CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 9

Elias jolted awake with a gasp, his chest heaving like he had just surfaced from drowning. His body was slick with cold sweat, breath ragged. The room was dimly lit, the heavy curtains blocking out the moonlight, but the oppressive darkness of the dream still clung to him. His hands trembled as he wiped his face, trying to steady himself.

Then, the door swung open.

Lucian.

The vampire strode inside with urgency, his sharp eyes immediately locking onto Elias. His usually composed face was tight with concern, and in his hands was a tray of food. A deep scowl tugged at his lips.

“What happened?” His voice was calm, but the underlying tension was unmistakable. “I could hear your heartbeat from the hallway.”

Elias swallowed hard, still disoriented. He opened his mouth, then closed it, pressing his fingers against his temples as if trying to force the memory away. But her voice, her eyes—they lingered.

“I saw someone,” he finally whispered.

Lucian’s expression didn’t change, but his fingers curled slightly around the tray. “Who?”

Elias hesitated. The name felt like poison on his tongue, but he forced it out anyway. “Isadora.”

Lucian went rigid.

His grip on the tray tightened, his knuckles turning white, but his face remained eerily neutral. “You’re certain?”

Elias nodded, still shaken. “She spoke to me. She—she told me to leave you. That you’re using me. She tried to touch me.” His throat felt dry. “I didn’t let her.”

Lucian’s eyes darkened, his jaw clenching. “She had no right to enter your mind.” His voice was cold now, sharp like a blade. “I will handle it.”

Elias studied him, searching for an answer in his expression. “Who is she?”

Lucian didn’t respond immediately. He placed the tray on the nightstand and sat down on the edge of the bed, his fingers twitching as if restraining the urge to do something more violent.

“She’s dangerous,” he finally said.

“That’s not an answer.” Elias hated how weak his voice sounded.

Lucian sighed, rubbing his temple before finally meeting Elias’ gaze. “She’s a sorceress. An old one. Power-hungry. And she wants you away from me.”

Elias swallowed. “Why?”

Lucian’s expression flickered, just for a second. “I don’t know.”

Something about the way he said it sent a chill down Elias’ spine. Lucian always seemed to know everything, always carried himself like he was ten steps ahead of everyone else. But now—now there was uncertainty in his voice.

That scared Elias more than the dream itself.

Lucian exhaled and reached for the tray, his movements careful, controlled. “You need to eat.”

Elias grimaced, shaking his head. “I’m not hungry.”

Lucian’s eyes flashed with something unreadable. “Elias—”

“I said I’m not hungry.”

Lucian set the tray back down with a quiet clink. Then, without another word, he reached forward, wrapping an arm around Elias and pulling him effortlessly into his lap.

Elias let out a surprised yelp, his body pressing against Lucian’s chest as the vampire adjusted his position, holding him in place like he belonged there.

“What—what the hell are you doing?” Elias sputtered, his face heating.

Lucian arched a brow. “If you refuse to eat, then I’ll feed you myself.”

Elias gawked at him. “You’re joking.”

Lucian picked up a spoonful of the warm broth. “Open.”

“No.”

Lucian didn’t look amused. “Elias.”

“I’m not a child,” Elias snapped.

Lucian’s lips twitched. “Then stop acting like one and eat.”

Elias groaned, turning his face away. “I hate you.”

Lucian smirked. “I know.”

With an exaggerated sigh, Elias finally relented, parting his lips just enough for Lucian to slip the spoon into his mouth. The broth was warm, rich, and annoyingly good. He swallowed begrudgingly.

Lucian’s smirk deepened. “Good.”

Elias scowled but didn’t protest when Lucian fed him another spoonful. And another.

Elias barely swallowed the last spoonful before his stomach twisted violently. His throat tightened, a sickening pressure rising in his chest. Panic set in.

“Lucian—” His voice was a whisper, desperate, before he lurched forward.

The next thing he knew, bile burned his throat, and he was vomiting all over the floor. Worse—some splattered onto Lucian’s pristine black shirt.

Elias barely registered the sharp intake of breath above him before his vision blurred. His body swayed, the world tilting at an unnatural angle. Then—darkness.

He collapsed.

Lucian caught him instantly.

For a long, tense moment, he just held Elias, his fingers digging into his limp body, his mind racing. This was wrong. Deeply, impossibly wrong.

He had met Elias barely a week ago. A week. And yet—something about him had snared Lucian in a way he couldn’t explain.

Why?

Why did he care this much?

Lucian pressed his palm against Elias’ forehead. Too hot. His body burned as if flames licked beneath his skin. His breath was shallow, his heart erratic—too fast, then too slow.

This wasn’t just sickness.

Lucian knew sickness—human sickness. He’d seen fevers, infections, plagues. This was not that.

Something unnatural was at play.

His expression darkened. He needed answers. Now.

Carefully, he adjusted Elias against the pillows before standing. His fingers twitched as he closed his eyes, exhaling slowly.

Then—

A low hum filled the room. A soundless vibration, a ripple in the air. The candles flickered. The very shadows seemed to stretch and twist.

And in that silent void, Lucian called.

Not with words.

With will.

With the raw, unspoken power of the old world.

Somewhere—miles away, in a place hidden from human eyes—someone heard.

A single word echoed back in Lucian’s mind.

Coming.

Lucian opened his eyes.

The room settled, the flickering candlelight returning to normal. Elias lay still, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. His lips were slightly parted, his skin nearly translucent under the dim light.

Lucian clenched his fists.

An hour.

He had to wait an hour.

Fine.

He’d wait.

The hour passed like eternity.

Then—

A sharp gust of wind rattled the window, though the air outside was still.

Lucian turned just as the doctor arrived.

He didn’t walk in.

One moment, the room was empty. The next, a figure stood by the doorway, as if the darkness itself had woven him into existence.

Dr. Gabriel Moreau.

Dressed in a crisp black suit, he adjusted his cuffs, stepping forward with a measured elegance that bordered on unnatural. His hair was streaked with silver, his features sharp and aristocratic. His eyes—a deep, knowing red—swept over Lucian before settling on Elias.

His expression didn’t change, but Lucian saw the subtle tightening of his jaw.

“You summoned me,” Gabriel mused, stepping closer. “It must be urgent.”

Lucian’s voice was cold. “Fix him.”

Gabriel raised a brow. “I assume you mean the human?”

Lucian didn’t dignify that with a response.

With a quiet sigh, Gabriel knelt beside Elias, placing a hand lightly on his forehead. A flicker of something ancient passed through his gaze—something old enough to make even other vampires uneasy.

Lucian watched every move, tension rolling through him.

Gabriel stayed still for a long moment, his palm hovering just over Elias’ chest. A soft hum filled the air, something otherworldly.

Then, his brows furrowed.

Lucian narrowed his eyes. “What is it?”

Gabriel didn’t answer immediately. He straightened, adjusting his cuffs again, though his movements were slower now—thoughtful.

“There’s nothing physically wrong with him.”

Lucian stiffened.

Gabriel met his gaze. “His organs, his heartbeat, his lungs—everything is intact. There is no infection, no poison, no internal injury.” He gestured to Elias, who lay motionless, his breath barely visible. “And yet, he is deteriorating.”

Lucian’s jaw clenched. “Then explain why.”

Gabriel tilted his head slightly. “I have a theory.”

Lucian waited.

Gabriel took a slow step back, glancing at Elias once more. “This isn’t an illness. This isn’t human weakness.” His voice lowered. “This is magic.”

Lucian’s expression darkened. He knew it.

Gabriel continued, “Something—someone—is influencing him. Draining him. Pulling at his life force in a way that is not natural.” His fingers tapped against his wrist. “And considering how few creatures have that kind of reach, I would suspect—”

“Isadora,” Lucian finished coldly.

Gabriel arched a brow. “Ah.”

Lucian turned away sharply, running a hand through his hair. He should have known. The second Elias had mentioned her name, he should have been prepared for this.

Gabriel studied him. “You’re… attached to this one.”

Lucian’s eyes snapped toward him, sharp as a blade. “That’s irrelevant.”

Gabriel’s lips curved into a faint smirk. “Of course.”

Lucian ignored him, turning back to Elias. His fingers itched to touch him, to do something.

Gabriel hummed. “You have options, but none are particularly pleasant.”

Lucian barely looked up. “Tell me.”

Gabriel began listing them off.

One by one, Lucian dismissed them.

Until—

“There is another option,” Gabriel said slowly. “Risky, but effective.”

Lucian glanced at him. “What.”

Gabriel’s smirk deepened. “You.”

Lucian frowned.

Gabriel’s voice was almost amused. “You could counteract whatever hold she has over him. Infuse your own presence, your own… essence.” He tilted his head. “You’ve already taken his blood once, haven’t you?”

Lucian’s expression darkened.

Gabriel chuckled. “Then it won’t be difficult. Blood for blood.” His gaze flickered toward Elias. “Assuming, of course, you’re willing to pay the price.”