Page 91

“Yes, yes!” Another researcher bounced on her toes. “This sense of peace, of rightness. Like floating, but inside!”

“Even the ancient blood responded.” Lady Helena’s eyes sparkled as she gestured wildly at the floating displays. “We’ve served this blood to our most powerful vampires for millennia. Never, not once in all our recorded history, has it resonated like this! The patterns it formed, the way it sang with power…”

“Sang?” Lady Victoria’s celestial light flared. “The blood actually sang?”

“Like a thousand crystal bells,” Alan breathed reverently. “The most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.”

“Something ancient,” Lord Richard added, his usual aristocratic composure slipping into boyish wonder. “Something we were meant to protect.”

“A true fated one,” Lady Wei whispered. “After all these centuries of waiting!”

The words hit the brothers like a physical blow. Zane’s wolf surged forward with such force he had to grip his chair arms to stay seated, frost spreading beneath his fingers. Beside him, storm clouds gathered in Ryker’s eyes, while golden light flickered around Archer’s usually relaxed form. Their pack bond hummed with shared shock, hope, and a possessive fury that surprised even them.

Luca. Their Luca.The thought echoed through their bond, heavy with implications they weren’t ready to face.

The chamber erupted in excited chatter, scholars frantically comparing notes while the elders leaned together, speaking in rapid, enthusiastic whispers. Even Lord Johnathan’s usual stoic expression had given way to a proud smile.

The brothers barely heard the chaos around them, too focused on controlling their wolves’ desperate need to run back to the hospital, to guard Luca from the hungry eyes and grasping hands that would surely come for a true fated one.

“Dr. Xu, Dr. Stevens,” Lady Victoria called above the excited murmurs. “Your analysis of Prince Luca’s blood work, if you please.”

The two doctors hurried forward, their crystal tablets creating a synchronized display in the chamber’s center. Dr. Stevens adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses, practically vibrating with academic enthusiasm.

“The readings are extraordinary,” Dr. Xu began, her fingers dancing across the display. “Prince Luca’s power signature shows patterns we’ve only seen in ancient texts about fated ones.”

“More importantly,” Dr. Stevens cut in eagerly, earning an exasperated look from Dr. Xu, “his blood chemistry has begun shifting in a way that suggests?—”

“That suggests imminent manifestation,” Dr. Xu interrupted smoothly, reclaiming control of the presentation. “The crystalline formations in his blood cells are unlike anything we’ve documented before.”

Lady Victoria turned her piercing gaze to the brothers. “And you’ve noticed changes in his behavior? His scent?”

Zane’s wolf bristled at the direct question, but Ryker answered before he could growl.

“He’s been… different,” Ryker admitted carefully. “More aware of our presence. Responding to our scents.”

“Floating when startled,” Archer added helpfully. “Though that might just be our little sugar fang being adorable.”

“And the hunger?” Lord Richard’s voice cut through the chamber like steel. “Has he shown increased blood cravings? Particularly for certain individuals?”

The brothers exchanged glances, remembering Luca’s reactions to their blood, the way he seemed drawn to them despite himself.

“Tell us exactly what happened when you found Luca,” Lady Victoria leaned forward, her celestial light practically dancing with barely contained excitement.

The brothers exchanged glances before Zane spoke, his voice carefully controlled. “His scent changed first. Then his temperature began climbing beyond normal vampire ranges. When we found him…” He paused, remembering the terrifying sight. “His skin was glowing, pulsing like captured moonlight.”

“Moonlight?” Lady Wei gasped. “Just like in the ancient texts!”

“The power leaked from him in waves,” Ryker added, lightning crackling softly along his arms at the memory. “Nothing like normal vampire maturation.”

“He was literally lighting up the entire penthouse,” Archer said, uncharacteristically serious. “And not in the usual ‘oops, I’m floating again’ vampire way. This was… different.”

“Different?” Lord Blackthorn leaned forward eagerly. “Different how?”

“Like staring at pure starlight,” Archer answered, earning excited murmurs from the scholars.

Dr. Stevens practically bounced as he stepped forward, crystal readings hovering around him. “When they brought him in, none of our standard treatments had any effect. His temperature continued rising beyond anything we’ve recorded in supernatural medicine.”

“Extraordinary!” Lord Thanatos’s wings quivered with interest. “Simply extraordinary!”