Blood Bound [Book Two, Lady and the Wolf] (EDITING)

Chapter Ten: Always

Van stared at her as she slept soundly. His expression was solemn and impassive, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt. Her peaceful face made it seem as if the whole world lay in her hands, and she was the embodiment of innocence and calm.

The thing was, his world quite literally was in her hands. For a moment he wondered if he was making the right decision.

He growled low, remembering this was the bond they shared talking. He couldn't help but feel a sliver of doubt creeping in, a small but persistent voice in his mind that told him he was making a mistake. But he couldn't dismiss the pull of her innocence and beauty, and the promise of peace that lie beyond this moment.

He watched as her eyes fluttered open, her eyes adjusting to the light as the sun came in through the window. She threw him a little smile before squinting her eyes and holding her head slightly. Her expression was tender and vulnerable, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth and affection for her.

"What time is it?" she asked groggily.

Van frowned, noticing how she didn't move, just buried her face into his pillow.

"Early," he grunted.

He waited a few moments, just looking down at her softly as the sun's rays pierced through the curtains and slowly spread across the room.

In his mind, he was conflicted. On the one hand, there was that familiar sense of comfort and serenity when she was beside him. She brought out the best in him, allowing him to lay his burden down for a moment and find some peace.

However, there was also that feeling of guilt and reluctance. Because no matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise, the truth was he could choose to live and have Athea come for Aira.

He reached his hand out, his fingers almost brushing her tangled locks of dark hair. However, when she lifted her head to look at him, he pulled his hand back quickly, as if he didn't have the courage to touch her.

"Van?" she whimpered; her face full of panic as she stared at him.

He was confused for a moment before he felt something warm trickle down his face. He put his hand to nose, feeling the warm blood. He growled to himself, knowing it was getting closer.

Aira jumped up, still wearing just the slip she had had on under her dress, and grabbed the sheet, putting it to his face.

"Dad!" she screamed, holding it to his face, calling repeatedly for Drake. "Dad help!"

He didn't understand why she had such an aggressive response until he saw the sheet slowly filling with blood. This realization was enough to snap him out of his confusion.

The last thing he seen before everything went black was Drake running through the door.

*******

"I'll overlook the fact that my daughter was sleeping in your room," Drake muttered as he checked the bag of fluids.

"That's all it was, just sleeping," Van grumbled, avoiding his gaze as Drake slipped an intravenous into his arm. He was trying to ignore the feeling of the needle piercing his skin and the warm fluids coursing through his veins.

Drake's stare was sharp as he glared at Van.

"Akim wants out?" Van inquired, a slight hint of amusement playing across his face.

Drake simply nodded stiffly in reply, refusing to meet Van's gaze, as he silently seethed.

Silence fell between them, as Drake's anger and resentment slowly simmered. Van couldn't help but smirk slightly, amused by how bothered Drake had become.

Finally, after several long, awkward moments, Drake snapped, "Did you do anything with her?"

They stared at each other for an uncomfortable period of time, before Van finally broke the silence.

"I wouldn't be dying if something did," he finally responded. That hint of amusement still played across his face, and he seemed unfazed and unconcerned by the dire situation he was in.

He could see the visible sigh of relief that Drake let out.

"Yeah, yeah, you're right. I'm sorry..." Drake muttered as he sat down in the chair beside his brother, and Van could see this wasn't just about Aira. Drake was finally coming to terms that his brother was dying, and that nothing could bring him back. Death had never been more real to him than in that very moment.

Van still recalled the anxious expression that flashed across Drake's face just before he passed out.

"I have accepted this, Drake," he said, sounding calm and resigned. However, he knew that his words carried more weight than what he let on. "Aiden will take over-," he said, before his voice trailed off.

Van was cut off when Drake suddenly stood up, flipping back the chair in his anger. "I deal with death every day, Van, I'm a fu-"

Drake suddenly caught himself, and he paused for several moments, before letting lose a string of vulgarities as he shouted, " I know what's coming, and I know who can stop it, but I can't just sit back and let you die! Just like I can't just sit back and let my daughter choose a future she never asked for!"

He took a step back as he placed his head in his hands. "I made you a promise, and I'm messing it up."

Van's eyebrow rose. A promise?

"We're brothers now, Kostya. We will protect each other because that is what brothers do. Konstantin and Akim are much like brothers too, no? If those bad people come for you, they'll have to get through me first, and that's a promise!"

Ah, that promise. Now it was coming to him. The day he had first come to stay with Samiul and Aleksandra he had ran away, only for Drake to find him. It was the first time someone had openly stood by him, with no judgment towards the monster that lived inside of him.

Considering all that had transpired - the swift changes that were occurring - Van felt like he had no choice but to make this decision.

"I need to tell her, don't I?" Van asked, his expression heavy with defeat. The thought of Aira nagging him in the afterlife had him fighting back a chuckle, but he was uncertain about whether she would let him depart in peace.

He sighed, resigned to whatever Aira's reaction would be, as he tried to prepare himself for the barrage of words and emotions that he knew would soon hit him, whether he was ready for them or not.

"She won't let me die quietly," he confessed, his voice now laced with both amusement and resignation.

Drake let out a bitter laugh, his eyes glistening with tears of grief and sorrow. "Aira? Of course not. She can be stubborn when she sets her mind on something."

"That's a good thing," Van said, his voice starting to sound tired and weak. "I won't be here to protect her, Drake."

His tired golden eyes moved to Drake, his face falling into a serious expression. "Keep her safe."

It finally sunk in as Drake nodded once and quickly wiped some tears from his eyes.

"Always," he replied quietly.