Chapter 377: Are You Scared?

*Two hours before sunset*

Victoria found the three Alphas in the war room discussing pack business.

They looked exhausted. Tense. Like they were going through the motions of leadership while their entire world crumbled.

"I need your help," Victoria said from the doorway.

All three looked up.

"With what?" Nicholas asked.

"A protection ritual," Victoria said, hating how easily the lie came. "For Lilith. Additional wards I want to weave around her before the transformation attempt tomorrow. Just in case."

"What do you need?" Sebastian asked immediately.

"Blood," Victoria said. "From all three of you. Your bond to Lilith is what anchors her to life. If I can incorporate that bond into protective wards, it might help stabilize her during the transformation."

It was plausible. Technical enough that they would not question the magical theory. Desperate enough that they would agree without hesitation.

"How much blood?" Lucian asked.

"Not much," Victoria said. "A few drops from each of you."

Nicholas stood immediately. "Let’s do it now."

Victoria pulled out three small vials and a silver needle.

One by one, the Alphas let her prick their fingers and collect blood into the vials.

Victoria sealed the vials and tried not to think about what she was actually preparing to use them for.

"Thank you," she said.

"Will it help?" Nicholas asked.

"I hope so," Victoria said.

And that, at least, was not a lie.

She hoped the transformation would work. Hoped Lilith would survive. Hoped all this preparation would be wasted.

But hope was not a plan.

And Victoria had learned long ago that hope alone did not save anyone.

***

By Sunset, Victoria returned to her room and added the Alpha blood vials to her collection.

Everything was ready.

The components gathered. The location identified. The research compiled. The plan as complete as it could be.

All that remained was waiting.

Waiting to see if the transformation worked.

Waiting to see if Lilith survived.

Waiting to see if she would have to become the person willing to bargain with death itself.

She looked at the map one more time. At the location where Thalia was hiding.

Please, Victoria thought. Please let the transformation work. Please let me never have to use any of this.

But she packed it all carefully anyway.

Components in a spelled bag that would preserve them. Research in a waterproof case. Map folded and ready. Everything she would need to leave immediately if disaster struck.

Because hope was beautiful.

But preparation was survival.

And Victoria intended to survive long enough to save Lilith.

Whatever it took.

***

Sebastian’s POV

The sun was setting on Lilith’s last day of rest.

Tomorrow morning, she would attempt the transformation. Would try to pull a divine curse into her core and make death magic her own. Would risk everything on a desperate gamble that might save her or might kill her instantly.

And there was nothing any of them could do except wait and hope and try not to fall apart.

Sebastian stood outside Lilith’s door with a tray of food he had prepared himself....soup, bread, fruit, things that were easy to digest and wouldn’t upset her recovering system.

He had been standing there for five minutes.

Unable to knock. Unable to walk away. Just frozen in the hallway with his heart pounding and Rhen howling anxiously in his chest.

She’s going to die tomorrow, Rhen said. We’re going to lose her and there’s nothing we can do to stop it.

"Shut up," Sebastian muttered. "She’s not going to die. The transformation is going to work."

You don’t believe that, Rhen said.

Sebastian didn’t. But he couldn’t let himself think that way or he would lose his mind entirely.

He knocked.

"Come in," Lilith’s voice called.

Sebastian entered and found her sitting by the window looking out at the sunset. She was wearing one of his shirts, oversized on her small frame, sleeves rolled up and her hair was loose around her shoulders.

She looked beautiful and fragile and absolutely precious.

"I brought dinner," Sebastian said, setting the tray down on the small table by the window.

Lilith turned to look at him and smiled. "You didn’t have to do that."

"I wanted to," Sebastian said. "Besides, you need to eat. Keep your strength up."

Lilith looked at the tray without much enthusiasm. "I’m not very hungry."

"I know," Sebastian said gently. "But try anyway. Please."

Lilith sighed but moved to the table and sat down. Sebastian sat across from her and watched as she picked up the spoon and started eating the soup mechanically.

She managed about half the bowl before setting the spoon down.

"I can’t," she said. "It still tastes wrong. Everything tastes wrong."

"It’s the curse," Sebastian said. "Affecting your senses. Elena said it might do that."

"I know," Lilith said quietly.

They sat in silence for a moment.

Sebastian wanted to say something profound. Something that would make this easier. Something that would comfort her or give her courage or make tomorrow less terrifying.

But every word he could think of felt inadequate.

"Are you scared?" Sebastian asked finally.

Lilith looked at him with eyes that held too much. "Yes."

"Me too," Sebastian admitted.

"Of what?" Lilith asked.

"Of losing you," Sebastian said. "Of watching you attempt the transformation and fail. Of feeling you die through the bond and being unable to stop it. Of...." He stopped and looked away. "Of having to live without you."

Lilith reached across the table and took his hand. "I’m scared too. Scared of dying. Scared of the pain. Scared of letting all of you down."

"You could never let us down," Sebastian said immediately.

"I could die," Lilith pointed out. "That would definitely be letting you down."

Sebastian felt something twist in his chest. "Don’t. Don’t joke about that."

"I’m not joking," Lilith said quietly. "I’m just....being realistic. The transformation might not work. Elena said as much. And if it doesn’t...."

"Then we find another way," Sebastian interrupted.