Her Immortal Love (Brides of the Vrakken #2)

15. Alexei

15

ALEXEI

I wake with a gasp, my eyes flying open. The world around me explodes into vivid detail, overwhelming my senses. The rough feel of grass beneath me feels like sandpaper against my hypersensitive skin. I can hear the faintest whisper of wind above me, the rustling of leaves all around me. The scent of earth and water floods my nostrils, along with a thousand other smells I can't even begin to identify.

My head spins as I try to process this sensory overload. I blink rapidly, my vision adjusting to reveal colors I've never seen before, shades that don't even have names. The space around me is familiar, yet completely alien at the same time.

I lift my hand to my face, and freeze. My skin is pale, almost translucent, with a faint shimmer that catches the light. My fingers are longer, more elegant. I flex my hand, marveling at the strength I feel coursing through my body.

Slowly, I sit up, my movements unnaturally fluid, and I look down at my transformed body. My curves are more pronounced, my muscles lean and defined. But it's the wings that make me gasp. They unfurl from my back, iridescent and beautiful, yet terrifying in their otherness.

"What... what am I?" I whisper, my voice sounding strange to my own ears. It's melodic, almost hypnotic, nothing like the voice I remember.

I roll forward, standing on shaky feet. My balance feels off, my center of gravity shifted by the weight of my wings. I take a tentative step forward, marveling at the grace of my movements.

The stream next to me calls me, and I approach it slowly, both eager and afraid to see my reflection. The face that stares back at me is both familiar and foreign. My features are sharper, more defined. My eyes, once a warm amber, now glow with an otherworldly light. My hair, still black, seems to shimmer with an inner fire.

I reach out to touch the water, my fingers trembling. "This is me now," I murmur, a mix of awe and horror washing over me. I'm beautiful, yes, but in a way that's almost terrifying. I look dangerous, predatory.

A sob catches in my throat as the full weight of my transformation hits me. I'm no longer human. I'm something else entirely. A vrakken. The very creatures I once feared.

"Alina?"

I spin around at the sound of my name, my newly heightened senses immediately zeroing in on Alexei. He stands a few feet away, his eyes wide with a mix of relief and apprehension.

Without thinking, I launch myself at him. My new strength surprises me as I collide with his chest, but Alexei catches me effortlessly, his arms wrapping around me in a tight embrace.

"I'm so glad you're okay," he murmurs into my hair, his voice thick with emotion.

I pull back slightly, meeting his gaze. "Alexei, I... I'm sorry. I never should have been mad at you for my involvement in the war. You were just trying to protect me."

His eyes search mine, relief washing over his features. "You have no idea how much that means to me, Alina."

As I look at him, a whirlwind of emotions churns inside me. Gratitude for saving my life wars with anger at being Changed without my consent. I open my mouth, trying to find the words to express this internal conflict.

"I... I understand why you did it," I finally manage, my voice barely above a whisper. "You saved my life. But Alexei, this is... it's overwhelming. I'm not human anymore. You've changed everything about me."

Alexei's face falls, guilt clouding his features. "I know. I'm sorry, Alina. I couldn't bear to lose you. I had to make a choice, and I chose your life over everything else."

I nod slowly, still grappling with the enormity of what's happened. "I get it. I do. It's just... it's a lot to process. Everything feels different. I feel different."

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what I'm about to say. "Alexei, I... I'm glad you gave me the chance to keep living. Because I never got the chance to tell you something important." My heart races, the new sensations of my vrakken body amplifying every emotion. "I love you."

Alexei's eyes widen, shock written across his face. For a moment, I fear I've made a mistake. But then, his expression transforms into a radiant grin. Before I can react, he pulls me close, crushing his lips against mine in a bruising kiss.

The intensity of the kiss takes my breath away. Every nerve in my body feels alive, hyperaware of his touch. When we finally break apart, both of us breathing heavily, Alexei cups my face in his hands.

"Alina," he says, his voice rough with emotion, "I've loved you since I first saw you. I could feel it deep in my bones. You were mine."

My heart soars at his words. I lean in, capturing his lips in another passionate kiss. As we embrace, I feel something else - a connection between us that goes beyond the physical. It's as if I can sense his emotions, his very essence.

Pulling back slightly, I look into his eyes, confused. "Alexei, what is this? I can feel... something between us. A bond."

Alexei's gaze softens, a look of wonder crossing his face. "I feel it too," he murmurs. Then, with a note of awe in his voice, he says, "Alina, I think... I think we were fated to be together."

I open my mouth to say something, but then I hear shouting. Alexei must hear it, too, as he cocks his head. Gently, he sets me back on my feet, pulling over his shirt and tugging it over my head. It covers me like a dress — making me realize I was naked before.

My new vrakken senses amplify every shout and footfall. Alexei tenses beside me, his arm instinctively tightening around my waist.

A disheveled messenger bursts into view, chest heaving. "The gods!" he gasps. "They're coming!"

My heart races, pounding so loud I'm sure everyone can hear it. "The gods? Here?" I whisper, fear and awe mingling in my voice. They all seemed to disappear once they pitted us against the dark elves. But they've come back?

Alexei's face hardens, his jaw clenching. "We need to move," he says, urgency lacing his words. He grabs my hand, pulling me towards the center of the settlement.

As we rush through the trees, I see panic etched on every face we pass. Vrakken scramble in all directions, some barking orders, others gathering weapons. The air crackles with tension and... something else. Magic, I realize. Raw, potent magic that makes my skin tingle and my new wings twitch.

We reach the main square where The First stands, her face a mask of determination. She's flanked by a pair of vrakken, a redheaded woman and a man with long, wavy brown hair, their usually stoic expressions now marred by worry.

"What does this mean?" I ask Alexei, my voice barely audible over the din. "Why are the gods coming now?"

He shakes his head, uncertainty clouding his eyes. "I don't know. But their arrival changes everything. The balance of power, the war... nothing will be the same."

The First raises her hands, silencing the crowd. "Prepare yourselves," she commands, her voice carrying across the square. "The gods' return will reshape our world. We must be ready for whatever comes."

As her words sink in, I feel a shift in the air. The magic intensifies, pressing against us like a physical force. In the distance, the sky begins to shimmer and warp.

"They're here," Alexei breathes, his grip on my hand tightening.

I watch in awe as the air itself seems to tear open, revealing swirling portals of light. Through them step figures of impossible beauty and terrifying power - the gods of Protheka.

The End