Page 111 of The Vampire's Seduction

“Yes, sir.”

Dr. Tavitz stood off to the side along with the nurses. No one dared to approach him.

“Get out.” Marek didn’t care he sounded like a demon. Everyone else scurried out.

When the magic burn on his arm became too much, Marek released his hold with a frustrated growl. The green light over Olivia smoothed over. Her lips curved up into a smile.

A smile was a good thing, right?

Marek paced the small room, his eyes locked on Olivia. Her heartbeat was slower than normal, her breathing even. Other than the magic, she looked like she was in a deep trance.

“Tristan, where’s Andrea?” he asked as impatience gnawed at him.

“She’s arriving on your floor now.”

Seconds later, Marek heard Andrea’s running footsteps. He ordered the door to open as the woman arrived.

“What is it? Tristan said…” Andrea trailed off as she caught sight of Olivia. “Oh.”

“Betsy’s heart stopped,” Marek gritted out, feeling like he might go mad. “What’s she doing?”

Andrea sat beside Olivia and took her hand. The green light around Olivia tried to climb up Andrea’s hands and arm, only to be stopped by Andrea’s magic.

“She’s transferring her life force to Betsy,” Andrea said seconds later with a grimace. “Why didn’t you stop her?”

Don’t kill the witch. “I tried,” he snapped. “Can you do it?”

As he finished speaking, the EKG machine started again. Beep. Beep. Beep. He heard the thump of Betsy’s heart, slow and struggling along like Olivia’s. Betsy was alive? The magical light around Olivia swirled and shot out green tendrils like lava inside an active volcano. Olivia’s features twisted and she let out a sharp gasp.

Marek caught Olivia as she wobbled, ignoring the burn of the magic wherever they touched.

“Shit, this is bad.” Andrea scooted forward and caught both of Olivia’s hands in hers.

“Help her!” Marek shouted. His vampire screeched, tearing his insides apart.

“Yes. Yes. Hold on.”

Andrea took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Glimmering ochre light appeared at her hands and spread out to cover her body. Magic, heavy and stifling, settled over Marek. He didn’t dare move, didn’t dare breathe for fear anything would change. Color had drained out of Olivia’s face, her lips a pale beige instead of their usual pink.

First the car crash. Then this. He wasn’t sure his heart could survive another incident.

Andrea’s body stiffened, her features distorting with pain. Her magical glow expanded, along with Olivia’s, until it covered Marek as well. He gritted his teeth as the magic grew in strength and attempted to crush his bones. Earthy light swathed the room, blinding him, before the magic sucked back into Andrea.

The witch gasped, her eyes snapping open. Her face had gone pale as the moon. Dark veins stood out in sharp contrast along her forehead and temple. She swayed and caught herself before she collapsed onto Betsy’s body.

In his arms, Olivia didn’t move, but she was alive.

“Well?” Marek asked.

Andrea coughed, and Marek hissed at the scent of blood. Suppressing the urge to feed was easy. Contrary to what the Organization’s propaganda said, vampires didn’t go crazy from bloodlust from mere scent of blood.

Andrea wiped away the blood, her movements slow. “She should be fine, but I don’t know when she will wake up. It could be a day, or a week.” Andrea struggled up to slouch against the wall and sighed. “She used blunt force to transfer her life to Betsy.”

“Thank you,” Marek said, his chest swelling with gratitude. “I don’t know how I can repay you, but I will not forget this.”

Andrea’s smile had a hint of the woman’s usual smugness. “Just keep her alive and make sure she doesn’t do it again.”

Marek nodded and grumbled, “Easier said than done. I shouldn’t have allowed her to learn magic.”