44. Seven in a Sorry State #2
"He needs you." His throat bobs as he implores and that breaks my stupor. Reaching Azael, I lean over Zien whose head thrashes from side to side on the pillow, fangs bared in agony.
"How the fuck did this happen?" I question the males surrounding me, voice tight with worry.
"We don't know for certain, but I think he drank blood infused with dark magic." I go still, hearing those words come out of Alistair's mouth. Attuned to spells he’s probably right.
Blood infused with dark magic triggers blood magic with unforeseen consequences for a vampire. How did Zien not realize this?
"And you all did not stop him?" I shout accusingly.
"We didn't know, Flame!" Rinn sounds miserable tugging at his hair in a helpless gesture.
"He hasn't taken blood from us in weeks.
When we forced him to drink, he couldn't keep it down.
He tried hunting wild animals behind the Nephilim castle, but it didn't agree with him fully.
Today, he and Silas tracked a normal-looking deer in the woods.
He drank, but started seizing on the way back.
Silas went back to investigate, but the deer's carcass was gone. "
I glance at Silas. He is staring at my belly with such agonized wonder that I step back instinctively. Amid the rush after Archie's knock, I forgot to hide my pregnant belly with glamour. His eyes snap to mine, and the intense pain there steals my breath away.
He's about to say something but Zien's body violently arches off the bed and he starts frothing at the mouth.
"Fuck!" Alistair shouts. "I tried to undo the dark spell but it's not working!"
"If it's blood magic, can't it be countered with blood?" I cry out, desperate for a cure.
"We tried, but none of our blood works, Azizam. His body rejects it automatically." Azael says urgently.
There are spots of blood on the pillow by Zien's neck, his tendons standing out in stark relief. His breath comes in short bursts and a keening noise escapes his mouth.
I don't think. Instinctively, I bite my wrist with my new fangs and press the bleeding underside to his parted mouth, pouring in my blood. The room holds its collective breath.
At first nothing happens. Zien tilts his head up, arching off the pillow, but then his fangs sink into my skin like hot pokers.
I whimper in pain at the same time Alistair exclaims excitedly, "It's working! I can feel the spell lose its hold."
I keep my wrist pressed to Zien's mouth as he starts drawing my blood in deep pulls, eyes still scrunched shut. His body starts relaxing one muscle at a time as Azael orders, "That's enough. Let go, Azizam."
I shake my head mutely, watching color return to Zien's face, the gray tint seeping away. His muscles start to fill out once again. Skeletal appearance replaced by a healthy sheen as I start feeling dizzy, but I still hold on.
"Aleiraah! Let go!" Maybe Azael shouts along with Silas but my eyes turn blurry with tears and there's a ringing noise in my ears.
I feel my wrist being ripped away from Zien's mouth but time slows down. All I feel is a sense of relief that Zien's hopefully going to be okay as I'm swallowed by blissful darkness.
I come into my senses to muffled voices around me. I'm sitting propped against a warm, hard chest but my senses are a bit fuzzy.
"Vroc probably had animals poisoned nearby with dark spells." Someone growls.
"It’s almost like Vroc expected Zien to drink contaminated blood. This means they had been watching us when we're staying on the Nephilim grounds." Azael rumbles.
"But I didn't see or feel the presence of those scums when we stayed there. I patrolled the lands thoroughly." Archie adds, frustration evident in his tone.
"Maybe someone was passing information to them? What about those Rephaim that Ispahan hired as soldiers? They might be aiding the goblins acting as their informers. The border unrests definitely had a goblin ‘feel’ to it." Rinn and Baz speak together.
I blink open my heavy eyes. Strong arms hold me tight, and the wide chest I'm resting against expands with a heavy sigh. "You're finally awake, Love." Zien whispers, pressing a kiss to my temple as a shudder passes through his body.
I tilt my head up into his clear gray eyes, the anxious muddy-red completely gone.
Thanks to my blood, his pale cheeks now carry a rosy tint.
He searches my face, undoubtedly cataloging my dark circles.
In the reverent silence, I look past him at the others standing tentatively around the bed.
I am resting in Zien's arms, too lethargic to move.
My body feels heavy, and the metallic taste of my own blood lingers in my mouth from where I bit my wrist.
My dry throat clicks as I croak "Water."
Alistair immediately fetches a glass for me. Azael helps me drink the cool, refreshing liquid.
Silas looks at me hungrily with something wild lurking behind his eyes. My gaze drops to my exposed belly with the soft swell no longer fully covered.
The loose linen pants have slipped a little lower on my tummy and I feel my face grow hot.
I don't like being so vulnerable in front of my husbands. No, not husbands. Just males I'm waiting to be free from.
I sit up slowly, with Zien supporting my lower back, and fix my hair with my hand that he had bitten into. Only it's completely healed. My gaze flicks to Azael who looks disheveled like the rest. Everyone seems tired as if they have reached the end of their rope.
"I took the liberty of healing you, Azizam. There's nothing to worry about. You'd feel lethargic for a while. Undoing the dark blood magic required a lot of your blood. But the younglings are fine."
I drop my gaze hearing him mention the babies. Silas rounds the bed and drops to his knees before me. "Kitten, please—" He sounds desperate but I'm not ready. And I tell him just that. "I'm not ready to talk about this, Silas. I can't do this right now."
He looks devastated for a moment but drops his head, nodding silently as Alistair squeezes his shoulder once.
"Don't drink from random animals, Zien." I state in a measured voice, turning toward him.
"If you don't wish to continue drinking from the blood sluts, I'm willing to let you drink from me until you find a viable alternative.
" He makes a sound of protest leaning closer, but I move away getting to my feet. I can't watch him in that state again.
I make a decision then and there to let them know what I've learned about the goblins so far. It's better to avoid a repeat of this incident.
"This was probably a targeted goblin attack. I'll tell you all I have pieced together so far, to avoid such problems in the future. At least until this threat has passed and we've parted ways."
In the reluctant silence, I turn from the window to face the males who used to be my greatest joy. I feel my heart break all over again. So I take a fortifying breath mingled with their scents and let it ravage my insides. Immersion therapy at its finest.
"The goblins, their King-–Vroc, had my father assassinated.
He had my mother killed as well in a random battle, and used a Leshi to sound a distress call, mimicking my voice.
Mother thought they had got to me, while I was nowhere near the battle grounds.
That moment of distraction cost her her life.