Page 41 of Halfblood Deceived

“So, we wait,” Lex mused.

Zeydan nodded. “We wait.”

CHAPTER 11

The first thing Aella became aware of were the screams.

Sharp, terrified screams that paralyzed her with horror, and then ignited a flare of defensive fire deep in her core.

Those were the screams of a girl.

Of an innocent girl who had been chained like an animal by a monster.

A monster Aella was married to.

Aella tried to move, to follow that sound in the darkness, but her body was useless and heavy.

The screams grew louder.

“MOMMY! MY MOMMY! NO!” the child cried.

Aella’s mind finally connected with her body.

She flailed her arms and legs, trying to see in the darkness, trying to run…

“It’s a dream!” called a feminine voice Aella didn’t recognize. “You have to wake up, Aella. Come on, wake up.”

“Open your eyes,” insisted another voice, soft and with a lilting accent. “Come on, girl. You need to wake up and stop hitting me.”

Aella’s body grew still. Partly out of fear, for she didn’t recognize those voices. Partly because the burst of strength she’d summoned was leaking away like water between her fingers.

Aella struggled to find where her eyelids were, and after a few tries, she opened her eyes, finding two unknown, worried faces hovering above her.

Both were female.

One was dark-skinned. Her lovely face was haloed by curly dark hair held in a loose, long braid. She had full lips and high cheekbones. There was kindness but also steel in her blue eyes. The look of a warrior. And she was a vampire.

The other female had sharp, long pointy ears that jutted out from her chaotic mass of medium-length green-yellow hair. Her delicate features were arranged in a scowl that Aella somehow knew wasn’t directed at her. Her light brown skin had a subtle glow that seemed to come from deep inside her.

She was a fey, Aella realized.

Gargoyles also claimed that fey were demonic creatures, but Aella was certain that was yet another lie. The tiny female was dressed in a white lab coat and black scrubs, and something about her—perhaps the soft, soothing touch of her hand on Aella’s face—made Aella believe that she was fierce but kind.

“That’s better,” Warrior-eyes said, giving Aella an approving smile. She was holding one of Aella’s hands firmly but carefully against the bed, the other cradled and rubbed her very pregnant belly.

And there was more evidence that vampires could become pregnant.

Not that Aella needed more evidence after seeing the child Micah killed.

“Who are you? Where am I?” she asked, or tried. Her voice was hoarse, nearly inaudible.

Warrior-eyes adjusted the bed so Aella was in a half-sitting position.

The fey cupped the back of Aella’s head with a small but strong hand and pressed a cup of water to her lips. “Small sips.”

Aella obeyed. Her brain was mushy, and she was utterly disoriented. Her eyes roamed around the room, taking everything in—mahogany shelves full of potions and medical implements, a long counter with a sink, and the surprisingly comfortable hospital bed she was in. An infirmary, she realized.

The door opened, letting in a tall male with dark hair and mesmerizing jade eyes and everything came crashing down.

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