Page 62 of Night Wedding
His mind is free
Bring my lover
Back to me
The potion bubbled. I removed the stopper.
So mote it be.
Wisps of white smoke curled out. I blew it in Diego’s direction.
He swatted at it and cried, “Get it away from me!”
It curled around him, wrapping around the top of his head and swirling down. He stopped struggling against the arms holding him. In fact, he curled into a fetal position and stopped moving altogether.
His expression turned blank, and my heart crashed into my ribs. Did something go terribly wrong?
“Diego?” I asked.
He stared at me with zero recognition in his eyes. He said nothing. He did nothing.
I stepped backward and slammed my hand over my mouth. Had I caused permanent, irreversible damage to the man I loved?
My heart ricocheted around my ribs like a racquetball being slammed by a racket. What had I done? Could I save him?
How could I even reach him?
Panic punched through me like an uppercut right into my core. All my fears about what could go wrong played out with vivid reality on Diego’s blank expression. Had I destroyed his mind making him more zombie than vampire?
“Diego,” I pleaded, “Please hear me.”
He continued to stare blankly, not at me, not at anyone.
Voices around me thundered, familiar voices with questions and reassurances about Diego, but I shut them out. Now wasn’t the time. I didn’t need consolation, I needed answers. If there was any chance to save him, I had to figure it out.
Think, Nova, think.
Blood rushed through to my skull. My heart drummed louder, surging like thunder in my eardrums.
Cassandra had reminded me about manifestation before I left the Network, saying it would help me if any questions arose. I closed my eyes and visualized reuniting with Diego. We were together on a beach under the moonlight, holding hands. Oh, how I wanted that vision to be true. I released a slow exhale. Could I find a way back to this dream with Diego?
More flashes of our past flooded my mind. In some, we were simply spending time cuddled watching a movie. In others, we were in the throes of passion as we made love and he fed from me. During that primal exchange, I felt the intimacy of our bond.
Wait...
A question took form. Could that be it?
My half-formed thoughts turned more coherent, twisting a way into an idea.
If I nourished him with my blood and reminded him of our connection, I might have one last chance to reach him.
That meant that I had to offer a vampire who might have lost his connection to reality—and his humanity—my blood.
I swallowed the hesitation, a primal drive to survive, and extended my arm. My hand trembled.
“Diego, drink from me.” I offered my wrist.
“Nova, no way. Are you crazy?” Gianna asked.
