AN: Sorry for the delay in posting! I have no real excuse beyond the fact that I wrote myself into a corner. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Kresley Cole. The plot is all mine
"Talk about being put on the spot." Nikolai shook his head, astounded at the simple plea from the Lykae king. "I'll do what I can, Lachlain. Understand that there may be nothing we can do in the first place."
"Just please help her. I can't lose her."
"I'll do what I can. I have to take her now. Every second may count." Lachlain's big hand shook as he smoothed Emma's hair from her face. Gently, he took her from Mariketa, hugging her to him and breathing in her scent for what could be the last time.
"Bring her back. No matter…" his voice broke, "no matter what happens."
"I swear to the Lore I will do everything I can to save her."
There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Lightening still struck but not a single Valkyrie had moved since Mariketa had brought Emma through the mirror. If it were even possible, they all grew even more still as they watched a Lykae hand his mate over to a vampire. Myst put her hand on Lachlain's arm.
"I won't leave her." With that, she stepped closer to Nikolai, wrapped her arm through his and they were gone.
Lachlain's wails rivaled that of the Valkyrie as he collapsed to his knees in the center of Val Hall.
Tracing into the strong hold of the Forebearers was always dangerous with Myst at his side, but having another half-Valkyrie in his arms who may or may not be the true leader of the vampires made Nikolai quake in his boots. A little. He was still a war lord, after all. He was glad that he had called his brothers to let them know what was going on when Sebastian and Murdoch appeared next to him.
"What's doing, brother?" Murdoch was always too blaise about situations. Sebastian just shook his head.
"I need to find out if Kristoff can save this girl. It may mean a union with the Lykae for the Ascension. I don't know if we can swing it, but we need to try."
"And she's my family." Myst's voice was quiet but the plea in her voice could be heard clearly. Both of his brothers were blooded to Valkyrie women from Val Hall so he knew that Emma's death would affect them just as greatly as it would him. How their wives hadn't heard about Emma's….situation yet was a miracle.
"Alright chums, let's do this. The sooner we talk to Kristoff, the sooner we can find out if we're all walking out of this alive." Sharing a look with Nikolai, Sebastian slapped Murdoch in the back of the head.
"Thanks, Bastian." Nikolai spared him a smile.
"Any time. No, seriously. Any time."
"Myst, I need you to stand close at all times. Do NOT leave my side, no matter what happens. You shouldn't even be here but I understand why. Just…stay close." Nikolai could only hope that Myst could see the seriousness in his eyes and wouldn't try anything.
Exiting the room, a quick walk down the hallway and a turn to the left brought them to Kristoff's office.
"Here goes nothing." Sebastian rapped his knuckles sharply on the door and then stepped behind Nikolai. Murdoch stepped in front of them, his cocky grin in place. The tension as they waited was thick and Nikolai could only hope that the Forebearer King wouldn't notice.
"Enter." The sharp call echoed and the entire party took a deep breath. Murdoch opened the door, striding in as if he owned the place and nodding at the guards as if they were there for his own personal safety. Nikolai followed him, attempting to tuck Emma's face away from the king. He felt Myst bump gently into his side and heard the steady thrum of Sebastian's heart behind him.
"Your majesty." His voice was formal, drawing immediate notice from the King. Kristoff looked up from his desk, eyes widening slightly at the party in front of him. He threw the papers he'd been studying down and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Now this, I've gotta hear. What's the meaning of this?"
"My King, this is Emmaline Troy MacRieve." Nikolai stepped forward, nodding towards the limp form in his arms. "Demestriu's daughter and Queen of the Lykae."
"I know who she is." Kristoff cut Nikolai off with a wave of his hand. "What is she doing here?"
"My King, she was found a few hours ago, bleeding. The witches and the Valkyrie cannot find a heartbeat. I think I hear a faint one but we do not know how to wake her or stop the bleeding. They thought perhaps you might have something to suggest."
"And my payment? Surely they don't think that I would assist this girl without some form of compensation."
"Should you be instrumental in her survival, you would have the gratitude of the Lykae and Valkyrie for certain, my lord. And that, that could be very beneficial."
Kristoff sat forward abruptly, his eyes going dark. "Yes, yes, it could, couldn't it? It could mean a union and could mean survival for our kind during the Ascension. Something like this is completely unprecedented and is crazy enough that it might work. Callum, get down to the infirmary and get Malcolm up here, now. I don't care what else he's doing. Tomas, get a hospital bed up here for the girl." Kristoff sent the guards scrambling and stood, stretching. "Let's get this straight. I'll see what we've can come up with, but obviously there are no promises. If, and I do mean if, this girl does not walk out of here, I want it known that it was not of our doing and that we did at least try." The last was addressed to Myst and the tone left no room for disagreement. Myst the Coveted drew herself up to her not inconsiderate height, her eyes flashing silver and thunder rumbling ominously in the distance.
"We do not punish those undeserving, King of the Forebearers."
The door opened and Tomas re-entered, a gurney rolling in front of him. Hot on his heels was the guard Callum with Malcolm. The only difference between the three men was Malcolm's lab coat and stethoscope.
"Tomas, put the bed in the corner, by the fire." Callum had clearly briefed Malcolm as the man immediately starting giving orders. "General Wroth, please place the patient on the bed." Nikolai moved immediately, gently placing Emmaline's prone form on the white sheets. Her pallor had continued to drop and the already pale girl wasn't much darker than the white pillow beneath her. Nikolai stepped back and Myst immediately moved forward. "Ma'am please. I need space." Malcolm placed his hand on her arm, causing Nikolai to snarl. Ignoring him, Malcolm guided Myst backwards towards her mate. "I have no idea what's wrong with her and I need all the space to move that I can. I understand your fears but I can do nothing to help her until I know what the issue is. Please stand here, and tell me everything."
Myst took a deep breath, reaching her hand out for Nikolai's. She started speaking slowly, recounting the tale as she had heard it. "Emma was found, bleeding from no cuts that have been found. Our healers, both witch and Valkyrie, have been unable to find anything wrong and have been unable to wake her."
"And why did the Lykae King not bring in a Lykae healer?"
"Because she's not a Lykae. She's a cross breed of Valkyrie and Vampire." Myst didn't miss the glance that Malcolm sent the Forebearer King. The vampire healer moved around Emma's body, lifting her eyelids, looking into her throat, checking her arms and legs. "What are you looking for?"
"Signs of abuse." Myst shrieked and made to attack the doctor but Nikolai held her back.
"Lachlain would never…!"
"As a physician it is my job to assess all possibilities for this injury. I see no reason she shouldn't be awake. Is there anything you've not told me?" He removed his stethoscope and looked at Myst, his words making it obvious that he knew there was more. Myst sighed and with an apologetic look at Nikolai told the room what she had hoped she would never have to reveal.
"Emma and Lachlain wanted children. In order for her to have children, she would need to change her diet. No blood. She would need to eat only as humans do. She had been doing that recently and she had started to change in more ways than we imagined. Lachlain recently found her standing in the sun and it wasn't the first time this had happened."
"And this is unusual for her? To be standing in the sun?"
"Emma hasn't been able to be in the sun since she was a child and her vampire side began to manifest. She was 2 the last time she stood in the sun."
A pin could have been heard hitting the floor.