Page 63 of Feathers From the Sky

He coughs up a bit of her blood when my hand punches through his chest. His eyes widen in shock, brain not quite caught up, as I wrap my hand around his heart. I’m moving in slow motion, feeling his slow, not-quite-dead beat.

And then I squeeze.

When I rip it free from his chest, Peter is already on me, tackling me to the ground. I don’t know if he’s just high on her blood, but surely he knows running to Emile would be the safer option. Throwing him off me with ease, I’m shoving the heart in my hand down his throat when I see something out of the corner of my eye.

All I can do is stare, hoping and praying that what I saw was real.

That the twitch in her leg meant she isn’t fully gone. Straining, I try to listen for her heartbeat over mine and Peter’s. He’s gagging loudly, fighting against Gio’s heart.

Tuning him out, I hold the feral vampire at bay as time slows down. As I take in her lush lips and soft skin, willing her to move again.

I swear I see her hand twitch, and I jump to my feet, pushing him off me. When Peter rushes me again, I throw him to the ground. Kneeling on his chest, I put my hands on either side of his stupid fucking face and pull. There is no satisfaction when I sever his head and throw it away from me. There is no triumph—only disgust and fear.

“Gwyn?” I scramble over to her just as I hear pounding feet behind me. If she’s alive, if there is even the tiniest hope of saving her, I need to get to her now. “Stop,” I yell, commanding whoever has come down to feed from her next, hoping it’s someone I can compel. Shaking, I try to find her pulse, but everything is slick and covered in so much blood. I can’t catch my breath, let alone hear her heartbeat.

“It’s me,” Nico shouts from the hallway, and I sag in relief as I pull Gwyn into my lap.

“Keep them out,” I bark, and cup her cheek. I don’t know what the fuck to do. She’s lost so much blood.

“Gwyn, wake up, please.” I pull her wrist to my mouth, gently swiping my tongue over a bite. She has dozens all over her body, but I let out a shaky exhale as the wound closes. Unsure of what has overcome me, I let out a small laugh and gather her closer.

I cannot heal the dead. As a child, I’d learned that the hard way. But the mark on Gwyn’s wrist is gone, and that means she isn’t.

Tracing my thumb over her lip, her eyes seem to regain focus for a moment as I gaze down at her. “Wake up,sweetheart,” I command.

Her eyes dart over to mine before she closes them, unable to obey my influence. But it’s enough. She’s alive. I can’t let her down again. Her weight in my arms is nothing compared to what’s been lifted from my soul.

But there’s only one thing I can think of to save her. Finally calmer, I hear her heart’s feeble beat, and I know I don’t have time to get her to a doctor. This might not even work because of what she is. And she’ll surely hate me if I’m successful.

“Come here, Nico.”

He obeys, and I direct him to bring me various body parts of the vampires I’ve just killed. He’s confused but does what he’s told, dragging them over.

“Roman,” he says, as I drip blood from a severed arm into her mouth. Some of it dribbles on her chin, but she’s already covered in her own blood. What’s a few more drops? I ignore Nico, grunting in frustration as I toss the arm out of the way. It didn’t bleed nearly as much as I expected.

“Give me a heart, something else,” I demand, holding out my hand.

“Roman.” His voice softens, and I don’t look at him. “Roman, this isn’t going to work.”

“Why not?” I snap even as he places a heart into my palm. When I squeeze it over her open mouth, she coughs. “That’s it, baby.Drink,” I command. We’re not supposed to use our influence in the process of an Ascension.

I don’t give a fuck.

“She’s a hunter,” he says. “Has anyone ever turned a hunter?”

“Don’t know,” I grunt, but I smile as I watch her swallow the blood pooling on her tongue. Her eyes open again, but I don’t know if she really sees me. “That’s so good, Gwyn. Keep drinking.”

“Your father—”

“I don’t give afuck!” Her body startles as I shout at Nico, and I soothe her, tracing my hand down her cheek. When Nico wordlessly hands me another heart, I squeeze it into her mouth. I exhale hard when she grabs my wrist. She leaves a bloody handprint as she adjusts, her sweet mark remaining on me.

It’s not the only one she’s left, and I hate her for it.

“You’re going to have to use yours,” Nico says before standing and uselessly wiping off the knees of his jeans. “This shit isn’t enough.”

“I can’t.”

“And why the fuck can’t you?” He scrutinizes me, and it’s already gone too far as it is, so I don’t want to elaborate.

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