FAZER LOGINNicholas POVDay three of Lilith's coma felt like the end of the world.Nicholas stood at the window of Lilith's room watching the sun rise over the destroyed estate grounds and felt absolutely nothing.Numbness had become his default state. The only way to function when everything inside him was screaming that his mate was dying and there was nothing he could do to stop it.Behind him, Dr. Aldric was examining Lilith with the quiet efficiency of someone who had seen too much death to be surprised by it anymore. Sebastian sat in the chair beside the bed holding Lilith's hand like letting go would kill her immediately. Lucian paced near the door, unable to sit still, Zev's restless energy making it impossible for him to be calm.And Victoria stood at the foot of the bed with dark circles under her eyes and her hands clenched into fists, watching Dr. Aldric work with an expression that looked like she was preparing for war."Vital signs?" Nicholas asked without turning from the window.
Lilith felt something crack inside her chest. "You're not real. This is....I'm dying. This is my brain creating comfort because I'm dying.""Maybe," Marcus allowed. "Or maybe you're in the space between life and death. The place where souls go when they're not quite ready to leave but can't quite stay. And maybe I'm here because you need to see me.""I don't understand."Marcus moved closer. He still looked translucent....not quite solid, more like light given shape, but when he reached out to touch her face, Lilith felt it. Felt the warmth and love and absolute certainty that she was his daughter and he loved her."You're carrying a curse," Marcus said gently. "A divine curse that transferred to you from the bonds you share with three cursed Alphas. And it's eating you alive.""I know," Lilith whispered."But you're fighting it," Marcus continued. "You're holding on. Refusing to let go even when letting go would be easier. Why?""Because I love them," Lilith said. "Because I don't wa
Nicholas nodded and moved to stand just outside the circle. "Do what you need to do."Victoria took a breath and placed both hands flat on the floor inside the circle.The ritual required specific words. Ancient language that predated modern magical practice. Words that would open a channel between her and Elena Markov without creating a physical pathway that could be traced.Victoria spoke.The words came out in a language she had learned from her mother, who had learned it from her mother, who had learned it from the first Morvaine witch to ever attempt this ritual."Aeterna voce, trans spatium et tempus, quaero te. Elenas Markov, audi verba mea. Aperi portam inter nos sed cela locum tuum. Veni ad me in necessitate. Te rogo. Te imploro."The circle flared brighter.The moonstones began to spin slowly in place. The silver wire heated until it glowed red. And in the center of the circle, where Victoria's blood had fallen, the air began to shimmer.Not tearing. Not ripping. Just shimme
She turned toward the door."Victoria," Lucian called after her.She stopped."Thank you," Lucian said quietly. "For not giving up on her."Victoria felt her throat tighten. "She's my niece. My family. I would tear apart the world to save her.""I know," Lucian said. "That's why I believe you'll find a way."Victoria nodded and left the room.She walked quickly back to her quarters, her mind already thinking about everything she would need for the portal ritual.White salt for the circle. Silver for the conduit. Moonstone for clarity. Blood....her own blood for the connection. And the words. The ancient summoning words that would open a channel between her and Elena Markov without revealing Elena's location.Victoria had performed this ritual twice before. Both times successfully. Both times with less at stake than this.She could do it again.She had to do it again.Because Lilith was dying. And Elena Markov was the only person who might be able to save her.Victoria reached her room
Victoria's mind was racing. "No. But i have been wanting to ask Nicholas about her name since i saw the necklace, But now I know the name. And.....Markov is...." She stopped and moved to the door. "I need my books. Now. Don't touch the necklace and don't leave her side.""Where are you going?" Lucian demanded."To my room. I'll be back in five minutes."Victoria ran.Down the hallway. Up the stairs. Burst into her room and went straight for the pile of genealogy texts she had been consulting earlier.Bloodlines of Power: A Complete History of Magical Families.She flipped through pages frantically until she found it.MARKOVOrigin: Eastern Europe, circa 800 CESpecialty: Healing magic, life extension, curse breakingStatus: Largely extinct. Last known practitioner vanished approximately 4 years ago.Notable Members:Anastasia Markov (1203-1489) - Known as "The Deathless." Developed techniques to extend human lifespan by centuries. Dimitri Markov (1654-1891) - Master healer who could c
"I don't know what to do," he said quietly. "I don't know how to fix this. And I'm..." He stopped. "I'm so angry, Lilith. At the curse. At the Moon Goddess. At myself for marking you without permission. At fate for putting us in this impossible situation."He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with shaking hands."You were right to be furious at me," Lucian continued. "What I did....marking you when you told me you did not know if you would stay....that was unforgivable. I took your choice away because I was too selfish to risk losing you. And now...."His voice broke."Now I'm losing you anyway. And I would give anything....ANYTHING...to go back and do it differently. To wait. To let you choose me freely instead of forcing the bond."Through the connection he could feel her so faintly it was almost like she was already gone. Just the barest whisper of presence. The faintest echo of the girl who had looked at him with fury and forgiveness in equal measure."You sai
"Ours," Nicholas said. Simple. Final. "Not a transaction. Not a contract. Ours.""That's not an arrangement. That's a.....""We know what it is," Sebastian said. Something moved in his dark eyes. "We're not pretending otherwise."She looked at her hands. At the towel wrapped around her. At the room
Inside the bathroom, Lilith locked the door.Then she stood in front of the mirror and didn't move for a long moment.It was a beautiful bathroom. Of course it was...everything in this estate was beautiful, expensive, the kind of space that existed in a different universe than her apartment with it
She cleared her throat.It felt like swallowing glass."Can I go?" she asked.The words came out barely above a whisper, scraped thin by everything her throat had been through. She kept her eyes on the bed in front of her. Kept her face down....small and still, the way prey learns to be still."Can
POV : LILITHThe darkness was different here.Not the cold, suffocating black of the dungeon. Not the crushing nothingness of unconsciousness. This darkness was soft. Warm. It smelled like the inside of her childhood home....woodsmoke and dried lavender and something else she had no name for, somet







