Page 182 of Vampires of Eden

There’s no reason to deny my and Leoni’s suspicions, so I don’t. “It’s likely.”

“Bastards.”

The sharpness of her rebuke makes me shift my gaze to meet her eyes. She shakes her head in disgust, doubling down. “Everyone has been shocked by this news. The pictures were printed there in the paper and online, but we didn’t know what to think about it—the true nature of your relationship. The article didn’t say that the two of you were romantically bonded.”

“We weren’t when those pictures were taken.”

“I see,” she says, then offers a timid smile. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“This is… unprecedented in Eden. Momentous.”

“You’ll forgive me if I don’t necessarily feel like celebrating.”

Amber smooths a hand across the top of her braids, nodding. “I understand, I’m sorry, but he’ll pull through this. We’ll all celebrate when he does. We can’t let the bastards win.”

I huff with my eyebrow lifted. That was unexpected. For the first time since I arrived, I register my surroundings. “You’re running a blood clinic? Is this like the one we’re opening in Nantshire?” I thought Kat and Roland’s clinic was the first of its kind, but maybe I was wrong?

“No, there’s no blood here. I don’t have the means or resources for something like that. I primarily offer medicinal and therapeutic remedies, but I have a couple beds for unusual emergencies like this and some basic supplies. Nothing too advanced.”

The clinic in Nantshire was inundated with requests on the day it opened. If Amber is interested, this could be a good prospect for a second location. “Would you be interested in offering blood to your local residents?”

Her eyes widen as she steps forward. “I would love it! I went to the opening of the clinic in Nantshire, but the crowd was overwhelming. I decided to try again another day.”

“When things settle down, I’ll ask Kathryn and Roland to contact you. They’ll be very interested in expanding.”

“I’ll look forward to it. Thank you, Prince Alexander… I’ll give you some time alone. Let me know if you need anything.”

As she leaves, I offer a weak smile, then exhale a weighted sigh once the door is closed. I bend down, hovering over Daniel’s body and closing my eyes. Sensing him deeply and breathing him in.

He’s healing. Silently, slowly, I feel his nature working to repair the distressed parts within his body. Amber is right. All I can do is wait. Be patient, calm and not think about the vampire who did this to him and how I want to rip his heart out from his chest with my bare hands.

The sun sinks lower in the sky, throwing the strange kaleidoscope of light from Danny’s chest and hips, to his knees and across his feet. Eventually, the sun dips below the horizon and the colors no longer touch him.

With his hand still in mine, I kick off my shoes and climb onto the bed, careful not to jostle him as I position myself at his side atop the sheets. Resting my head against the pillow beside him, I close my eyes, then allow my aura to radiate outward. Softly, just to let his nature within him know that I’m here if he needs me. If I can help at all.

“Please wake up,” I say quietly, touching my forehead to his temple. “Come back to me.”

Eventually, darkness falls over the room.

I must pass out at some point because when I open my eyes again, there are tapered candles silently flickering on thewindow sill. Disoriented, I lift my head from the pillow and my suitcase is tucked in the corner of the room, along with a duffle bag that I recognize as Danny’s.

I’d left my suitcase in the car when I arrived, too distressed to even think about it. Leoni must have brought it inside. There’s also a pitcher of water and two half-full glasses on the bedside table opposite me.

Emotionally and physically exhausted, I drop my head back down against the pillow and scoot closer into his side. I shut my eyes once more, resuming my internal refrain for Danny to wake up and come back to me. Swelling my already flared nature out just a little more.

A light feathery sensation brushes the top of my head. Confused, I open my eyes. Danny’s fingertips caress the longer length of my hair with his opposite hand. Startled, I inhale sharply and sit up onto my elbow.

“Danny?”

I watch like a hawk as his hand drops back down to his side. Slowly, his eyelids drag open and he blinks. “Mm.” The sound is dry in his throat. He raises his hand once more and touches the oxygen mask as if he wants to remove it.

Taking a chance, I help him remove the mask, sliding it up and over his head before setting it to the side. The movement stirs his hair and I’m alarmed when several strands break off and litter the pillow case and sheets. Danny takes a tentative breath in, then immediately starts coughing. Hard. A deep rattling wheeze from inside his chest.

Panicked, I reach for the mask again but he shakes his head. He moves to sit up and I help, not knowing what else to do. He coughs, heaving and I shift to my knees, reach past him and take hold of the water.

More terrified than I have ever been in my life, I wait as another ravaging cough rocks his frame. Quietly, I rub the center of his back with my free hand, wondering if I should yell forAmber to come and help. I’m about to, but then the coughing fit subsides and Danny takes a full, uninterrupted breath. The moment he exhales, I offer the glass.