*A/N: Thank you ALL for your patience during this busy time of my life! With a changing schedule it's been challenging to maintain updates. But I promise to try and put everything I have into finishing these last remaining chapters for all of you faithful and patient readers! :) Every time I check in the story has more and more reads and it truly blows my mind and warms my heart! I hope y'all enjoy the update and I hope to pick back up in my schedule.
Zane's POV
The blast that had exploded from around Ana was deafening. It had taken everything I had to pull myself up off of the floor and shake off the pain that was aching within me as I sat frozen, watching her for any sign of what was to come next. I could feel my own power bubbling up from inside of me, as if it was being pulled forth by something calling it our from my body.
As if on cue, her slender index finger twitched, and then another, until finally we all sensed the change happening. Within only a few seconds, her body convulsed and her eyes snapped open as she gasped in a harsh gulp of air, trying to sit up onto her elbows but failing as she took in her surroundings.
I heard Lia choke back a sob as she watched Ana now moving in front of her. I forced my body into action, rushing to Ana's side but pausing just before I got to her. I didn't want to startle her after she'd endured such a traumatic change.
This was completely unprecedented. I'd never known of a transition like hers to have been successful, much less on a member of the Talentati. None of us had any idea what to expect from here on out.
I slowly stepped closer until I was hovering just beside her, waiting hesitantly. "Ana." I said softly, on just a breath so that she wouldn't be frightened.
Her head whipped to the side as two blood red eyes stared back at me, holding me in her sight as she took me in, watching me.
"Baby it's ok. You're safe. No one is going to hurt you." I said slowly, reaching my hand for hers as calmly and slowly as possible.
I finally placed it down over hers, gently rubbing my finger across her skin in feather light motions. I gasped as I felt a sharp jolt of energy between my palm and the top of her hand as I touched her. She gasped and I felt her stiffen, but she didn't pull away, her intense gaze never leaving mine.
"Do you know where you are?" I asked gently.
She stared back at me, but finally nodded once slowly.
"Do you remember what happened before this moment?" I asked, again keeping my voice level and smooth as I held on to her hand.
She nodded shortly once more, then opened her mouth to speak. "I remember everything." She said, a slight shiver in her voice.
I let out a shaky breath, trying to keep myself calm as I looked down at her. I never thought I'd see her alive again, and now here she was, staring back at me. Although, she wasn't technically alive as she was before. But she was here, and that was what mattered now.
"You have to feed to complete the change. Do you think you're ready to try that?" I asked.
She thought for a moment and then slowly nodded, her jaw clenching slightly as she saw the human being brought in. Her eyes widened as she watched the young girl timidly walking in before they snapped back to glare at me.
"No." She said harshly and moved to sit up, pushing my hand away.
I ached to touch her, but decided it was best to leave her be for now. Instead I just sat beside her, pleading with her to listen. "Ana, she asked to do this. She just wants to help you."
Ana straightened, her gaze dropping down to the young frail female crouching in front of her. "Braelyn no. I won't drink from you." She said quietly, holding back the emotion in her voice for everyone surrounding us, but I heard it.
Braelyn stared back at her with a pleading look, pulling her hair back from the side of her neck and Ana's form stiffened immediately. I knew the struggle she was dealing with. The thirst would be slowly bubbling inside of her by now, and before long she'd either give in and have to drink, or starve and wither away.
It was a decision only she could make for herself, but I had to help her see what she'd be gaining if she chose to continue. After all this, I couldn't just not try. I couldn't lose her again.
"Ana, I am going to be honest with you. We don't know what happens from here. No Talentati has ever been turned before. Until now, we didn't even know it was possible. But here you are." My eyes dropped from her piercing red gaze to her flat stomach before raising again to look up at her. "And I don't know what this means for the child we created, but I know that if you don't drink...we're never going to find out." I tried to hold my voice in an even tone, but it shook just slightly with the last sentence.
What I'd said was true. I didn't know where we went from here, or if our child had even made it. I couldn't sense anything past the fact that Ana was awake and staring back at me. Her scent was still as it was before, but now it had shifted slightly. With the change, it had altered to become more soft, subtle even. I didn't know if the scent of her pregnancy was only remaining because she'd been pregnant when she was turned, or if the child was still alive inside of her. All I could feel was that gentle buzzing of electricity passing between us when I touched her.
Ana was angry at the choice ahead of her. I could feel the tension rolling off of her, but she was alive. And that was enough to hold on to for now.
"Ana, I just ask that you think this through." I said quietly. "Whatever you decide I'll be behind you no matter what I know this wasn't something you chose to become."
She sat quietly for a moment before her eyes dropped to her stomach, her hands folding delicately over her stomach as she let out a quiet sigh. "She's alive. I know it. I can feel it Zane."
My heart leapt at her words as I took in a short breath. "She?" I whispered, leaning forward slightly, my widened eyes locked on her hands.
Her gaze floated up to mine and I saw her lips tilt up just slightly before she nodded. I let out a tight breath before letting my own hand finally reach for hers once more, laying flat against her stomach as that jolt shot through my hand once more.
The feeling began to grow, slowly pulsing between us as it sent tingles through my hand and up my arm. I could feel her power surging through both of us fluidly.
She let out a long sigh and finally nodded once, chancing a glance at Braelyn before looking back at me again.
"I'll do it."
YOU ARE READING
The Prince's Gift
Vampiros"I knew I was in trouble the moment the words left her mouth, dripping in regal authority. My queen had decided to give me to him as a final gift before his ceremony. The purest gift he'd ever receive. A consolation for taking HER as his mate instea...
