Ascension of the Hunters | 18+ ✔

Book 3⌇4. One in the Same

Chapter 4 ∣  One in The Same

-Orion

As I approach the cell block door, I can sense Evicka's heart rate. It's beating at a much lower rate than when she'd first been brought here. Unlocking the door and closing it silently behind me, my eyes scan over her frail and fragile form. She's lying on her side, curled up in a small defensive ball.

I'm not sure of exactly what goes into a vampiric pregnancy and with her sudden deterioration in her health, worry begins to rise within me.

Unlocking her cell and pulling back the silver bar door, I glance over her quickly. Her breathing is uneven, and she appears to be in significant pain. A side of me I haven't been in touch with for a long time suddenly bubbles to the surface. I rush to her side, kneeling and lifting her white hair away from her face.

Evicka is much paler than normal and she's broken out in a cold sweat, her eyes moving rapidly beneath her closed lids.

"Evicka?" I ask, placing the back of my hand against her forehead. She's burning up. How can a vampire get sick, to begin with? It must be this pregnancy.

She exhales, the air leaving her lungs as I lift her up, placing her in my lap as I sit with my legs crossed. Her legs are bent over one of mine as I place one of my hands on her upper back, leaning her down just enough to see her face.

My eyes widen in shock, the pulsation of her heart comes to a sudden halt.

"You can't die unless I say so," I growl, my eyes shifting to a bloody red, taking my free arm and sinking my fangs into the inner skin. I bring my wrist to her mouth, tilting her head back and allowing the blood to slide down her throat.

My wrist stops bleeding, homing in on the connection to my blood. It branches off, absorbing into her system and racing through her veins. My hand hovers over her chest, my blood entering her heart, forcing it to palpitate.

This little being is taking all her strength, including her blood magic. That's why she can't use it. It also must be taking away her regenerative properties, using it to accelerate its growth at an exponential rate.

A soft moan escapes her lips, her heart returning to a normal, steady beat and her breathing evening out. It's only been a week, and as my eyes drift over her body, checking for any other harm she may be in, I discover the small raised bump that protrudes from her lower abdomen.

Yep, that little being is taking everything from her.

My blood magic will just barely keep her alive.

She needs her beloved. Only his blood will give her the strength she needs.

I take the key, gliding it into the locked cuffs she wears around her wrists, unlocking them and letting them fall freely to the floor.

At least I can help a little.

I slowly rise to my feet, standing with Evicka in my arms. Her head leans gently against my chest, one of her arms is wrapped across her waist as the other hangs down toward the ground. I exit the cell block, leaning back against the door and shutting it.

The hunters I pass by, have mixed emotions scrawled across their faces. I know they are wondering what I'm doing, after all, only Enock's hunting party knows of her presence. Yes, there have been rumors of a pureblood being held down here, but they weren't confirmed, until now.

I step toward my office, one of the hunters walking up beside me and opening the door. I nod a thank you as he shuts the door behind him, Evicka and I standing in the center of the room. I turn to my left, walking over and placing her gently down on the forest green couch with an ebony pillow situated under her head.