Page 24 of Bitten

“He’s taken a day or two to spend with his new mates.”

Ralnur smiled softly. “He took my advice and accepted Eilam and Noah?”

Theis nodded.

“And that was the cause for celebration last night?”

Theis nodded. “The king had a grand ball to celebrate his mates.”

“What I would’ve given to be there to witness that.” A slight smile came to his lips. “Good for him. I know he’ll have them to protect him when I’m gone,” Ralnur said. “It’s a load off my mind.”

Theis sighed. “You’ll not die before he returns.”

“As if you can stop me.”

“We will force feed you, if necessary,” Theis said.

Ralnur’s red gaze came his way. The look of terror on Ralnur’s face made Theis feel all the more terrible for his decision. “Why? Why go to the effort when I might be killed soon anyway?”

“The king would never forgive me if I allowed you to perish before he returned. As it is, he’ll have my hide for not telling him the depth of your condition. I didn’t want to ruin his first moments with his mates. He deserved a bit of happiness. So he wasn’t aware you’ve not been feeding.”

Ralnur glared at him, but ultimately the anger faded. The warlock simply looked too exhausted to hold on to the emotion. “Why force him to choose? If you love your king as much as you appear to, don’t force him to make that decision. It nearly destroyed him the first time.”

Before Ralnur’s transition, there had only been one thing to save him—becoming a vampire. As it was illegal for a born witch to be transitioned, the king had made the heartbreaking decision not to allow it to happen—with Ralnur’s blessing.

Someone had intervened in the meantime and saved Ralnur against that order.

Saved? More like cursed.

Whoever had interfered had only made a terrible situation all the more dire. Theis knew it was likely the most compassionate act was to end Ralnur then and there… but the king loved his uncle.

And the mercurial monarch could potentially change his mind.

Or…

“I have a researcher working to comb the Library of Midnight, searching to find the culprit—whatever being was here and forced your transition. It could give us the answers we seek.”

Ralnur was quiet a moment. “I wish you luck. Promise me you’ll make him pay, will you?”

“If we know the how… perhaps we can find a way to…” Theis searched for the right thing to say to finish his thought. There was no way to become un-undead that he was aware of.

“Reverse this?” Ralnur chuckled. “There’s no way to reverse the virus. No warlock, mage, or transmuter has been able to unlock that virulent, destructive pestilence in over a thousand years. You think to do it with a librarian?”

Theis eyed the man. “My king would be destroyed over your demise. If I can do something to avoid his suffering—and yours—I’ll do everything in my power to make it happen.” Theis placed a hand on Ralnur’s bone-thin leg. “You have been kind to me and to all I’ve ever seen. You deserve to find a way out of this.”

Ralnur met his stare. That kindness was still there—though it was harder to see out of blood-red eyes.

“While I appreciate your efforts, they’re a waste of all our time.” Ralnur turned slightly and gazed at him. “With one slash of that sword at your side, you could end me here and now. I won’t fight it. And it would save Adriel from having to make another hard decision. Without making me suffer one more moment of this pain.” He paused. “If you wish to repay my kindness, you’ll give me that. It would be the kindest thing you could do.”

Theis held the warlock’s stare, knowing that would solve so much heartache on both sides. A clean kill. A threat ended. Ralnur would be at peace. And in time, the king’s heartache would fade.

But he had no right to play executioner. The king might get over the death, but he wouldn’t forgive Theis for doing the deed. There had to be something in the archive… something that could aid Ralnur. “I cannot. Not unless my king orders it.”

Ralnur’s eyes closed, and Theis drew in a deep breath of regret. When the warlock reopened them, Theis wished he had been strong enough to do as he’d been asked.

“When the king returns, ask him to give you the end you seek—if that’s what you truly want. If it is his will, I shall comply.”

“I fear he won’t,” Ralnur said.

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