Page 257 of Halfblood Deceived

Diana roared, her claws pinched Aella’s skin, and she clenched her teeth, preparing for more pain, but Diana was holding her close, not clawing at her.

Aella realized they were flying at astounding speed. She tried to orient herself and realized Diana was flying toward the forest across from her home.

Metallic-like whimpers came from Diana as she flew lower and further away.

She is trying to land, Aella realized.

But they wouldn’t be so lucky.

Diana cried out, one hand clutching at her head, and down they went.

Aella screamed too, looking down at what seemed to be the small lake she’d visited with Diana and Zeydan a few times. But the water would offer no reprieve from such a height. She knew that all too well.

Diana’s body went suddenly lax. Aella held onto her sister’s prone, heavy body with all her strength as the lake got closer and closer…

They broke through the icy surface just like they did through the ceiling of Hecate—forcefully, painfully.

And Aella knew no more.

* * *

Aella awoke with a jolt. A low grunt left her dry lips at the pain in her head and all over her body. She was in a hospital room for some godforsaken reason. They had removed her clothes, and she was wearing a white gown with little blue dots.

What the Hell happened? She wondered.

Fragmented memories pushed to the surface of her wooly head.

“Diana!” she cried. Standing up from the bed and promptly falling to her butt.

The fall dislodged her IV, but she hardly cared. Teeth clenched, she stood and got rid of the wires attached to her chest and stumbled to the door.

Outside, she found chaos.

Mari, Aylana, and Kamilla were facing off against a handsome female with dark skin and curly hair who looked a lot like Jessa. A doctor and a nurse were hovering near them.

Oh god, Jessa, Aella agonized. An image of Diana breaking Jessa’s spine flashed through her mind. That horrible cracking sound echoed in her head. She shuddered.

“You are not touching my daughter!” the female cried, her hands curled into fists. “And you’re not putting vampire blood inside her! You won’t contaminate her!”

“If I don’t use Kamilla’s blood to heal her after I operate on her, she will be permanently and completely paralyzed,” Mari growled. “Is that what you want? Are you so fucking prejudiced that you prefer to see your daughter suffer for the rest of her life?!”

“Don’t you dare tell me what’s best for my daughter!” the female cried out. Tears ran down her cheeks.

“I insist that there is nothing to be done for Jessa,” said the blonde doctor.

Aella realized she knew that doctor. It was the same one who had been rude to her and Zeydan. Hudson.

“Of course you do,” Mari drawled. “I don’t understand how you still have a fucking job. Where did you get your diploma from, eh? A fucking fortune cookie?”

“How dare you, fey?” Hudson hissed.

“Enough!” Kamilla boomed.

Everyone shut up.

Kamilla leaned closer to Jessa’s mother. “We are going to heal your daughter, whether you want it or not, Zariah. I don’t give a single fuck about your prejudiced opinion. And if you interrupt or try to stop us, I will knock you unconscious.”

Zariah shook with rage, and what Aella suspected was a barely suppressed transformation. “It’s your fault she’s hurt. Your fault for allowing those beasts here. I hope you pay for betraying us all, Kamilla Davashkov.”

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