Page 159 of Halfblood Deceived

He saw Sebastian kneel, place a hand on Andreas’s neck, and cast a spell that opened up the male’s throat. The blond panted from the effort of holding the spell, his magic all but depleted.

Mari was still chanting, still pouring all the healing power she could summon into Evan, but her aura was fading and Evan was still not moving. Lex nuzzled his brother desperately, and Zeydan knew he was whimpering, begging his twin to wake up, but he couldn’t hear it. He could barely see it through his blurry peripheral vision.

Please, Lilith, Zeydan mentally begged. Please, Morrigan. Please, Celene.

Andreas lifted a shaky hand and gripped Zeydan’s wrist, sinking his fangs into the open vein Zeydan offered him, drinking on his own. His brown eyes regained some focus as he gave Zeydan a grateful, desperate look and drank deeper.

Sebastian released his spell with a pant, squeezing Zeydan’s shoulder.

Evan’s chest moved as he took a halting breath.

Sound rushed into Zeydan’s ears, the scene coming into dizzying focus.

Mari sobbed. Her magic-charged eyes went from Andreas to Evan, who blinked his amber eyes open.

Lex whimpered, nuzzling his twin.

Evan weakly returned the gesture.

“Thank the goddess,” Kerian breathed out, running a clawed hand through his hair.

Kamilla pressed a hand against her stomach, topaz, feline eyes loaded with relief, anger, and guilt.

Andreas released his bite, licking Zeydan’s forearm to close the wound.

“Are you sure you don’t need more?” Zeydan asked. “You can take all you need.”

Andreas wrinkled his nose. “Any more and it’ll pour out of my bloody ears,” he rasped. “And you won’t be feeling so generous when you stand, believe me.”

Zeydan let out a painful huff, his lips tilting up.

Mari let out a low groan as her magic went off, completely drained.

Aylana approached her and Evan, gently nudging Mari’s hands off Evan’s chest with her head. She placed a massive paw and her blood-drenched muzzle on Evan’s neck. An almost purring sound left her throat as her green aura flared harder, encompassing Evan’s chest.

Evan blinked and inhaled deeper, his eyes going wide.

Aylana let out that purring sound again, her aura turning blinding for a second before fading.

Evan’s body vibrated and flashed with amber light for a few seconds, and then he was back to his naked, humanoid form. His eyes were glazed, but full of awe as he stared at Aylana.

Lex nuzzled his brother.

The massive fey-werewolf female let out a long breath, releasing Evan, and all but fell to her butt, looking utterly drained.

They all stared at her.

Kam blinked. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you couldn’t use your magic in your wolf form before, right?”

Aylana nodded, giving a dejected look at her still lupine body.

“You can’t shift back?” Sebastian asked.

Aylana sighed and shook her head. She lifted her paw and wiggled her fuzzy, clawed fingers. Zeydan felt the inappropriate impulse to smile. She looked rather cute and cuddly, even with the blood staining her gray fur.

Sebastian gave his soulmate a cheeky grin, despite being in obvious pain. “Don’t worry, love. You look utterly gorgeous no matter what form you’re in.”

Aylana gave him a canine-displaying smile.

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