Page 80 of Toward Immortal Ruin

Soon, the signs became obvious to all. Eden’s heart rate had accelerated, drumming as though she’d just finished a marathon. A sheen of perspiration glistened over her skin and her breathing became increasingly erratic.

The dual natures present inside her were competing for dominance. It was a fight that no one had undertaken before, and Eden was breaking under its strain.

“What’s happening to her?”

“Her body is rejecting the change to vampirism because she’s already primed for the wolf.” A dogged shake of her head. “Luna?”

Within moments, the healer was crouched next to Eden. Concentrating, a pulse of power abraded the air around them.

“A war within her cells.” The healer’s eyes were closed, and she spoke in a bare whisper. “The wolf’s resisting the transition, sovereign, and her body is paying the price.”

Aidan moved forward, gently placing a hand on Eden’s shoulder. An alpha werewolf looked out of his eyes, attempting to guide Eden’s she-wolf peacefully to the light—even when he had very little light left himself.

It was plain to see that the turmoil within Aidan was immense. After what had happened earlier in the kennels, his soul was drained and bleak. Being here cost him a part of himself he could barely spare. The alpha had been forced into delivering death onto the rabid wolves, and now, he had to coax another of his people to the same fate.

Beside them, Nina asked, “Can you assume control of the change, Luna? Can you usher her toward the blood?”

“I am attempting it.”

Nero was unable to sit still. He paced the length of the living room as they worked, closing down his bonds to his clansmen when he felt terror take him under.

His mate was still bent over Nina’s wrist as the vampire grew more and more pale. Neither Nina nor Luna moved away from her side.

Luna’s pulse of power prickled through their clan bonds, and Nero forcibly heaved more psychic energy through to the healer as she continued her efforts on his mate.

It was twenty minutes later that Nina spoke, her voice so lethargic, it was softer than a whisper, “Can you still feel her wolf, Aidan?”

For a long moment, Aidan didn’t respond. When he finally looked up from where he’d been focused on Eden, his cheeks were wet, defeat and despondency heavy on his features. He’d come undone.

The depth of Aidan’s despair hit Nero hard. He flinched from the onslaught of the alpha’s emotion through his abilities, and reeled from his friend’s pain.

“No, her wolf has faded from the surface—but I can’t be certain she’s entirely gone. Her wolf was already quiet to begin with. An omega.”

“What does that mean?”

“A wolf who is generally submissive,” Aidan explained, “but contrary to popular thought, one of the few who could’ve fully resisted an alpha if need be. They’re rare. Generally less prone to violent outbursts or dominance battles, and capable of calming even the most violent or troubled of our kind. Her gift would have mirrored yours in many ways, Nero.”

No one spoke as Aidan closed his eyes and retreated back into himself. Nina pulled her brother into a one-armed hug, giving him the closeness he needed as he struggled with the loss of yet another wolf.

As that part of his mate slipped away, Nero’s panther roamed closer to the surface, desperate to ease Eden’s burden. Cognizant of Aidan’s battle, but needing an update, he dared to breach the silence “Is the vampire rising?”

Luna met his gaze. “The war within her has concluded; we’ve coaxed her cells to accept the blood and they’ve begun transitioning properly.”

“Time will tell,” Nina said softly, “but I can feel the siring bond fitting into place now. We need to continue to watch her closely.”

Once convinced Eden had taken enough blood to sustain herself, Nina gently coaxed her off the vein and into Nero’s waiting arms. Like so many of her kin, she’d given herself over to sleep.

“We shouldn’t rouse her,” came Luna’s warning. “I didn’t interfere with any of the pain associated with the transformation, in case I dulled nerve pathways she needed forthe process. I’d prefer she stay asleep through as much of it as possible.”

So they waited. For hours, they lent her their strength, and ensured that Nero’s mate survived the transition to immortality.

They kept vigil as her heart ceased its frenzied attempts to resist, and her body caught up to the changes taking place within her.

Then, with very little fanfare, Eden’s signature shifted from registering as human, to that of an immortal.

Vampire.

Chapter Thirty

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