Chapter 108: Lost Between Vampire And Wolf-Shifter

Roiner

The doctor stood close beside the head of the bed, his hands trembling as he leaned in. "Oh, and... I must mention to you, Headmaster, he is completely unable to shift. If he lives... the strain of transforming back into a wolf will rip his tissues right to shreds."

Roiner paused mid-step, fixing the physician with a piercing, lethal glare that made the man’s breath lock in his throat.

"You will mention this to no one," Roiner commanded, his voice dropping into a dangerous, icy whisper. "You will not mention it to anyone other than the royal family, and only when the time is right. In fact, do not tell the royal family at all if Malric fails to successfully transition and dies... let him at least have the honor of dying as a true crown prince. Do you understand me?"

The doctor swallowed hard, his knees knocking together in sheer terror. "I... I cannot lie to the royal family, Headmaster—"

"You must," Roiner whispered, his crimson eyes flashing with absolute threat. "Otherwise, you will suffer a terrible, excruciating fate."

The doctor whimpered, quickly dropping his head in submission.

Roiner turned his focus back to the bed. He leaned over Malric’s broken, feverish body, hovering near the warm crevice of the prince’s neck. A strange, heavy weight pressed against Roiner’s chest, a dark feeling rising within him as he prepared to cross a line that could never be uncrossed.

He opened his mouth, his long, razor-sharp fangs extending. Roiner leaned down and sank his teeth deep into Malric’s throat.

The moment his fangs pierced the flesh, Roiner’s dark blood rushed violently into Malric’s failing veins.

Beneath him, Malric’s entire body went rigid. A violent shockwave tore through the boy’s frame, and he began to shake violently, his chest heaving as his soul fought against the vampire blood invading his system. His eyes snapped open for a single, terrifying microsecond, flashing a brilliant, unnatural crimson, before rolling back into his head.

Roiner pulled his teeth back, taking a step away from the bed. He wiped a streak of blood from his lips, his face stoic and cold as he stared down at the dying prince.

"It is done," Roiner murmured softly. "Now... it is entirely up to you whether you want to survive or not, Malric."

BAM!

The heavy wooden door flew open with a deafening crash, slamming against the wall.

The Kings of Kings and the Queen burst into the room, their royal robes billowing behind them as they swarmed the small medical space. The Queen took one look at the scene, at Roiner standing over the bed with blood glistening on his mouth, and let out an ear-splitting shriek.

"Roiner, how dare you!" she screamed, her face twisting in utter horror.

Roiner turned his gaze toward her, his expression remaining smooth and unbothered. Of course, he thought dryly. I’m dead....ish.

One of the the Kings of Kings, King Theron stepped forward, his eyes locking onto the fresh blood on Roiner’s lips. His face drained of all color, dropping into a deadly, thunderous growl. "Please... tell me you did not."

Roiner kept his mouth shut, offering no defense, no explanation, and not a single shred of remorse.

Before the Kings of Kings could lunge forward, Keali darted into the space between Roiner and his parents, throwing his arms out to shield the vampire.

"I had him do it!" Keali shouted, his voice cracking with desperate emotion. "I begged him! Malric was going to die!"

The Queen was so consumed by furious rage that her vision turned red. She crossed the floor in two strides, raising her hand and delivering a vicious, ringing slap straight across Keali’s face.

SNAP.

Keali’s head whipped sideways, the sheer force of the strike sending him stumbling back against the wall.

"He would have had an honorable death of a wolf shifter!" the Queen wailed hysterically, tears of pure venom spilling down her cheeks as she pointed a trembling finger at her son. "Look at what you have done! You have trapped him! Now he will die somewhere lost between a true wolf shifter and a vampire, you evil child!"

Right on cue, Malric’s condition violently deteriorated. His back arched off the mattress in a terrifying spasm, and a thick pool of dark, black blood erupted from his mouth, splashing across his own pale face and sheets.

"Everyone out! NOW!" the senior physician screamed, panicking as he shoved his hands over Malric’s chest. "His body is rejecting the vampire blood! Out!"

The physician frantically ushered everyone toward the exit. The Queen, the King of Kings, the princes, and Roiner were all physically forced out of the chamber, the heavy door slamming shut behind them to give the doctors room to work.

Out in the narrow hallway, the air remained suffocatingly tense. The Queen turned on Keali once more, her eyes burning with hatred.

"If he does not live..." she spat, her voice dripping with promise, "...you will not live either!"

She whirled around, her heavy skirts sweeping the floor as she began marching furiously down the corridor.

Alaric frowned, taking a step after her. "Where are you going?!"

"To pray!" the Queen snapped over her shoulder without pausing. "This whole capital... this whole camp will pray for my son!"

Roiner stood quietly against the wooden wall of the hallway, watching the royal family splinter in chaos. His mind was entirely calm, his eyes observing the meltdown with cold detachment.

A gentle, sudden tap landed on his shoulder.

Roiner turned his head. Omen was standing right beside him, her bright green eyes wide, focused, and intensely serious.

"Can you please take me immediately to the body of the person whose soul was sucked?" Omen asked, her voice low so only he could hear. "I heard what happened during the competition. I believe... I truly believe I can put his stolen soul back into his body."

Roiner looked down at her, then shifted his gaze across the hallway to Alaric, who stood looking entirely exhausted, defeated, and lost.

Alaric caught Roiner’s look and let out a long, hollow sigh, waving a weak hand in dismissal. "You may show her, Roiner. She is trustworthy."