“No!” Aveta shrieked, feeling the tendrils of dark magic unfurl within Alaunus. She would not allow such atrocities to be heaped on him.
Calling on the goddess and the god, she threw her head back and cried out the words of the binding spell, using her right hand to pull the evil from his body as quickly as she could and expelling it from her own mouth.
The glow in her hands grew nearly blinding. She closed her eyes against it and focused on ridding every bit of the curse from Alaunus.
There was a burst of energy between them and Aveta was thrown to the floor. The power of her spell snapped and sparked, interspersed with black mist, before fading away.
Aveta rose to her elbows, feeling the energy from the spell subside. The dark magic had vanished, leaving behind only the subtle shadow of its taint on the air. She held her breath as she studied Alaunus, hoping that he would show some sign of life.
Suddenly, his body jerked and he drew in a deep, gasping breath. His muscles were wracked with spasm after spasm and Aveta watched in horror as he shook so hard she worried he would tear himself apart. She pushed herself to her feet, reaching out to place her hand on his head and calm him.
His fingers curled around her wrist, locking tight, and he sat up on the mattress. His eyes opened and Aveta whimpered in shock.
They glowed like amber fire entwined with green flames. She felt his mind and heart reach out to hers as he lifted her palm to his lips.
“Aveta,” he whispered. “What has happened to me?”
She could not speak as his lips closed around the finger she had pricked minutes ago and sucked. Her eyes widened when he released her from his mouth and she saw the fangs of a predator.
“Y-y-you were c-cursed,” she stammered, staring at his face in shock.
Despite her efforts to keep the curse from changing him, she had not succeeded fully. Other than the shimmering of his eyes in the dark and the fangs in his mouth, he did not appear monstrous, but Aveta knew that the changes to her beloved went deeper than his outward appearance.
“How do you feel?” she asked softly.
He considered her question before answering. “Strong. Hungry.”
She tried to pull her hand from his grasp, struggling to stay calm. She wanted to keep him calm until she determined what had been done to him. “Let me make you something to eat. You have been unconscious for two days.”
Alaunus shook his head. “I do not want food,” he replied, using his grip on her arm to pull her closer. He buried his face against her neck, inhaling as he trailed his lips up the side of her throat. “You smell…delicious.”
He will seek blood.
The words of the witch who had cursed Alaunus echoed in Aveta’s mind and her heart began to pound against her breast. Could it be?
Her body tensed at the scrape of his teeth against her delicate skin.
Alaunus felt her grow taut and withdrew. “Aveta, what is happening to me?” he asked once again.
She swallowed hard. “You have been changed by the curse,” she answered. “I do not know yet what has been wrought, but we will find out.”
“I am so thirsty,” he murmured, lying back on the mattress.
Aveta rose to her feet, pouring him a cup of water even though she knew that it was unlikely to quench his thirst. Alaunus thanked her and took the cup, sipping the cold liquid.
He frowned after he emptied the cup. “I am sorry, my love, but I need more.”
Aveta lowered her head, terror and sorrow filling her heart. She feared that if she gave him what he needed that he would take from her until both she and their child were dead. Goddess, what should she do?
At her silent cry, she once again heard the voice of the goddess.
You are strong enough to give him what he needs, Aveta. He is not the beast that you fear he is. You have birthed a new age, a new type of magic, just as you were meant to. You must feed your beloved.
Aveta pressed a hand to her abdomen, thinking of her child.
I have given you my protection and my vow, my daughter. Your child is safe. Know this will always be true. Do not fear. Your beloved will not harm either of you.
With a soft sigh, Aveta nodded, acknowledging the words of the goddess. She did not fully comprehend what was happening here, but she trusted what the goddess told her. Stepping forward, she swept her hair to the side, draping it over her left shoulder. Alaunus watched her with his brilliant hazel eyes as she sat hip-to-hip with him on the mattress.
