Ch. 331..335: The Vampire Prince's Blindfolded Bride Chapter 331-335

Chapter 331: May risk your life

Izaak came to Magnus’s side and somehow stopped him from feeding on Alora. Venus quickly pressed the handkerchief on Alora’s wrist to staunch the bleeding, her hands trembling as she applied pressure to the wound. Magnus, his eyes wild and filled with a feral hunger, growled deeply. He had lost control, consumed by his thirst for blood.

With a violent shove, Magnus pushed Izaak away, sending him flying across the room. Izaak’s back collided with the end table, which shattered under the force of the impact, sending splinters and debris scattering across the floor.

King Esmond pinned Magnus down with a strength that belied his lean frame, his muscles straining as he fought to keep his younger brother immobilized.

He then knelt beside Magnus, his hands gripping his son’s face firmly. Forcing Magnus to meet his gaze, Esmond’s eyes bore into his son’s with an intensity that was both commanding and comforting.

"Calm down," King Esmond commanded. He employed his power of hypnosis, a compulsion that Magnus couldn’t resist. Slowly, Magnus’s struggles ceased, his eyes fluttering closed.

Alora fainted, her head lolling against Venus’s stomach. Venus, her face pale with fear, called out for help. Norman, Alora’s father, was quick to rush to his daughter’s side. With a gentle but firm grip, he pulled her up, his face etched with concern.

"We will take her to the other room," said Norman, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. He guided his unconscious daughter away, with his wife and youngest daughter following closely behind. They moved swiftly, disappearing through a door at the far end of the room.

Izaak struggled to his feet, wincing in pain. His shoulder throbbed where it had struck the end table. "How could he be so strong in such a state?" he muttered, massaging his bruised shoulder with a grimace.

King Esmond’s gaze remained fixed on Magnus, who lay motionless on the bed. "Magnus has always been powerful," he said quietly. "Even among all of his siblings, his strength is unparalleled."

Esmond then turned his attention to Ralph, who had been standing near the doorway, looking anxious and worried. "Did the healer arrive?" Esmond asked.

"Not yet, Your Majesty," Ralph replied, shaking his head. "I’ll go and check," he asserted, determination in his eyes. Izaak, sensing the need for haste, followed Ralph outside. The two of them disappeared into the hallway, leaving King Esmond alone in the room with his unconscious son.

Esmond stayed beside Magnus, his fingers brushing the dark hair away from his son’s face. He sighed deeply, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions.

"Since the time you married Alora, you have been falling into danger," he said in a hushed tone. "You never cared for anyone, except for yourself. Then why now? Why have you become softer, Magnus? You could have lost your life today."

Alora’s eyes had indeed been a powerful shield, offering protection to everyone around her. But they came with life-threatening consequences, consequences that Magnus seemed to disregard in his desperation to protect her.

"Father, the healer is here!" Izaak announced with a bright smile as he entered the room, followed closely by Ralph and the healer, Josiah. As they approached, Izaak bowed respectfully to the King, who immediately rose from his seat, a look of concern etched on his face.

"Please, heal Magnus as soon as possible," the King implored.

"I will do my best, Your Majesty," Josiah replied with a calm assurance. He settled into the chair Izaak had brought for him and began preparing his healing tools.

Amidst the tension, Izaak turned to Ralph, curiosity evident in his eyes. "I almost forgot to ask you about your mate. Did you find her?"

Ralph’s expression softened, and he let out a sigh of relief. "Yes, I found her. I’ve sent her to the pack house. Thankfully, she is fine, and so is the baby."

"That’s good to hear," Izaak responded, a sense of relief evident in his voice.

"Father, weren’t you on your way to meet Gloria?" Izaak finally asked, curiosity tinged with concern.

King Esmond sighed heavily, his gaze drifting to Magnus, who lay unconscious before them. "Yes, I was. Lewis sent someone to inform me about the situation. I changed my route immediately and came here instead. Anything could have happened today," he stated, his voice laced with a mixture of worry and frustration.

Izaak could sense the depth of his father’s agitation. What was meant to be a day of joy had swiftly transformed into a nightmare. The celebratory plans were overshadowed by the urgent need to save Magnus, whose condition was dire.

"So, who killed Gloria? If it’s a vampire, then two sides may come face to face for a war," Ralph remarked, eager to know what transpired in the Head Witch’s house.

"That’s unknown for now," King Esmond replied. "Let’s stay quiet since the healer has to focus," he suggested.

Josiah found it increasingly difficult to treat Magnus. The wound was too deep, and despite using much of his power, he couldn’t bring Magnus’s pulse to a normal rate. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he concentrated, pushing himself to the limits of his abilities.

"Your Majesty," Josiah said, looking up with a grave expression, "we need to arrange fresh blood for Prince Magnus. His heart is ruptured because of the dagger, and he needs a constant blood supply."

"I will arrange the blood," Izaak responded quickly, already thinking of where he could obtain the necessary supplies.

Josiah shook his head slightly, "Your Highness, it would be best to arrange a human rather than using the blood from the supply. The freshness and potency of human blood would be more beneficial in this situation."

King Esmond, his face etched with worry, turned to Izaak. "Is Alora still unconscious?" he asked.

Izaak hesitated, knowing what his father was implying. "Father, I will arrange another human," he said, his voice steady but concerned.

King Esmond’s eyes hardened with determination. "That will take time we do not have. Bring Alora here. I want my son to heal as soon as possible. Didn’t you tell me that Alora’s blood is magical for Magnus? It would be best if she let Magnus drink more from her."

Izaak knew his father’s decision was final. There was no room for argument. Bowing his head in acknowledgment, he replied, "Yes, Father. I will bring her immediately." He turned and left the room.

~~~~~

Izaak knocked gently on the door before cautiously peeking inside the room. Alora’s parents and sister immediately rose to their feet, worry etched across their faces, while Alora herself remained unconscious on the bed.

"Father wants Alora to feed more blood to Magnus. Is she still not awake?" Izaak inquired, his voice laced with urgency.

"No, she hasn’t woken up yet. Moreover, Alora is very weak right now," replied her mother, concern deepening the lines on her face. "Why can’t His Highness take my blood instead?" Rhea offered, stepping forward with determination.

"That’s very generous of you, Lady Rhea," Izaak acknowledged with a nod. "However, it’s Alora’s blood that possesses the unique healing properties that can heal Magnus quickly. We need to wake her up, no matter how difficult it may be," he implored, glancing at the still form of Alora.

"Alright, Prince Izaak. Give me a moment. I will bring her there," said Rhea.

Izaak hummed and walked away. Norman followed him since he had to check on Magnus too.

Rhea gently sprinkled drops of water over Alora’s face, causing her to squeeze her eyes tightly before slowly regaining consciousness. As soon as her eyes fluttered open, she called out, "Magnus!" and tried to sit up, her movements frantic and her mind clouded with worry.

"What am I doing here? How’s Magnus?" Alora asked urgently, pushing away the blanket and swinging her legs off the bed, completely forgetting the pain in her wrist. "I need to be with him. Where is he?" she demanded as she attempted to stand.

"Alora, calm down! Drink some water first," Rhea said soothingly, wiping Alora’s face with a cloth and handing her a glass of water that Venus had just prepared.

Alora took a small sip before setting the glass aside. "Mother, is Magnus here?" she asked, her voice trembling with concern.

"Yes, he is. But he needs more of your blood," Rhea explained gently.

"Ah, yes. My blood heals him," Alora said. She brushed past her mother and made her way to the room where Magnus was being treated.

"Alora!" Izaak exclaimed upon seeing her enter, then turned to his father with a hopeful glance.

She stopped by the bed as she heard King Esmond’s commanding voice. "Feed your blood to Magnus. It may risk your life, but that is of no concern to me. My son’s survival is of utmost importance! Do you understand?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Alora replied, lowering her eyes in submission.

Norman watched his daughter with a heavy heart, sensing that Alora was being treated harshly by the King. Yet, as a subject, he dared not speak out against the ruler.

"We shall all go outside," King Esmond declared.

"Father, I will stay," Izaak insisted. He turned to Norman and gestured for him to escort the King outside, which Norman did promptly and without question.

Now, the room was left with only Alora, Izaak, the healer, and an unconscious Magnus.

Chapter 332: Flee the house

"Your Majesty, Prince Magnus will be fine. Please make yourself comfortable here. The living room isn’t in good condition," Norman said, opening the door to the guest room within the mansion.

King Esmond entered and took a seat on the ornate chair. As he settled, he began, "It turns out your mother helped Damien enter the capital. May I know why you didn’t punish her when she’s always scheming around? Normally, I refrain from involving myself in human affairs, Norman, but this time, my son’s life was at stake. I nearly lost him."

"Your Majesty, I had no idea my mother would do something like this. I apologize deeply. Please pardon me for failing to keep her in check," Norman said, bowing his head in shame, unable to meet the King’s piercing gaze.

"I cannot forgive you and your family, Norman. I will announce my decision on this matter soon. You may leave," King Esmond declared with a stern, unyielding tone.

Fear gripped Norman’s heart as he backed out of the room, wondering what fate awaited his family. He wanted to plead further, but he dared not risk angering the King. Quietly, he exited the room, his mind racing with worry. As he stepped into the hallway, he saw Rhea heading towards Magnus’s room with Venus.

"His Majesty is angry. Have the guards taken mother away?" Norman asked, his voice trembling with distress.

"I believe so. I’ll ask outside," Rhea replied, her face etched with concern. "Prince Magnus is in a dire state, which is why the King is so furious. The fact that it all happened here only worsens the situation. For now, let’s just pray that Prince Magnus recovers," she added, silently praying for a miracle. "I’ll ask outside. You two should go to Prince Magnus’s room," she opined and walked away.

Outside, Rhea saw many Vampire guards were present. She asked one of them about the arrest of Madam Aubrey.

"No such arrest has happened," the guard replied. "Only Damien was taken away," he added.

"We need to find her. She should be imprisoned," Rhea stated with a panicked gaze. The guard told the others and they began the search for the human while Rhea also began the search.

~~~~~~

"Father is upset. But you don’t need to give too much blood to Magnus. Remember, you have the power to control it. Stop him whenever you feel weak. Too much blood loss can kill you, so keep that in mind," Izaak cautioned Alora, his voice firm yet gentle.

Alora nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "I understand, Brother Izaak. I’ll be careful."

Meanwhile, Josiah, the current healer, withdrew his hand from Magnus, a look of exhaustion on his face. He was now devoid of any power, having exhausted his abilities in a desperate attempt to stabilize Magnus.

"Usually, packs have multiple healers, but given our location, it will take time for another healer to arrive from the distant packs," Josiah explained, his voice tinged with fatigue. "The human territories are far from where they are based."

Alora glanced at Josiah. "Thank you for all you’ve done, Josiah. I won’t ever forget this favor you’ve done on me. I’ll take it from here."

She approached Magnus, who lay unconscious, his breathing was still shallow. Alora positioned herself beside him, her mind focused on the task at hand. As she prepared to feed him her blood, Izaak stood nearby, ready to intervene if needed.

With a deep breath, Alora made a small incision on her wrist and let her blood flow into Magnus’s mouth.

His fangs grew again, he caught her hand tightly and began feeding on her blood. Once again he felt heavenly drinking that blood.

She felt a pull on her energy but didn’t stop Magnus. She could withstand for long and let him drink for some more time.

Izaak furrowed his brows, his gaze fixated on Alora as she began to grow increasingly pale. "Alora, stop him!" he commanded, but Alora seemed unresponsive, her focus solely on Magnus.

Realizing the danger, Izaak swiftly intervened. With one hand, he pinned Magnus back to the mattress, while with the other, he grasped Alora’s wrist, stopping the flow of blood. Ralph quickly stepped in to assist, holding Magnus down with firm but gentle pressure.

"Do you wish to die?" Izaak yelled, his voice sharp with panic and frustration. Alora began to cry, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Stop crying," he added, his tone softening as he swiftly wrapped a bandage around Alora’s wrist, provided by the healer. "Magnus will refuse to live if anything happens to you. So, don’t make reckless decisions."

"But this is what I’m supposed to do, Brother. Magnus wouldn’t be in this state if-if I hadn’t t-told him," she murmured between sobs, covering her eyes with her other hand to hide her tears.

The three men exchanged glances, their faces mirroring their uncertainty and helplessness. They didn’t know what to say to console her, and the room echoed with her cries and sobs, creating a tense and sorrowful atmosphere.

Amidst the turmoil, Josiah noticed the color slowly returning to Magnus’s cheeks. He moved closer to check on the prince, his expression one of cautious optimism.

"His Highness has started to recover," Josiah announced with a smile.

Alora silenced down and looked at Magnus, whose facial color indeed had turned warmer.

"He is fine now. You don’t have to cry anymore," Izaak told Alora, patting her back.

~~~~

Madam Aubrey, realizing that Damien had been captured, decided to flee the house. She knew she would be the next target, especially after confessing her desire for Alora’s death. Panic-stricken, she gathered a few belongings and made her way to the back door, hoping to escape unnoticed.

However, her escape was abruptly halted when Rhea stepped into her path, blocking her way. "Where are you running to, Mother-in-law?" Rhea demanded, her voice dripping with bitterness and fury.

Madam Aubrey’s eyes widened in shock and fear. "Leave me!" she shouted, trying to wrench her arm free from Rhea’s tight grip.

"You need to pay for your crimes," Rhea stated firmly, tightening her hold on the elderly woman’s arm. Her eyes blazed with anger as she confronted the woman who had caused so much pain and suffering.

Madam Aubrey struggled desperately, her heart pounding in her chest. "Let go of me! You have no right to treat me like this!" she yelled and pushed Rhea away, whose head hit the nearby table.

Chapter 333: Leave my daughter!

Alora’s father and sister were not allowed to come in, so they waited outside the door. Norman paced restlessly, casting frequent glances at Venus. "Venus, where’s your mother? She’s been gone for too long," he asked with a worried expression.

"Mother said she was going to inquire about Grandma’s arrest. I’ll go check on her, Father," Venus replied firmly and made her way to the front of the house.

At that moment, the door opened, and Izaak’s eyes met Norman’s. "Where’s Father?" Izaak asked urgently.

"I’ll escort you to the room. This way, please," Norman responded, gesturing for Izaak to follow. As they entered, Norman peeked inside the door and saw Alora sitting on the bed, wrapping a bandage around her hand.

Josiah was tending to Alora’s wound on her wrist, carefully tying the bandage. "Your Highness needs to rest for a few days and maintain a healthy diet to recover quickly," he advised gently.

"I understand," Alora replied, pulling her hand back and nodding gratefully at Josiah. "Will Prince Magnus heart heal soon now?" she queried again.

"Yes," Josiah replied with confidence.

At that moment, the Queen and Princess Lillian entered the room, followed closely by a team of three royal physicians. Queen Margaret’s face was pale with worry as she rushed to the bedside and saw the deep wound on Magnus’s chest. "What happened to my son?" she cried out, her voice trembling with fear.

The royal physicians immediately got to work, their faces stern with concentration. Josiah stepped forward to explain the situation to the Queen. "Prince Magnus’s condition is stable, Your Majesty. We’ve managed to stop the bleeding, but he needs rest and close monitoring."

King Esmond entered the room just as Margaret was demanding answers. "How did this happen? Why is Damien still alive, Your Majesty?" she asked, her eyes filling with tears.

Esmond placed a reassuring hand on her arm. "He’s imprisoned. So, don’t worry," he stated firmly, his voice calm but authoritative.

Lillian turned her gaze towards Alora, her expression bitter and accusatory. "Alora, did this happen because of you again?" she spat out.

"She has nothing to do with it," Izaak interjected, his tone sharp. "Don’t create a scene, Lillian. We all need to leave the room."

King Esmond nodded in agreement. "Let’s go. The physicians need space to work." He gently guided Queen Margaret out of the room, with Lillian reluctantly following behind.

Norman stayed behind, looking at his daughter with a mixture of worry and sadness. The senior royal physician then made a polite but firm request. "Please, everyone needs to leave the room."

Alora slowly got down from the bed, her movements careful and pained. Norman immediately stepped forward to help her. "I’ll take you to your room," he said softly, supporting her as they walked out.

Ralph had already gone outside, likely to give an update or gather more information. As they reached the hallway, Alora looked up at her father. "I will stay here, Father," she insisted, her voice quiet but determined.

"No," Norman replied firmly, shaking his head. "You need to rest and recover."

"Father! Mother and Grandma are fighting," Venus exclaimed breathlessly as she hurried into the room.

Norman’s eyes widened in shock. "Huh? What? Where are they?" he demanded urgently.

"Near the backdoor of the house," Venus replied, trying to catch her breath.

Norman quickly turned to Alora. "Take Alora to her room. I’ll be back," he instructed Venus before rushing out to intervene.

Alora watched her father disappear down the hallway, concern etched on her face. "We should go there as well," she said firmly.

"No, you don’t look well," Venus protested, her tone protective. "You need to rest."

But Alora was resolute. "I’m fine. I need to see what’s happening," she insisted.

Reluctantly, Venus agreed. "Alright, but lean on me if you need to," she said, wrapping an arm around Alora to support her. They made their way through the house, moving as quickly as Alora’s weakened state allowed.

As they approached the backdoor, raised voices became audible, growing louder with each step.

They reached the scene to find Norman and Rhea standing on one side, their faces tense with worry. On the other side, Madam Aubrey was brandishing a knife, her eyes wild with desperation.

"I’ll kill myself if you two come any closer! Then, you both will carry the sin of my death!" Madam Aubrey shouted, her voice trembling in fear too.

Norman took a cautious step forward, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Mother, will you please stop? Because of you, everything could have been ruined today. Just drop the knife. This is not the time to create more drama. Everyone is already troubled enough," he said, his anger barely contained.

"Then, you two should let me leave," Madam Aubrey stated.

"You cannot leave, Mother! I told you to pay for your crimes. You helped an enemy, tarnishing the name of this family. You schemed to kill my daughter!" Rhea lost her temper. So many years, she remained quiet despite her mother-in-law was wrong. But now, she would not. She would make sure Madam Aubrey be punished to death today.

She took some steps forward, her presence intimidating Madam Aubrey, who retreated nervously.

"Don’t come close to me!" Madam Aubrey shouted, her voice high-pitched with panic.

Norman quickly intervened. "Rhea, stop! You’re making it worse!" he called out urgently, but Rhea, driven by a mixture of fear and determination, ignored him and kept advancing.

Seeing the situation escalating, Alora made a quick decision. She yanked her arm away from Venus’s grip, her resolve firming. Only she could stop Madam Aubrey without anyone getting hurt.

"Alora, no!" Venus exclaimed, but Alora was already moving forward with a calm and steady pace.

Rhea reached out and caught Madam Aubrey’s wrist, trying to wrest the knife from her grip. Norman moved swiftly to his mother’s side, attempting to pull her away. Despite her old age, Madam Aubrey’s desperation made her strong, and she struggled fiercely against them.

"Let go of me! All of you, just let go!" Madam Aubrey screamed, thrashing wildly. In her struggle, she inadvertently slashed Rhea’s forearm with the knife.

"Ahh!" Rhea cried out, instinctively stepping back and clutching her bleeding arm. Norman rushed to his wife’s side, his face a mask of concern.

Seizing the opportunity, Madam Aubrey bolted for the door. "No!" Rhea shouted, ignoring the pain in her arm as she sprinted after her mother-in-law, with Norman and Alora close behind.

Rhea managed to catch up to Aubrey and grabbed her arm, causing the knife to clatter to the ground. "Norman, call the guards! We need to hand her over to them," she commanded, her voice filled with urgency.

Norman hesitated, torn between his love for his mother and his duty to protect his family. But the decision was clear. He turned and ran towards the front of the house to summon the guards.

Meanwhile, Madam Aubrey, undeterred, stomped on Rhea’s foot with surprising strength for her age. Rhea yelped in pain and momentarily loosened her grip. Seeing her chance, Aubrey darted towards Alora, who was still weak from her injuries.

Rhea, driven by desperation, picked up the fallen knife, ready to defend her family at any cost. But before she could act, Madam Aubrey had reached Alora and pulled out another knife, pressing it tightly against her granddaughter’s already wounded wrist.

"Mother! Leave my daughter!" Rhea screamed, her voice raw with terror.

"Grandma, please," Venus pleaded, her eyes wide with fear. "Please don’t hurt Alora."

Alora, summoning her remaining strength and courage, managed to free herself from her grandmother’s grip without being hurt. She stepped back, glaring at Madam Aubrey as she clutched her wounded wrist.

Realizing she couldn’t escape now, she made a desperate decision to kill herself than being tortured later. However, as she saw Rhea advancing with the knife, Aubrey cleverly pulled Alora in front of her, using her as a shield.

Alora’s eyes widened in shock as her eyes began shining.

Rhea was already close, her heart pounding with terror as she realized she would be burned alive now.

Chapter 334: Change of fate

A few minutes ago:

Magnus regained his consciousness in the middle of the treatment, which wasn’t expected. "Alora," he murmured.

"Magnus!" Izaak called out his name, a smile spread across his lips. The royal physician asked Magnus not to move, but he didn’t listen to him.

"Where’s Alora? I need to see her," Magnus insisted.

"She is outside. I’ll call her inside," Izaak assured him, trying to keep Magnus calm and in bed. He opened the door, expecting to find Alora waiting, but the hallway was empty. Confused, he turned back to Magnus. "I think she’s resting in her room. I’ll bring her."

Ignoring Izaak’s attempts to keep him in bed, Magnus swung his legs over the edge and stood up, searching for his shirt. He picked up the blood-stained garment from the floor and pulled it on, wincing at the pain but resolute. "I’ll check on her myself," he declared.

"Stay in the bed. You are injured," Izaak urged, grabbing Magnus’s arm to stop him from leaving. The concern was evident in his eyes.

"Is the oldie in prison?" Magnus asked abruptly, his expression hardening.

Izaak hesitated, his mind racing. He had almost forgotten about the old woman in the chaos. He realized he had no idea where she was now. Magnus saw the uncertainty in Izaak’s face and bolted out of the room before Izaak could react.

Magnus ran down the corridor, ignoring the throbbing pain in his chest. He spotted Norman, Alora’s father, sprinting with two guards towards the back of the house. Without a second thought, Magnus followed them and arrived there before them.

The moment he stepped out of the backdoor, his eyes widened to see the scene unfolding before him.

~~~~~

"No," Alora’s lips quivered as she watched tears stream down her mother’s face, a silent farewell that pierced her heart. The moment felt like an eternity, filled with the agony of inevitable loss.

Suddenly, darkness enveloped her as someone pulled her into a tight embrace. She recognized the warmth immediately—it was Magnus.

Rhea fell to the floor, her trembling hand still grasping the knife. She was alive as Magnus saved something big from happening. Venus, Alora’s sister, rushed to their mother’s side, trying to steady her.

Izaak stood frozen, stunned by the scene unfolding before him. He had seen this vision before, a scene he thought would come true. But Magnus had altered its course.

"No!" Izaak shouted, his voice breaking the silence. He dashed forward, desperate to reach them, but it was too late. He watched in disbelief as Madam Aubrey attacked Alora. She pushed the knife deeper into Alora’s back. Her sinister smile twisted her features into a grotesque mask of malice.

Alora gasped, her eyes wide with pain and she called her husband’s name loudly this time. He opened his eyes only to find the elderly woman had harmed his Alora.

Rage surged through Magnus, igniting a primal fury within him. In an instant, he grabbed Madam Aubrey by the throat. The suddenness of his actions left everyone paralyzed with shock, unable to predict his next move. With a savage strength, Magnus thrust his hand through her chest and ripped out her heart. Blood splattered, covering his entire arm, as Aubrey’s lifeless body crumpled to the floor.

The women of the house screamed in horror, their cries echoing through the hall. Magnus, seemingly unfazed, dropped Aubrey’s heart and turned his attention back to Alora, whom he still held protectively.

Rhea and Norman, overwhelmed by the gruesome sight, fainted, their bodies hitting the floor with dull thuds. They had never witnessed such brutality and were utterly unprepared for the horror that unfolded before them.

Alora’s knees buckled, her strength failing her. Magnus dropped to his knees with her, holding her tightly to prevent her from collapsing. The loss of blood, coupled with the stab wound on her back, had taken a severe toll on her already weakened body.

"Alora," Magnus stammered, his voice choked with anguish as he rested his blood-stained hand gently on her cheek.

"You are fine. I am sorry," Alora whispered, her voice a fragile thread as she clung tightly to his hand.

"It wasn’t your fault. Don’t be sorry," Magnus reassured her, his voice firm despite his own pain. He pulled her closer, burying her face in his chest, seeking to shield her from further harm.

Izaak arrived at their side, his face a mask of urgency and fear. On Magnus’s signal, he carefully pulled the dagger from Alora’s back, wincing as the blade slid free.

Magnus, still cradling Alora, staggered but did not let go. He tightened his hold, trying to lend her his strength. Alora, her vision blurring and strength fading, looked into Magnus’s eyes.

"She has already given you too much blood. I don’t think she will survive this wound. Let’s take her inside," Izaak suggested, fear tightening his voice.

Magnus nodded, lifting Alora carefully in his arms. His focus was solely on her; the others and their reactions were secondary to his need to save her and see her awake again.

As Magnus carried Alora through the halls, King Esmond and Queen Margaret noticed him and turned, alarmed by the sight. "Where have you gone, Magnus?" King Esmond demanded. But then they saw Alora, unconscious in his arms.

"What happened to her?" Queen Margaret asked, her voice tinged with panic.

Izaak quickly recounted the events, describing the brutal encounter with Madam Aubrey. Meanwhile, Magnus laid Alora gently on a nearby couch and examined her himself. Her pulse was faint, and her pupils were already dilated—a grim sign.

The royal physician, standing by, shook his head. "Princess Alora may die soon," he said, his tone somber.

Magnus glared at him, his eyes burning with defiance, prompting the physician to stammer an apology.

"He said that because she had given His Highness a lot of blood," Josiah explained. Without his full powers, he was unable to heal Alora.

"Magnus, give her blood before anything fatal happens to her," Izaak urged, desperation in his voice.

Without hesitation, Magnus bit his own wrist, making the blood flow freely. He let the drops fall into Alora’s mouth, watching intently, praying for a miracle. He couldn’t bear to lose her. She began to gulp down his blood and then, her body became still.

 

Chapter 335: Embrace her new form

"Can she really not live? At least, try to save her," Magnus said, his voice tight with desperation as he glanced first at the royal physician and then at Josiah, seeking any sign of hope from them.

The royal physician, with a somber expression, shook his head. "I have checked Princess Alora’s pulse. She won’t survive as a human. That’s why I asked the prince to feed her the blood," he clarified.

Margaret, seeing the anguish on her son’s face, came to his side and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Her presence was a quiet but worked as a support.

Magnus’s eyes filled with tears, the weight of his grief and frustration almost too much to bear. "I want her to live as a human. This should not have happened," he said, his voice cracking down.

"Magnus, she will live as a vampire, at least," Esmond said softly, trying to offer some solace.

"Your Highness, I should treat the wound on her back," the royal physician interjected. The Queen stayed behind with Magnus, who remained at Alora’s side, his face etched with worry. Once the dressing was complete, the others were allowed back inside.

"Let’s leave for the palace. Magnus, you need to pull yourself together," Esmond urged, noticing how tightly Magnus clung to Alora’s hand, his eyes desperate for a miracle. "I thought Alora couldn’t be harmed. How did she get stabbed?" he asked, glancing pointedly at Izaak.

"Alora wasn’t facing her grandmother. Maybe that’s the reason," Izaak replied, though doubt tinged his voice. Alora was supposed to be immune to such attacks. Was it because Magnus had altered the vision, saving Rhea from her destined death? Could this be the consequence of that interference? But it was only a hypothesis, a troubling one.

"She is turning cold," Magnus said, his voice quivering. He could feel the chill spreading through Alora’s body. He had never intended to turn her into a vampire so soon. He wanted her to enjoy her mortal life for a few more years. But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

"Magnus, let her die. Only then can she embrace the new form," Margaret advised gently. "Izaak, prepare the carriage. We have to leave for the palace," she instructed her eldest son.

"What happened to Alora?" Venus asked, her voice filled with concern as she approached the bed. She hadn’t heard the full conversation and was taken aback by the pallor of Alora’s face.

"She is going to die, or almost on the brink of death," Lillian said bluntly, her voice breaking the tense silence.

"What?" Venus was shocked to learn that. She turned to Izaak, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Stay quiet, Lily," Izaak admonished, his tone firm but gentle. He then addressed Venus, "Please, follow me outside. We need to talk." Although she was reluctant to leave, the urgency in his voice compelled her to comply.

Outside the room, Izaak turned to Venus and asked, "How are your parents? They fainted when they saw the horrific scene."

"They’re still unconscious. I thought Mother was going to die. I saw it with my own eyes," Venus replied, her voice trembling. "But Prince Magnus, he prevented it from happening. Will Alora really die? Why isn’t Prince Magnus turning her into a vampire? She would live then," Venus added, her eyes filled with a hopeful, pleading gaze.

Izaak sighed, understanding her desperation. "Alora provided a lot of blood to Magnus for his recovery. His heart was ruptured because of the stab he got. As for Alora, the knife attack turned out to be fatal for her. That’s why she’s dying slowly. Magnus has already given her his blood. Once she dies, she will transform into a vampire. But it will take a year for her to wake up," he explained patiently.

"But Elliott woke up so quickly," Venus pointed out, confusion evident in her voice.

"Male vampires generally recover faster. If female humans are turned into vampires, their transformation takes longer—a year to complete," Izaak explained, trying to calm her fears.

Venus nodded slowly, processing the information. "So, she’ll be asleep for a whole year?"

"Yes, but she will wake up stronger. It’s a necessary process," Izaak assured her. "Right now, we must focus on getting her to the palace where she can be safe and undergo the transformation properly."

Venus’s eyes turned watery upon hearing that. She hung her head low. "I don’t understand why Grandma did this. Our whole family is shattered now," she murmured, quickly wiping the tears from the edges of her eyes.

"You all are emotional fools," Lillian’s voice remarked sharply. "Alora will wake up as a stronger person. You have no idea what your sister can become. She has always been this timid, kind, and forgiving person. Venus, you should think about how you’ll escape Alora after a year. Her vampire form won’t go easy on you. Keep my words in your mind."

"Lily, don’t scare her," Izaak told her, trying to maintain calm.

"Scare? I told the truth, Brother. Alora isn’t going to be the same woman. Brother Magnus is crying inside because he also knows the woman he loves is gone now," Lillian stated, her tone cold.

Izaak’s jaw clenched as he grabbed Lillian by the arm and dragged her away. The longer his younger sister stayed, the more trouble she would cause.

"Prepare the carriages. We are returning to the palace," Izaak instructed the servants. He then shoved Lillian into the third carriage. "Don’t come outside," he warned her, slamming the door shut with a loud thud.

"Why have they all turned like this? I thought none of us carried emotions. Seems like I was wrong. Alora’s presence in our lives has changed all of them. Even Brother Izaak has turned soft. He never empathized with anyone before. How can I forget now my dear eldest brother is in love with a human! Melody is also one reason for his soft side," Lillian muttered as she looked out of the window after letting out a chuckle.