CHAPTER 10: THE PRICE OF POWER
Elara's POV
The pain hit me three hours after the battle ended and it felt like my body was tearing itself apart from the inside and through the bond Kael's alarm exploded the moment I gasped and doubled over.
"Elara," he said sharp and caught me before I hit the ground and his hands were shaking when he touched my face. "What's wrong and talk to me."
I tried to answer but another wave of pain crashed through me and the silver light under my skin blazed so bright it lit up the entire room and through the bond I felt his terror spike because he didn't know how to fix this.
"Her body is rejecting the transformation," Lucien's voice cut through the haze and suddenly the old vampire was there examining me with ancient eyes full of concern. "The celestial magic and vampire blood are at war and if they don't find balance soon she'll burn from the inside out."
Through the bond Kael's fear crashed into me like a physical blow. "How do we stop it?"
"We don't," Lucien said quietly. "She has to survive it on her own and all we can do is keep her comfortable while her body decides whether to accept what she's become or destroy itself trying to reject it."
The words should have terrified me but through the bond Kael's absolute refusal to lose me wrapped around my heart like armor and his hand found mine and held tight. "Then we make sure she survives and I don't care what it takes."
He carried me to our chambers and laid me on the bed and didn't leave my side even when the pain got so bad I screamed and through the bond I felt every wave of agony echoing through him because we were so connected now that my pain was his pain.
"I'm sorry," I gasped between waves and tears streamed down my face. "I'm so sorry you have to feel this."
His laugh was broken and he pressed his forehead to mine. "Don't you dare apologize for something that's not your fault and I'd rather feel your pain than feel nothing at all because feeling nothing would mean you're gone."
Through the bond his love poured into me stronger than the pain and I held onto it like a lifeline while my body tried to decide what I was going to become.
Mira appeared with cool cloths and gentle hands and sat with me when Kael had to attend to court business he couldn't avoid and she told me stories about her childhood and made me laugh even when laughing hurt.
Cassian brought books about hybrid creatures from the library and read them out loud searching for anything that might help and through the bond I felt Kael's gratitude for his people loving me enough to fight for me.
The worst moment came on the second night when the pain spiked so high I couldn't breathe and the silver light blazed so bright Kael had to shield his eyes and through the bond I felt the exact moment he became certain I was dying.
"Don't leave me," he said rough and desperate and his tears fell hot on my face. "Please don't leave me and I just found you and I can't do this without you."
I wanted to promise him I'd stay but I couldn't lie and through the bond he felt my uncertainty and his anguish cut deeper than any physical pain and I hated that loving me was hurting him this badly.
"If I don't make it," I whispered and forced the words out even though they tasted like ash. "Promise me you'll keep living and find happiness again and not spend eternity mourning me."
"No," he said fierce and his hands cupped my face. "We survive together or not at all and those are the only options I'm accepting and you're going to fight through this because you're the strongest person I've ever met."
Through the bond his certainty wrapped around me and gave me strength I didn't know I had and I held onto him and fought against the pain and the fear and the pull toward darkness that whispered it would be easier to just let go.
On the third day something shifted and the pain started to ease and the silver light stopped fighting the vampire blood and started weaving together with it and through the bond Kael's hope blazed so bright it made me cry.
"It's working," Lucien said and his ancient voice held wonder. "The magic is finding balance and she's going to survive this."
Through the bond Kael's relief crashed into me so hard it knocked the breath from my lungs and he pulled me into his arms and held me like he'd never let go and I felt him shaking against me.
When I finally could stand and look in the mirror my eyes had changed and they held both crimson fire and silver starlight and together they made something beautiful and strange and entirely new.
"You're magnificent," Kael breathed from behind me and his arms wrapped around my waist. "Terrifying and powerful and absolutely perfect."
Through the bond I felt his pride and his love and his overwhelming relief that I'd survived and I leaned back against his chest and finally felt like I could breathe again.
The door burst open and Cassian stood there pale and shaking. "Kael we have a problem and the council sent a message and they're coming in three days with an army and they're calling for Elara's execution and they've declared her an abomination that threatens the natural order."
Through the bond I felt Kael's rage ignite like wildfire but his arms tightened around me protective and possessive. "Let them come and they'll learn what happens when they threaten what's mine."
I looked at my reflection with my new hybrid eyes and felt power humming under my skin and through the bond Kael's certainty wrapped around me like armor and I smiled fierce at the coming storm.
"Three days," I said and turned in his arms to face him. "Then we show them exactly what this abomination can do."
His answering smile was all teeth and pride and through the bond our combined power blazed bright enough to shake the foundations and together we would burn down anyone who tried to tear us apart.