My primal instincts surge forward, my canines elongating, and I feel the pain of my body attempting to shift. It's excruciating. I whimper in agony, cowering down.
'What's wrong with her?' Frederick asks Reed, his concern evident.
'I don't know. She's delirious. She doesn't even realise that Orelious has claimed his mate,' Reed says, his gaze fixed curiously on me.
'What?' I manage to breathe through the pain, trying to make sense of the unfolding events. I look up and witness Orelious retracting his fangs from Imogen's neck, blood dripping from his chin and her wounded neck. Their eyes lock, and their lips collide in a fiery display of passion as Imogen tastes her own blood on Orelious's lips. My mouth hangs open in disbelief at the sight before me. Agony shoots through my arms as they strain in an attempt to contort, desperate to shift. My instincts scream at me to reach Imogen.
They finally part, and Imogen, still catching her breath, smiles at Orelious. 'I've been waiting for you,' she whispers.
'I know, and now you are mine alone,' he responds affectionately.
Imogen winces as she touches the bite mark on her neck.
'The pain will subside, but now we are connected for eternity. I will always know what you're thinking and where you are,' he reassures her, his finger gently gliding down her arm. Imogen inhales deeply, and his smile spreads.
Xander descends the stairs, accompanied by Mister Kal, his expression one of annoyance. His steps falter as he spots me being restrained by the two vampires. With a flick of his head, he sees Imogen holding Orelious's hand, with a mark on her wrist and her neck bearing the fresh bite mark.
'Stars be damned,' Xander curses, his hands clenched, sparks and static emanating from his anger. He strides up to Imogen, his voice laced with fury. 'Do you have any idea what you've just done?'
Orelious releases Imogen's hand and takes a protective stance in front of her. 'She is no longer your concern,' he warns Xander.
Xander meets his gaze, his stare unwavering, showing no fear of the vampire. A burst of laughter erupts from Xander, capturing the attention of the tavern's occupants.
'No longer my concern?' Xander grits through his teeth. 'You hexed fool. Do you even realise whom you've bitten and marked?' he sneers.
'Well, she's not a witch, as she claims. I figured she must be a rare species of faerie,' Orelious boasts proudly.
Xander chuckles, turning to face Frederick and Reed. 'If you know what is good for you, then you would release Rose right now,' he warns, his fisted hands glowing with an intensifying light.
Frederick and Reed release their grip on me, and I rush toward Imogen, embracing her tightly.
'As for you, Orelious,' Xander taunts, leaning in close so that only Orelious can hear. 'You've just bloodflamed yourself to a human,' he reveals.
Orelious stares at Imogen in shock, then glances at his vampire companions, communicating his realisation through telepathy. The horror on their faces is undeniable.
Xander grabs my hand and Imogen's, pulling us up the stairs in frantic haste. Mister Kal disappears in a burst and reappears in the hallway outside Xander's chamber door. With urgency, Xander opens the door to the room he shares with Janie, shoving us inside towards Janie, who appears perplexed as to what is going on. Xander swiftly closes the door behind us. Overwhelmed by the events, I stumble over my words, hastily recounting what just transpired to Janie. 'Imogen, bitten, marked, hot vampire, bloodflamed, Xander, angry, hexes, spells and stars!' I blurt out, pointing at Imogen's neck, wrist and the door.
Janie gasps, somehow understanding what I meant to say and the three of us race to the door and press our ears against it to catch any snippets of the conversation unfolding outside.
Xander turns around outside the door, his gaze meeting the three vampires, ensuring their privacy as their voices remain concealed.
'She can't be human. This is Felderia. The Mystic Council would never allow it. Humans wouldn't even know Felderia exists,' Orelious remarks, showing evident confusion.
'Well, unfortunately for you, Imogen knows about Felderia, and she is here. And now, by foolishly bloodflaming her, you have put her in even greater danger,' Xander retorts sharply.
'What is she even doing here, in Felderia?' Orelious asks, concern and curiosity in his voice.
‘That is a very long story that your bloodflame can tell you since you are now bound and travelling to the witching woods with us before the sun rises in the morning,’ Xander tells him.
'No, I will take my bloodflame back to my coven, where she belongs,' Orelious asserts.
'No one in Felderia can protect her from the wrath of the Mystic Council once they discover a human's presence. You know the laws as well as I do. They will not hesitate to eliminate her. Imogen needs to return to her world, to her family. She doesn't belong here, and you know it,' Xander states.
Orelious runs his hand through his flowing blonde hair, visibly conflicted. 'But we're bloodflamed. We cannot be separated, or I will die,' he confesses, his voice tinged with desperation.
'Well, you should have considered that before you bloodflamed her. Your only choice now, if you both want to live, is for you to accompany her back to her world and keep your true identity as a vampire concealed there forever. On that note, I'm retiring to my chambers to rest. Never has anyone drained me of so much energy in all of Felderia until I met those two troublesome women,' Xander says, referring to Imogen and me. Xander turns away and opens the door in a foul manner.
As the door swings open, we all startle and step back. Xander firmly takes Janie's hands and shoots us a stern glare, pointing towards the doorway. 'Out, now!' he growls, his voice laced with frustration and anger.
Imogen and I scramble out of the room, hastily entering the hallway. Before I can even utter a word in my defence, Xander's scowl deepens as he directs his attention towards me. 'And you,' he begins, his voice dripping with reproach. 'You were supposed to stay by her side and prevent anything like this from happening.'
My mouth hangs open in disbelief, ready to protest, but before I can utter a sound, the door slams shut in my face. I let out a heavy sigh, feeling resignation wash over me. I turn to face Imogen, who smiles blissfully as she gazes at Orelious. He returns her adoring gaze, unable to hide his own excitement. Taking her hand in his, Orelious speaks with conviction, 'As your beloved bloodflame, it is my duty to protect you and safeguard your true identity. I will accompany you on this mysterious journey and return to your world by your side, where we shall remain together for all eternity.'
Imogen swoons at his words, and I have to resist the urge to smack some sense into her for the predicament she has landed us in, all while being blamed for it. Instead, I imagine the act and find some solace in the thought.