Javana screamed. Not a someone please help me cry, but a blood-curling ‘put me out of my misery’ shriek. Her anguish echoed throughout the coven and everyone within a mile heard her mental plea. Those nearby shivered.

Jacard had been there himself. He had lain on the same table in the coven’s examination room. Though the physical pain was different, the psychic ripping echoing in his mind remained the same. In fact, he knew Javana wanted to die.

Javana, pinned to the table by Jacard, thrashed to break the contact.

Jacard remained firm. He straddled her. In addition, he used his weight to keep her body in place. His hands held, what used to be her hands, now resembled talons with razor-sharp nails attempting to dig and scratch, to draw blood in any way possible.

Neferita and a few acolytes helped, but lacked the strength to offer any real aid.

Raias ran in. “What the…? Alara, what have you brought home this time? Another freaking vampire? Just kill her and be done.” Raias started to draw her sword.

Alara shouted, “No! Another vampire bit her without permission. She is innocent and we may yet save her.”

Jacard struggled even with his superior strength. “Her name is Javana. She is a person. By the Gods, Raias, you can’t go around killing people.”

Raias sighed. “Fine. What can I do to help?”

Javana squirmed and kicked, almost hitting Neferita in the head.

Neferita backed away behind the examination table. “Raias, get The Magna.”

Before Raias left she asked, “Isn’t venom from a vampire similar to poison?”

Jacard shared a brief look with Alara. “It is worth a try. It won’t make anything worse.”

Alara attempted a poison extraction spell. A brief green mist formed around Javana’s wrist, the location where Vocair bit her. The mist dissipated without effect.

Mili Arrived with Raias. “Oh my, the smell. Alara, did you drop a bottle of antiseptic?” Then she saw Javana and realized she had not held her bladder. “You poor thing. Alara, can you give her a sedative? The incessant screaming is not helping anyone.”

Alara prepared another needle. “I have already given her two. The sedative isn’t working.”

Mili touched Javana’s forehead with her staff. “Somnum Altum.”

Javana fell asleep. She still struggled, but not as loud.

Mili nodded. “That may give her a bit of temporary relief. I doubt it will last long, so whatever you have planned, I suggest you hurry and do it.”

Jacard relaxed a little since Javana’s struggles quieted. “What is the plan? If we cannot reverse the effects, the only solution is to give her blood and complete the transformation. But she told me she did not want it. I felt she would rather die than be a vampire.”

Raias shook her head. “I can not believe I am saying this. What about soul magic? It saved Jacard.”

Alara pulled up a chair and sat. “That was different. I gave Jacard part of my soul. I cannot do that again. Instinctively, I knew Jacard would be my bond mate. I would not risk it with anyone else.”

Mili leaned in on her staff. “It is possible to save her. However, the price is high.”

Jacard asked, “What price? I told her I could save her, and I did from Fixier. We didn’t go through that, only to have her die later. I refuse to accept that. How can we save her, Mili?”

Mili closed her eyes. Her shoulders slumped forward. She looked tired. “If you are sure. The price is not just yours. It will affect Javana and the rest of the coven, especially Javana. You should get her permission beforehand. You will thank yourself later if she goes into this willingly.”

Jacard started to speak. “I don’t understand.”

Mili held up her hand and interrupted. “Jacard. Have you produced your fangs yet?”

“Mili, I never grew vampere fangs. Most vamperes do not, only vampires. Why? Do you want me to turn her instead of Vocair? Replace her venom with mine? Can that even be done? What would it accomplish?”

“No Jacard, I mean your dragon fangs.”

“Dragon fangs? I wasn’t aware it was a thing. If I did, would my bite turn her into a dragon? That makes little sense. Dragons do not reproduce that way.”

“She has not completed the change. You could heal her with your venom. Jacard, you are a gold dragon, a royal dragon. Your saliva and more so, your venom heals, not harms. It is powerful. But, if you have not drawn your fangs yet, it may not matter. You need to learn quickly. Javana needs help now. There is the other issue. Once a royal bites another, that being, that person, becomes indebted to them. There used to be an old philosophy. When one saves another’s life, the saved owes the savior. They must repay that life or provide servitude. In your case, it is more than a simple concept, it becomes ingrained in the recipient. In exchange, she will gain faster healing for the rest of her life.”

Jacard’s mouth dropped open. “She will become my servant?”

“More like she will want to do everything you ask of her. If you move forward, you will need to be specific about your word choice.”

“Alara, make contact with her and ask what she wants. I will attempt to – make fangs? That just does not sound right. Mili, can you help me?”

“Close your eyes. Think of something you love to eat. For example, something that makes your mouth water and taste it in your mouth. Imagine what it would feel like to bite deep into it and push your fangs out.”

Jacard made the attempt. His fangs came out on his first attempt.

Alara closed her eyes. She broke contact with Jacard and sent her mind toward Javana. Chaos. Pain. Delusions? Did Javana not believe this was real? She pushed deeper. Javana threw up walls, her natural defenses. Alara had a lot of experience. An untrained mind couldn’t stop her. She pushed through again.

Javana moaned, started to regain consciousness, and, with it, returned her misery.

Alara worked fast.

Javana knew somehow, everything that happened. She conceded. Anything to stop the suffering.
Javana, you cannot go back home. Therefore, this will be your home. We will be your new family. Are you sure about this?

She agreed again and woke. The pain had not retracted, but gotten worse.

Alara opened her eyes. “Javana said yes. She wants to live here and join us.”

Mili nodded. “Jacard, one more thing. You cannot do this very often. It will take some time to regenerate your venom. Your capacity will grow as you do. At least, I think that is how it works.”

Jacard stared at Mili. “You think that is how it works?” Mili is always so sure of herself.

Mili laughed. “I not a royal nor do I have that ability. I am guessing based on memories from ages past.”

Javana screamed again.

Jacard walked to Javana and bent forward. Her condition was a complete wreck. Her hair flew in many directions, yet he found her quite attractive. He shook his head. Where did that come from? He opened his mouth and leaned into her neck. I have avoided this all my life. I swore I would never bite another soul. This is different. On the contrary, I’m not drawing life. I am giving life to her. After all, she agreed. She wants this. Yet somehow I know this act will change all of our lives. Nevertheless, it feels right. He let his fangs caress her neck, almost like a lover.

Javana became quiet and still. She smiled at Jacard.

She was able to comfort me with a smile despite her pain. After that, how could I say no? Jacard stuck his fangs deep into her neck and the coralloid artery. Her blood shot into his mouth. The vampere portion of him loved it. She tastes so sweet. Then he detected Vocair’s venom. He almost pulled away in disgust. Her venom was revolting, and it beat within Javana’s heart. He got angry. I will make Vocair pay for this outage. Why am I feeling this way?

Jacard reversed the flow of his fangs. In contrast, instead of tasting her blood, he pushed his venom, his healing salve, into her neck and body.

Javana wrapped her arms around Jacard and pulled him to her.

He could feel her heat and her heartbeat. It became important to him for her heart to keep beating. I am linked to her now. Like Alara, yet not like her. I am in love with Alara as my mate, my bond. This woman, Javana, somehow I love this wonderful woman, too, but it is a different love. Isn’t it?

Jacard lifted his head. The holes in her neck had already healed, and two small scars had formed. A memoir of our moment together. He caught her eyes, staring deep into his. Her eyes spoke volumes. Is that love I see? He attempted to pull away further and realized Javana had a tight hold on him.
She smiled again. This time with both joy and sadness. She still grinned, yet a single tear rolled down her cheek.

For the briefest moment, Jacard could hear her thoughts.

What an incredible man. But he is not mine. How is that fair?

The contact broke. Did I experience that because Alara was still in contact with her? Or was it something she and I shared? He turned to look at Alara. She stood there looking concerned, but not upset. At last, he felt Alara’s mind presence return. They fell back into rapport.

Alara walked up to Jacard and placed her arm around him. “Are you alright?”

Mili nodded her head again. “A price to pay. These things always have a price.”