Page 59 of Toward Immortal Ruin

Though she’d only met Aidan today, he’d taken responsibility for her without question. It opened her eyes. Her failure to shift would affect more than just her and Nero. If she didn’t make it through, her death would have massive implications.

“I don’t know how to tell Nero.”

“I can’t tell you that, but do know this: he’ll never abandon you. Nero is a good man.”

“I know he is.”

Aidan cleared his throat. “You bound me to secrecy, Eden, and I’ll keep my word. But if you give me permission, I will have every healer I know waiting on standby to help you through your shift.”

Fighting back the tears that threatened, she nodded. “Once I tell Nero.”

“There … might be hope,” he broached after a moment. “Sometimes, in rare cases, the strength of your inner wolf isenough to power through—even if the human was ill before the shift. I can tell you’re strong, Eden. If your wolf has that same tenacity, that same drive, she might be able to pull you through.”

It was a spark of hope amid deep shadows.

They were quiet, each processing the information they’d shared. Eden found it a relief to know that Aidan was aware of her situation, even if he didn’t have an easy fix for it.

The moment they walked back into the hall, Nero shot to his feet and met them halfway. “Everything okay?”

Eden folded her fingers through his. “We can chat later, okay?”

“Whatever you need.”

She collapsed in her chair, with her mate by her side. The Raeth wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she snuggled against him. If this truly was the end, she wanted to savor every moment. A wave of melancholy shot through her, fighting off the ache that was building between her temples.

“If you would’ve told me last week that I’d be sitting in a supernatural community today, surrounded by immortals, I would’ve thought you were crazy,” Eden admitted. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever expected.”

“What, you didn’t foresee being bitten by a rabid werewolf in the middle of Chicago, being rescued by your mate, and discovering you’re going to live forever amongst the mythological beings you’ve been fascinated by since childhood?” Lucy laughed. “Can’t imagine why.”

“Well, when you put like that …”

Nero chuckled softly beside her, and it only made her even more anxious for the conversation they needed to have. He’d been nothing but attentive this afternoon, never questioning her need for clarification or further discussion. To know that he was at risk as much as she was made any humor she’d felt with Lucy’s comment dry up.

“Ah, the vampire rises,” Jeremiah quipped. “Just when I thought I’d have to throw some blood bags down there to prompt your return from the dead.”

Eden paled, suddenly fixated on the stranger who was casting a narrow-eyed look at the setting sun and then toward Jeremiah. “Busy couple of nights.”

Undoubtedly, the new arrival was surrounded by an aura of strength. Though he didn’t hold a candle to Nero’s magnificence, the man was exceptionally handsome. He seemed to hold a world of knowledge behind his eyes, a piercing brown gaze that held her in its thrall.

“Hey, Drake.” Nero was clearly well acquainted with him, judging by the familiar tone. “How’s Kane recovering?”

“Swimmingly. Nova’s fussing over him, as per usual. Are you all healed?”

“Good as new.”

The vampire—Drake, apparently—nodded, then focused on Eden. “Can I presume this lovely lady is your mate?”

Nero seemed to take great pride in saying, “Yes, this is Eden.”

Battling through her shock at meeting the creature that’d inspired her career and life-long fascination, she grinned.

“You’re a vampire?”

Drake chuckled just as a strawberry blonde joined him and slid a hand around his waist. “I am indeed. My name is Drake, and this gorgeous woman is Toni, my wife. Delighted to make your acquaintance.”

She could barely contain her glee. “I have so many questions! My dissertation was on Gothic fiction: Frankenstein and Dracula and everything in between and beyond. Meeting you is like meeting Edgar Allan Poe, or Bram Stoker, or Mary Shelley.”

“Bram Stoker was a true savant.” Drake and Toni took a seat around the conference table. “Wasted on mortality, if you ask me.”

---