"No Angie, but thanks for offering. He would probably kill you, he's so hungry that he wouldn't know how to stop," Victoria said. "I don't even know if he's too far gone for either of us to help him."
But Victoria knew that there was only one way to save Christian. She knew what she had to do. She would have to invoke the blood magic, all of it, just as she'd done the last time when they'd fought in the woods near his house. But this time, she would win. She would control it. She had to.
Love was the answer.
Victoria looked out into the main room as Enhard and Gabriel circled each other. Enhard was far too quick for Gabriel's spells to even find a target and Gabriel was far too powerful at self-healing for Enhard's physically punishing attacks to have any lasting effect—it was almost a stalemate but they circled each other in a cautious unchoreographed dance, each waiting for an opening. She stared at Angie and then reached out her hand.
"Curo," she said, squeezing Angie's fingers and watching the marks on her face fade and the swelling disappear. "Get away from him, Angie. He will only bring you ruin, and you deserve so much more than that." The tears leaked unbidden from the corners of Angie's eyes. Christian stirred, and Victoria knew that she didn't have much time.
Christian? Can you hear me? She waited, her heart so tight it was impossible to even breathe. Please, Christian ... come back to me, wake up ... please ...
His eyes fluttered but did not open. Victoria summoned the blood magic, pulling on the energy from the amulet, and went as deeply as she ever had into Christian's mind, searching for his subconscious, that silent part of him that she knew would remain as alert as anything else. The part that Fardon had said was always there.
I'm ready, she said. She almost jumped out of her skin when it responded.
Ready for what? Conversationally, as if it had known her all her life.
For you to take me into you.
Silence, pondering. What will I become?
I don't know. Victoria hesitated. Will you accept me?
Always.
Victoria stroked his face. None of the books or the journal had said what could happen if she did what she was going to do. For all she knew, they would both die, but either way, Victoria knew one thing—she owned the blood and she would make it bow to her will. She was her own master, and her love was the key. That's what the journal had been saying all along. She had to trust herself.
She stirred, inhaling deeply and pulled Christian close, removing the amulet from her neck. Angie's eyes widened as Christian's teeth grazed Victoria's neck.
"Maybe you should turn away," Victoria said, and Angie gladly obliged, turning her attention to the ongoing battle in the main room. The blood rushed wild in Victoria's veins as if it knew what she was about to do.
"Soporo," she whispered, and it quieted automatically. She kissed Christian's cold lips and drew the barely discernable blade of the amulet across her right wrist, wincing at the sting.
"Cruentus renovo!" she said, willing the blood magic to heal him as she pressed her wrist to his lips. Her heart was racing—her gamble could kill him instantly.
The pressure was soft at first and then stronger as he clamped her hand to his mouth and drew her strength into him greedily, desperately. She brushed her free hand against his hair and his silver eyes opened, staring into hers with luminous faith. She could see the recognition and every emotion he'd ever had since they had met flash through their liquid depths. Victoria was bleeding her life into his mouth and willing him to live, willing him to live for her ... for them.
"Desino," she gasped, commanding him to stop as her wound closed on its own. She shook her head to clear it as Christian fell back, his lips rimmed in black. She could see the color flooding his skin, the new blood overtaking his ravenous, empty body, and he bucked against its foreignness. His wounds healed instantly as the new blood forced the poisons out, and still he writhed in silent transformation. Angie had scooted herself to the edge of the room, her eyes wide with fear and confusion, and when Victoria looked worriedly at her, she wrapped her arms around her knees rocking back and forth.
"What is it, Angie?" Victoria asked, watching as Christian continued his painful metamorphosis on the floor. She'd known that it wasn't going to be easy.