Page 108 of Sold to the Dark Vampire Prince

The two Visconti siblings froze.

“You can feel him?” Sera said, understanding in an instant.

Dante looked away, mouth pressed in a flat line as the implications became clear.

“He’s in pain. Oh gods. They’re hurting him.” Dani curled on her side, clawing at her chest. “Sera, they’re hurting him. I can’t breathe. I can’t—”

“That’s it. Dante, hold her down.”

“No, please don’t—”

She couldn’t lose this last connection to Alex, needed him to know that wherever he was, whatever was happening to him, she wasn’t leaving his side, would stay linked to him through the tether they shared, even if they could only touch each other through their bond. If she could just hang on, just be there for him, she could give him the strength he needed to survive what lay ahead.

He had saved her that day in the auction house when he could have turned away.

She couldn’t fail him now.

“Your blood pressure is too high,” Sera said. “I’m sorry.”

“Wait, please—”

She felt the needle go in. As the room around her blurred, she prayed that Alex would still be there when she woke.

The next time Dani stirred back into consciousness, the pain in her side was gone, and she desperately needed to pee. Sliding out of bed, she hurried to the tiny bathroom off the hall. As she stood washing her hands with the slice of pale pink soap by the sink, she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

The dark circles beneath her eyes stood out in the harsh lighting. And yes, those were definitely fangs. She would have to learn not to bite herself. She lifted her shirt and found the bruising on her stomach was gone, the wound from where Lara had shot her completely healed over.

Did that mean she’d made it through the change?

Voices carried from down the hall. Snapping off the light, Dani padded out from the bathroom.

“All I’m saying is that you should have told us that dagger had the potential for terrible side effects.” Sera’s voice was low, but quietly furious. “Dante said it drained Alex of all his energy. He could barely walk by the end. I don’t want to think you did it on purpose, some cruel, twisted faerie bargain, but I just don’t know with you anymore.”

Someone swore under their breath. Dani watched Finneas Hawthorne step into view.

“Okay, first? It’s a magical artifact. I thought you and your brother had like, a basic understanding of how they worked since you were begging me to provide you with one.”

“So you’re saying this is Alex’s fault?” Sera glared. “My brother is missing and very possibly dead and you’re really going to go with mansplaining?”

Finneas sighed, running a hand through his disheveled blond hair. “So… fae artifacts draw a little bit of energy every time you use them. I suppose it’s rather like when we travel between realms or when vampires scatter form. I feel wretched for what happened. Truly, I do. It honestly didn’t occur to me that it would be too much for you or your brother to use one. You’re royalty. Your blood is incredibly strong.”

“Not strong enough, apparently. Lara Cavalieri shot Dani. She would have died if Alex hadn’t given her blood. He was exhausted. I should have gone in his place, but he wanted me to stay with her in case there were complications. This is my fault.”

Dani covered her mouth and fought back a sob.

“I didn’t know,” Finneas said, voice softer. “Has there been any word?”

When Sera shook her head, swiping at her eyes, he started to touch her shoulder.

“Don’t.” She took a step back. “Sorry. It’s just… you know that I could hurt you. And I’ve been really shaky ever since this happened. It’s been hard controlling it.”

“You can’t hurt me, Sera,” he said quietly.

She started to answer, then noticed Dani standing in the hall. “You’re awake.” Hurrying over, she took her wrist and checked her pulse. “You probably shouldn’t be out of bed.”

“I feel fine.”

Finneas smirked. “Nice fangs, by the way.”