Chapter 33 — Nico’s POV
I stepped up onto the window sill, fingertips pressed against the cold glass as I surveyed the outside.
Every movement had to be calculated tonight.
Vampires without slaves or pets would be forced to hunt in the city—starving, unstable, unpredictable.
And humans? Every last one of them hid like their lives depended on it.
Even the animals vanished.
Which meant many vampires resorted to feeding on each other. Far easier than breaking into guarded homes.
Not that any of us could die from blood loss—our healing didn’t allow it. But being attacked by a desperate vampire? That was still very possible.
I pushed the window open. Winter’s breath crept into the room and wrapped around me as I stepped forward.
My wings stretched, the cold wind brushing against them.
One night a year we get our wings for free… and this is what I end up using them for.
Was I really about to risk my life for my pet?
My pet, of all things?
I scoffed internally.
Of course I was.
She sacrificed herself for me—forced me to feed so I wouldn’t lose control. The least I could do was do something—anything—to keep her alive.
If this were any of my past pets, the idea wouldn’t have even formed in my mind.
But losing Khloe after everything that just happened?
That felt… wrong. Wasteful. Unacceptable.
I leaned out the window, scanning the castle walls and grounds below. No movement. No breathing. But that meant nothing—vampires could hide in silence if it benefitted their hunt.
I inhaled deeply.
A vampire’s scent was unmistakable—and there were plenty nearby. Hard to tell how close with this many out here, but if I moved fast, I could avoid a confrontation.
My gaze lowered to the city below.
From my job, I knew one young human with B‑negative blood lived in the eastern district. I had a general idea of where. Finding the exact house would be the annoying part.
But Khloe didn’t have time for my inconvenience.
I stepped further onto the edge of the sill, wings spreading as far as the space allowed.
If I flew without distraction, I could reach his area in about three minutes.
“Ni…co?”
I froze.
I spun around so fast I nearly fell backward out the window.
Khloe’s body hadn’t moved an inch—but her eyes were open. Barely, but open.
That was… a good sign.
A huge one.
She was conscious. Weak, but conscious.
I stared at her, stunned and relieved in equal measure. Her voice was incredibly faint, but she still spoke—still cared enough to speak.
“W‑where are you… going?” she asked, her tone soft but full of concern.
She didn’t want me to leave.
Seriously? After what just happened?
I nearly killed her—and her worry was about me leaving?
Even when I was trying to help her, she didn’t want me far from her.
I already knew she felt safer when I was around. She hated being alone, even in the calmest circumstances.
I didn’t respond immediately—just watched her, evaluating whether her condition was urgent enough to risk the city.
Truthfully? I didn’t want to leave her alone while she was awake like this. Vulnerable. Cold. Scared.
Options ran through my mind.
I sighed and slowly folded my wings, pulling the window closed as I stepped back inside.
Giving her blood would be faster, sure—but if she was talking, breathing, and aware, then she’d likely make it through without a transfusion. As long as she stayed calm.
And leaving her alone would only make that harder.
She had a ridiculous way of making me do things I normally wouldn’t.
“Nowhere. I was just gonna go stretch my wings for a bit,” I said as I stepped down. “How do you feel?”
Her gaze drifted to her hand, watching her fingers twitch slightly.
“I’m… alive?” she murmured, sounding almost surprised.
I frowned.
That wasn’t the question I asked, but it answered one I didn’t realize I had.
She truly thought she would die.
She accepted it.
Her eyes lifted to mine, like she wanted confirmation.
“Yes, you are, Khloe,” I said softly as I approached.
She processed that slowly, then her brows furrowed in curiosity.
“Are you… okay?” she asked.
I stopped, shocked.
Did she seriously not value her own life at all?
I took who‑knows‑how‑much blood from her—and she was asking about me?
What was wrong with her?
Low blood or not, shouldn’t her own wellbeing be her priority?
“I’m fine,” I said—thanks to her.
I cleared my throat. “How are you feeling?”
She thought about it for a while, like she was only now considering her own state.
She tried to push herself up, but her arms shook violently, failing to lift her weight.
“Weak,” she whispered.
Expected. It would ease within the next day, hopefully.
She curled up slightly as I sat on the opposite side of the bed, discomfort written across her face.
“And… cold,” she added, pulling the blankets closer and letting out a small whimper.
I wished I could help with that.
She’d always been the warm one between us—yet I couldn’t return the favor. And oddly… that bothered me.
I reached out, touching two fingers to her forehead. She didn’t react.
Her temperature was low, but not dangerously so.
She watched me as I leaned back against the headboard, adjusting my wings. They were useful, sure—but also annoyingly in the way.
I wondered what she’d think about all this tomorrow, once her mind was clear. Knowing her, there would be a flood of questions.
And I had a few for her too.
Her gaze drifted to my wings. When she realized I noticed her staring, she looked away quickly, shy.
“Y‑you’re gonna… stay with me, r‑right?”
I nodded. Relief washed over her face immediately.
“Am I going to be… okay?”
Finally.
She asked.
“You’re going to be fine, Khloe,” I said gently. “I promise.”
Like hell I’d let anything happen to her after what she did.
She tugged the blanket up toward her face.
“Is it over?”
I hesitated, glancing toward the window and the Blood Moon outside.
“Yeah,” I said quietly. “It’s over.”
