Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Chapter 38:

Sanaya’s P.O.V

I went to turn around but Acelin was suddenly behind me, blocking my exit.

“Stop.” He told me, grabbing on to my shoulders and refusing to let go. “Look.”

“You think this is some kind of a sick joke!” I spat at him but my voice broke.

“Look!” Acelin growled and spun me around to face the glass, holding me in place with his inhuman strength. “Look!”

My hands were balled into fists and my entire body was trembling from rage and betrayal. I refused to look at the man who could hurt me like this. Again! I was once again betrayed by the man I loved!

A crash sounded from inside the room and I looked inside despite myself…to find the nurse on the floor, looking disheveled and flustered while Lancelin clutched his chest, panting like he’d run a marathon.

“Leave!” His voice was hoarse and dark, and it rubbed like sandpaper against my senses. “Get out!”

His eyes were still red and perspiration beaded his forehead. The tunic he wore was drenched in sweat and soon, I saw a darker liquid seep through the gap in his fingers and stain the blue tunic a dark, dark red.

“Why hasn’t he healed yet?”I asked Acelin desperately.

Lancelin wasn’t human. He was supposed to have healed from a simple bullet wound ages ago. And yet, he’d lost a ton of blood when he had been shot and the wound was still raw.

I watched as the nurse regained her composure and got off the floor, but as soon as she saw the blood, she immediately called for help by ringing the emergency bell on Lancelin’s bedside table.

Acelin slowly let go of my shoulders and moved me out of the way as the doctor rushed in, followed by a few other nurses carrying various trays. I went to follow them inside but Acelin stopped me.

“What’re you doing?” I snapped at him. “Lancelin’s wound has reopened; I have to see him.”

“Not when he’s in this state.” Acelin had hardly finished his sentence when another crash sounded from inside, followed by a female scream.

This time however, Acelin stopped me from looking inside and started pulling me in a different direction. I resisted as best as I could, kicking and screaming for him to let go so I could go to Lancelin’s side but Acelin didn’t budge. He only let me go once we were out in the hospital lobby, away from earshot since there was practically no one present this late at night except for two receptionists both of whom appeared to be asleep.

“Why did you bring me here? Lance needs me!” I told Acelin with urgency.

“Yes, that’s exactly why I brought you here.” Acelin told me with a growl in his voice. “Did you not see his face? His eyes? His demon is riding on the forefront of his mind and at this point, he’s a danger to you and himself, especially you!”

“What do you mean?” I shook my read, refusing to believe Acelin. “Lance would never hurt me.”

“He isn’t your Lance right now.” Acelin told me, seeming angry and frustrated, two emotions I’d never thought Acelin possessed. “I can’t beat around the bush anymore, Sana, so I’m going to tell you the truth. Lancelin hasn’t fed in over two months.”

Acelin’s words kept reverberating in my mind. Two months? “But that’s when I came to work for him…”

“Yes.” Acelin said in frustration, pacing back and forth in front of me. “Lance has imprinted on you, I don’t have time to explain shit but it’s like love at first sight. He didn’t want to feed from anyone once you came to work for him because he thought that was like cheating on you. So he kept pushing his limits.”

Acelin sighed and came to a stop in front of me. “We’re Incubi, Sanaya, not human. Human life-energy is our food. And sex is the only way to get that food. I’m not saying this to pressure you but Lance needs to feed or the demonic part of him will take over. And he’s a very powerful Incubus. If his demon takes over, hundreds of people might die.”

“Why? What will happen if his demonic side takes over?” I asked, feeling a chill run down my spine.

“His urges will turn into bloodlust.” Acelin said. “He would start hungering for blood instead and go on a rampage. All I can hope for now-”

“I have a lot more willpower than you give me credit for, brother.”

“Lance?” Acelin looked behind me startled while I froze in place. “How are you up so early? Didn’t the doctors use sedatives?”

“They did,” Lance’s voice sounded from right behind me, but I didn’t dare turn. “It helped me see clearly. Can you please give us some privacy, brother?”

Acelin’s features hardened as he narrowed his eyes at Lance. “Little brother, I don’t think this is the appropriate time for-”

“I’d die before I harm a single hair on Sanaya’s head.” Lancelin’s voice was granite. “You don’t have to worry about her, brother. But I need to speak to her, right now.”

Acelin stood in place for a few seconds, looking at Lance like he was trying to determine if he was being honest. When his eyes finally turned to me, I nodded my head in reassurance to let him know that I was okay with being alone with Lance.

Finally, after a long pause, Acelin nodded and left us alone in the deserted lobby.

I had meant what I’d told Acelin. I wasn’t scared that Lance would hurt me. I knew he never would. But I felt betrayed. Not at the fact that he nearly had sex with the nurse, but at the fact that he had starved himself to the point where he had lost control of himself. And I felt responsible for his condition as well, because I knew he did it for me.

“Whatever you’re thinking, don’t.” Lance’s voice was harsh, his breath fanning my ear. “I’m responsible for my own actions and I chose to starve.”

“Why?” I finally turned to face him, searching his eyes desperately for answers.

They were no longer red but a pale yellow I’d never seen before. Was his drainage of power affecting his eyes? He was wearing a fresh hospital shirt and there was no more sweat or blood stain. His breathing wasn’t labored and he looked alright. But his skin didn’t have the golden hue it always did. He looked pale and there were dark circles under his eyes, like he hadn’t slept for days.

“Why would you go to such lengths? When you knew so much was at stake?”

“Because you’re my soul mate.” He cupped my cheeks lightly. “And even the thought of feeding from someone else feels like I’m cheating on you.”

“Then why not feed from me?” I asked, placing my hands on top of his. “Why turn me down when I came to you of my own free will?”

“Because I wanted our first time to be perfect.” He repeated what he’d told me that day on the terrace. “I want flowers and champagne and a proper date. I want to give you the world because you deserve nothing but the best.”

“Lance,” I silenced him. “I don’t need anything else but you.”

“But-”

“No buts!” I narrowed my eyes at him. “I get your idea of making our first time special but it will be special only if you’re with me. I don’t need roses or a fancy dinner or anything else. All I need is you. Do you understand me?”

Lance searched my eyes for a long time, trying to see if I meant it. Finally he said the word I’d been waiting to hear from him.

“Yes.”