Page 193 of The Vampire's Bride

A long exhale leaves his lips as his head falls back and the light fades from his eyes. His holding spell shatters, freeing the Vampires all around me.

Pain burns along every nerve ending as I press my hand against my wound. Groaning in agony, I roll onto my side. Liquid warmth pools beneath my palms, blooming across my torso. The sickening scent of iron fills the air so thick, I taste it on my tongue.

Valaric rushes toward me and drops to his knees. His eyes are wide as they travel over my form. He bites the inside of his wrist and holds it over my mouth. “Drink this.”

A few drops of blood pass my lips and I close my eyes, praying for the worst of the pain to subside, but it only grows stronger.

“Why isn’t it working?” He snarls. His warm hands settle gently over mine as his panicked voice hovers above me. “Let me see, Juliet.”

I’m vaguely aware of Damar, Lysander, and Prince Raine standing behind him. A deep growl rumbles as a large wolf—Eben—stands guard on my other side, next to Aerlyx.

A sharp hiss of pain escapes me and my hands tremble uncontrollably as he pulls them away from the wound.

CHAPTER 83

VALARIC

Eben shifts and sinks to his knees beside me, staring down at Juliet’s pale and trembling form. “There’s too much blood. I cannot see anything.”

Extending my claws, I slice away the fabric of her dress. Damar passes me his cape and my nostrils flare as I mop away the blood. Something about it smells off… cloyingly sweet.

Juliet’s face is an agonizing mask of pain as she grips my forearm, her chest rising and falling with rapid breaths as tears stream down her cheeks.

Eben inhales sharply and my heart stops at the dark, angry black veins fingering out from her wound.

“It’s the Blood Reaver’s Curse,” Aerlyx murmurs, his face paling. Sadness mars his features. “There is nothing to be done.”

My heart squeezes painfully in my chest. I am going to lose her.

Raine growls out orders behind me, yelling for his guards to find a healer.

Sweat beads across Juliet’s forehead, her body trembling as the curse spreads through her. She’s fever warm to the touch as I stare down at her ashen face, her eyelids fluttering open and closed as she fights against the death that will claim her.

“I’m so cold, Valaric.”

Tears sting my eyes. I’ve never felt so terrified or helpless as I do now. Wrapping my arms and wings around her, I cradle her to my chest.

She reaches up to rest her delicate hand on my chest. “Is everyone else all right?” she barely manages.

Emotions lodge in my throat. I swallow hard to clear them, but the words will not come; all I can do is nod weakly in reply.

Damar leans over me. “We are alive because of you, Juliet.”

She sucks in a sharp breath, gritting her teeth in agony as a muffled whimper of pain escapes her lips.

Frantic, I look at Eben. “Help her!”

He looks down at Juliet and a tear rolls down his cheek. “There is nothing I can do.”

A Vampire healer in midnight blue robes drops to her knees beside me. Her red eyes widen as she looks at Juliet’s wound. “He’s right,” she murmurs. “The Blood Reaver’s Curse cannot be undone. Not without the help of another mage.”

“Find one!” I snap at Aerlyx.

“I cannot.” He gives me a helpless look. “The mage’s spell depleted my magic.”

Panic and fear consume me as Juliet breathes in short, clipped breaths, her heart beating erratically as the curse burns through her veins.

“Juliet, please. Please do not die. Please.”

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