Chapter 10
Harley POV
My body felt so heavy. My throat was dry and patchy. All I wanted to do was open my eyes.
"What if she doesn't wake up?" I heard a feminine voice. Vivian.
"We fed her blood. She'll be awake soon."
At his voice, I slowly peeled my eyes open. I coughed, bringing my hand to my chest.
"There you are," Vivian said, rushing to my side.
I coughed again, and she poured me a cup of water.
"Here, drink this. It'll help," she said.
I slowly took the cup from her and drank.
"How are you feeling?" Rhain asked.
"I feel better," I said. I felt much better than when I had slipped unconscious. I didn't feel the wound anymore.
"Good."
"I don't hurt anymore. The wound is gone."
"It's my blood," Vivian said, taking the cup from me. "The blood of a vampire can heal anyone."
"That is… that is interesting," I said. I never knew their blood had healing properties.
I sat up on the bed, my eyes trailing down to my clothing. It was stained with dried blood and dirt.
I slowly raised my hand to touch my neck. I felt nothing—no bite mark, only the feel of dried blood on my skin.
"Wait. How did you make me drink your blood when I was unconscious?" I asked.
"Rhain did a mind compulsion on you. It's one of those things he's perfect at," Vivian said.
"Why didn't he give me his blood?" I asked.
Vivian was silent for a moment before speaking. "His blood is corrupted."
I had completely forgotten that he was decaying. His blood was tainted. He was slowly dying, and he needed me to redeem him.
"You could have died, and we saved your life. A thank you is the least you can say," Vivian said.
I snapped my head toward her. "I didn't ask to be saved."
I hadn't wanted to die in that moment, but I also didn't want to be used for Rhain's ritual.
"She is grateful," Rhain spoke up.
I turned to him, my eyes slightly wide.
"You look surprised," Vivian said. "My brother can also read minds."
"What?" I said. He was in my head now.
"Get out," I growled through gritted teeth.
"You let me in. Your door was open," he said.
My wolf growled, snapping him out, and I felt relieved as I leaned back against the pillow.
I stared at my hands. "I won't turn into a vampire, right?"
"No," Rhain sighed. "Turning someone into a vampire is a different blood ritual."
"Yes," Vivian added. "And you don't want to know how."
She stepped back and headed for the door. "I'll leave you two alone."
Once the door closed, I stared at the handle. Different thoughts swirled through my mind.
"Still thinking about the blood ritual?" I heard Rhain's voice, and before I knew it, he was sitting inches away from me.
"Get out of my head," I said.
He chuckled deeply before moving away to sit down.
"You should know how many people on this ship are eager to see you dead."
"Because they hate my kind."
"Yes, and also because we're mates."
We were mates.
We were enemies.
I wished the Moon Goddess hadn't paired me with someone like him. I would never be anything but an enemy to Rhain. I hated him. I hated the people around me.
"I never should have left you there alone," he said. "I knew something like this was going to happen, but I didn't think they'd be that bold."
I remembered how the vampire male had told Vivian to fuck off when she spoke about the King.
"They don't respect you as their King."
No one would dare go against an Alpha werewolf unless they were planning to be exiled or wanted to challenge the Alpha.
"Vampires don't see anyone as above them."
"Then why have a King?"
"They need someone to lead. Without a King, they'll all be scattered. They'd kill without restraint, and their thirst for blood would never be quenched."
I stared at him.
His eyes darkened. "I will kill anyone who tries to lay a hand on you."
"What about me?" I asked.
"I already told you, pet," he replied. "I will drain you of your blood to free me from this curse. Do you not wish to die for your mate, pet?"
My eyes glowed yellow, and my brows furrowed tightly. I pressed my lips into a thin line, anger bubbling inside me.
I reacted fast, throwing a punch at his face. He grabbed my hand.
"Stop it," he growled.
"Let go of me," I said, my teeth sharpening into werewolf fangs. "I'm going to kill you."
He was going to kill me for the curse. Did he not feel any ounce of guilt? Did he not feel the pull of the mating bond?
Why would he even think of doing this to his mate?
All of our past encounters came flooding back—how he had rejected me three times, how his people had killed my family and destroyed my pack, how he had kidnapped me and was now taking me away.
Kieran was dead.
My father was dead.
My mother was dead.
Everyone I had known in my pack was gone.
If only he had ended the war years ago. All he had to do was claim me as his mate and stop the bloodshed. Even if he had only claimed me to lift the curse, at least the war would have ended, and I would've had peace.
"Harley."
"Let go of me!" I shouted, my hands turning into claws as I pulled away from his grasp.
Without warning, I dug them deep into his chest.
I felt his warm blood against my fur.
Our eyes met. His red, blood-filled eyes stared back at me, then slowly trailed down to his chest.