Her Immortal Love (Brides of the Vrakken #2)

8. Alina

8

ALINA

T oo many vrakken were pulled to battle to even bother guarding the humans. Despite my plea not to, some fled, getting killed by dark elves immediately. Most stayed in the pen to avoid the same fate.

With the battle now over, though, I slip out of the human encampment, my heart pounding in my chest. The chaos of the recent battle has left the vrakken's defenses in disarray, and I seize the opportunity to explore. My feet carry me towards the medical area, guided by an instinct I can't explain.

The smell of blood and magic hangs heavy in the air as I enter. Wounded vrakken lie on makeshift beds, their injuries ranging from minor cuts to gaping wounds. I swallow hard, fighting back the nausea that threatens to overwhelm me.

"What are you doing here?" a gruff voice demands. I spin around, coming face to face with a vrakken guard. His eyes narrow suspiciously.

"I... I can help," I stammer, surprising myself with my boldness. "I have healing abilities."

The guard scoffs, but before he can respond, a pained groan echoes through the room. Without thinking, I rush to the side of an injured vrakken. His arm is nearly severed, hanging by a thread of muscle and sinew.

I place my hands over the wound, closing my eyes. The energy within me surges, flowing through my fingertips. I feel the torn flesh knitting back together, muscle and bone reforming under my touch. When I open my eyes, the arm is whole again, only a faint scar remaining.

The room falls silent. I look up to see the guard and other vrakken staring at me in disbelief. Emboldened by my success, I move to the next patient, then the next. With each healing, my confidence grows, as does my amazement at the extent of my abilities.

As I work, a realization settles over me. These vrakken, for all their power and cruelty, are the only thing standing between us humans and the dark elves. I've heard whispers of the atrocities committed by the gray-skinned beings, stories that make my blood run cold. As much as I fear the vrakken, I fear the alternative even more.

As I finish healing the last of the wounded vrakken, exhaustion washes over me. I sway on my feet, barely able to stand. Suddenly, a strong arm steadies me. I look up to see Alexei, his dark eyes filled with concern.

"What have you done?" he whispers, his voice a mix of awe and worry.

Before I can respond, the room erupts into chaos. Vrakken voices rise in a cacophony of conflicting opinions.

"She's a miracle worker!" one shouts.

"She's dangerous," another hisses. "How do we know she won't turn these powers against us?"

I shrink back, overwhelmed by their intensity. Alexei steps in front of me protectively.

"Enough!" a commanding voice cuts through the din. Their leader, The First I've heard some call her, strides into the room, her presence silencing everyone instantly. Her eyes lock onto mine, and I feel naked under her scrutiny.

"Bring her with me," she orders. "Now."

Alexei's grip on my arm tightens as he leads me out. The walk to the small meeting area is a blur. My mind races, trying to process everything that's happened. What have I done? Have I just made things worse for myself and the other humans?

The vrakken stand in a small circle as we approach, their eyes gleaming in as Alexei drags me forward, just shy of the center. The First stands in the middle, turning her black and silver flecked eyes on me.

"Explain yourself," she demands.

I take a deep breath, willing my voice not to shake. "I... I discovered I had these abilities recently. When I saw your wounded, I knew I could help. I had to try."

Murmurs ripple through the council. A tall vrakken with midnight-black wings leans forward. "And why would you help us, human? What do you gain?"

I meet his gaze steadily. "Because it was the right thing to do. And because... because you're the only thing standing between us and the dark elves."

This statement causes an uproar. Some vrakken nod approvingly, while others snarl in disagreement.

"She could be an invaluable asset," one argues. "Imagine having a healer of her caliber on the battlefield."

"Or she could be our downfall," another counters. "What if she decides to use these powers against us? We can't trust a human!"

The debate rages on, my fate hanging in the balance. I stand there, heart pounding, acutely aware of Alexei's presence behind me. His proximity is both comforting and unsettling.

Finally, the First raises her hand, silencing the crowd. Her piercing gaze fixes on me once more.

"You've stirred quite the controversy, little human," she says, her voice cold and calculating. "The question now is... what are we going to do with you?" Her eyes dart to Alexei. "Take her back."

More arguing ensues, but Alexei's hand, still wrapped around my arm, pulls me back through the circle. He's leaving them to debate my life.

Alexei's grip on my arm loosens as we move away from the vrakken council. Instead of leading me back to the human encampment, he steers me towards the nearby woods. My heart races, unsure of his intentions.

"Where are we going?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

He doesn't answer, just continues to guide me through the dense foliage. The sounds of the vrakken settlement fade behind us, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the soft crunch of twigs beneath our feet.

After a few minutes, I hear the gentle babbling of water. We emerge into a small clearing where a crystal-clear stream winds its way through the trees. Alexei finally releases my arm and gestures towards the water.

"You should clean up," he says, his voice softer than I've ever heard it.

I look down at myself, suddenly aware of the blood staining my hands and clothes. The sight makes my stomach churn. Without hesitation, I kneel by the stream and plunge my hands into the cool water. The blood swirls away, leaving my skin clean but my mind still reeling from the events of the day.

As I scrub at my arms and face, I can feel Alexei's eyes on me. I glance up at him, curiosity overcoming my fear.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask. "Why help me?"

He's silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, to my surprise, he kneels beside me at the water's edge.

"You did the right thing back there," he says. "Healing our wounded... It was brave. Foolish, perhaps, but brave. I wanted to thank you."

His words catch me off guard. I've never heard a vrakken express gratitude to a human before. "I... thank you for keeping my secret for so long," I reply, remembering how he'd witnessed my magical outburst during the dark elf attack but hadn't reported it.

Our eyes meet, and suddenly the air between us feels charged. Alexei moves closer, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of wet hair from my face. My breath catches in my throat at his touch.

"Alina," he murmurs, his voice low and intense. Before I can respond, he leans in and presses his lips to mine.

The kiss is unlike anything I've ever known. I melt into Alexei, a moan escaping my lips, and something in him snaps. He jerks away, eyes searching mine, a whisper of my name on his lips.

"Alina." I see the question there, the hesitation. But I want this. I want him.

I pull him back to me, kissing him harder, deeper. His response is immediate, a growl rumbling in his chest. He lays me back, stripping away my clothes, then his own, with an urgency that matches the pounding of my heart. When he lifts me, carrying me into the cool water of the stream, I wrap my legs around him, feeling his hardness press against me.

I grind over him, and a gasp escapes my lips. He's huge, and I want him more than I've wanted anything. He kisses me again, swallowing my moans as he slowly pushes inside me. The sensation is overwhelming, a mix of pleasure and pain that has me clinging to him, nails digging into his back.

He starts to move, a slow, hard rhythm that hits every nerve ending, sending jolts of ecstasy through my body. I clutch him closer, meeting each thrust with a roll of my hips. The water around us churns, splashing onto the bank, but neither of us cares. There's only this moment, this connection, this desperate need for each other.

His mouth never leaves mine, kissing me deeply, swallowing my gasps and whimpers. I can feel the tension building, the pressure coiling tight in my belly. Each thrust brings me closer, each kiss pushes me higher. It's perfect, it's everything. And I never want it to end.

I shiver in Alexei's grip, my body delicate and small against his powerful frame. His fingers dig into my hips, holding me steady as he moves with an intensity that leaves me breathless. I can feel every inch of him, filling me, completing me in a way I've never experienced before.

"Alexei..." His name escapes my lips like a secret, a whisper of desire and need. I'm begging him, pleading for release. "Please..."

His pace quickens, his breath hot on my neck. "You feel so fucking good, Alina," he growls, his voice dripping with raw, primal lust. "So perfect. I've never had anything like you."

Each thrust sends waves of pleasure coursing through me, building, growing, pushing me closer to the edge. I cling to him, my nails digging into his shoulders, urging him on. His words are a drug, intoxicating and addictive.

"You're such a good girl," he murmurs, his lips brushing against my ear. "My good girl."

Those words, that possessive tone, it's too much. It's everything. I cry out, my body convulsing as the orgasm rips through me. White-hot ecstasy floods my veins, leaving me trembling and gasping for breath.

Alexei's grip tightens, his movements becoming erratic as he chases his own release. With a final, powerful thrust, he buries himself deep inside me, his roar of satisfaction muffled against my shoulder. I feel the gentle graze of his fangs, a pinprick of pain that only serves to heighten the pleasure as we climax together.