Page 70 of Toward Immortal Ruin

“Eden collapsed this morning,” came the emotionless statement that had Aidan leaping to his feet. “Hemorrhagic stroke. She concealed a cancer diagnosis from me.”

Aidan cursed vehemently, his eyes transforming to a tangerine yellow. Guilt and sorrow from the other man sharpened against Nero’s abilities, making it clear that the alpha had already known about Eden’s terminal condition. Fisting his hands in his hair, Aidan bowed his head.

He continued as if there had been no interruptions, and his friends weren’t staring at him in shock. “Glioblastoma. Malignant brain tumors. Even if she hadn’t been bitten, she’d have less than five months to live.”

Warm fingers found his across the chaise, Nina’s hand giving a gentle squeeze to ensure he knew he wasn’t alone.

“What if we brought all of our senior healers together to try to heal her?”

“It wouldn’t be enough.” Nero had already contemplated the possibility. “With less than a week between being bitten and the full moon, even if we had completely cured her as soon as I found her, there’s no way she’d be strong enough.”

“The bitten need internal fortitude. Tenacity, yes, but they need an underlying strength in their physical bodies,” Aidan concurred, devastated. “At this late stage, cancer has alreadytaken away the necessary energy stores and depleted her reserves.”

“Where is Eden now?”

“In my home,” Nero replied. “Asleep.”

Aidan strode over to where Nero and Nina sat. “Kane healed one of Nova’s packmates from pancreatic cancer when he turned her. What of your blood, Nina? You could cure her.”

Nina frowned. “Eden’s already started the transition to werewolf.”

“But she’syetto shift,” Aidan argued. “No matter the strength of her wolf, attempting the change already compromised won’t have a happy ending.”

Despair and hope warred within Nero. Eden’s survival was growing slimer with every passing second: what Aidan had suggest might be her only chance. If he had to fight for her, he would—nothing would stand in his way.

“Think about what we’re risking, Nina,” the werewolf warned. “This isn’t just Eden’s life we’re talking about.”

It called to light what was at stake. Though Eden had always been Nero’s priority, her death would have deep and far-reaching consequences. If he followed her to the grave, it would destabilize his clan—and potentially lead to the dissolution of the treaty that peaceably linked the five most powerful Raeth sovereigns.

With the increase in the Citizens’ attacks and the resulting werewolf deaths, Aidan had been profoundly affected. The pulse of his negative emotions beat against Nero’s shields: the alpha was close to spiraling into depression. If Aidan lost his rationality, and those pack bonds were jaded as a result, it would impact his entire nation.

The immortal world hung on the balance of one human’s life—or death.

Solemn, Nina shifted uneasily across from Nero. “We’ve never attempted to thwart a wolf transition before immortality has taken root—replace those immortal cells with ones of another breed.” She paused. “Nero, she could die.”

“She is already dying!” A flare of agitation roughened Nero’s words. “Whether it’s tomorrow morning or after the moon rises in two days is inconsequential, Nina. The risk is all we have.”

And still, his friend was reluctant. “We have no way of knowing the outcome of our tampering. We all know that once the process is complete, there’s no way to change our chemistry. A vampire is a vampire; a wolf is a wolf. A bite post transition doesn’t change that.”

Zeke came to stand silently behind his mate, his jade eyes locked on Nero. A silent threat, a reminder that he would have Nina’s back regardless of the outcome. If this had been any other scenario, he would’ve appreciated it for what it was.

But this was about Nero’smate. He would push as hard as needed to get the only outcome acceptable to him. His chin rose in subtle challenge, but his words were for Nina alone.

“Nina, I’m begging you to try. You agreed before. While circumstances have changed, the ask has not.”

“Before, Eden’s health would not have mattered; a vampire transitions regardless of the health of their body. But she’s been bitten, and by a rabid wolf, no less.”

His eyes shifted to the emerald of his panther. “It doesn’t matter! If she becomes a werewolf, she’ll die!”

“What if I try and she dies during the process? What if by biting her, I subject her to unendurable pain? Could any of us live with ourselves if our choices bring about that end?” Nina studied him. “Is she choosing this risk for herself, or is it your grief at the reins?”

“Try! Please, just try, Nina!” Nero roared. “You owe me this much.”

“My mate owes you nothing.”

A pulse of Zeke’s power rammed against Nero’s skin. Abrasive, it sizzled against his psychic defenses.

Reluctant to heed Zeke’s threat, and desperate for Nina’s aid, Nero resorted to supplication. “Eden will die—and I’ll have to watch it happen. Nina, you know better than anyone what being apart from your mate is like—how hard the years are.” Dark emotion made his throat thick and his words strangled. “Eden and I have had days together.Days.I owe it to her to explore every option available—even if it means I’m indebted to you for the rest of my immortal life.”

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