my wrist. It felt like a pinprick against my skin... Is she trying to be gentle with me? Her back arched away from my chest slightly. Her eyes never opened as she sucked the crimson iron from my veins. Mine... She is mine. I wiped the hair from her forehead and watched as that awful word started to disappear.
Her hands released my arm after a few seconds and her body fell back into mine. Her hands went limp by her sides once more. I slid out from under her and carefully lowered her head to the pillow. My wrist healed almost instantly as I lay down beside her. I considered resting in the hardwood chair at my desk. But this is my bed, after all, and feeding can be tiring for both parties.
"Rest my queen," I whispered from the far end of the bed before letting the darkness take me.