Sweat drenched her entire body as Melora shot up in bed. Her entire body felt like it was on fire. This pain was entirely different than whenever she was in heat. This pain went all the way down into her bones. Slowly, she moved out of bed and laid down on the floor. The floor was much cooler, helping the heat from her body disappear. 

"Melora?" she heard Drystan's worried voice call out to her. He sounded a million miles away instead of right next to her. 

Melora curled her body into a ball and shut her eyes tightly. Her body started to shake even as the heat in her body started to rise again. "It hurts," she whimpered. 

She felt a pair of arms wrap around her and pick her up. Her head was cradled close to Drystan's body as he brought her back to bed. "I know, my love," he soothed against her hair. "I've got you. It's alright." He placed her down on the bed and knelt beside her. "Try to relax your body, my love." He continued to run his hands through her hair. 

Melora worked hard to relax her body, but couldn't. Her body continued to convulse. "When is this going to end, Drystan?" She opened her eyes and reached her hand out to him. 

Drystan was quick to grab her hand and hold onto her tightly. Worry etched into his face as he slowly shook his head. "I don't know when this will end, my love." He brought her hand up to his lips. "I'm sorry." He whispered.

A quick knock sounded at the door. Drystan looked reluctant to get up, but did, walking quickly to the door. He opened it up, revealing the brothers and Carwel.

"We heard her cries," one of the brothers, Draco if Melora remembered correctly, sympathized.

Drystan looked back at her before turning back to them. "One moment." He quickly moved back over to Melora, grabbing her dress from the ground. He gently helped her sit up and pulled the dress over her body. "I'm sorry, love," he chuckled as he placed a kiss on her forehead. "I can't have them seeing what's mine."

Melora forced a smile on her face. She wanted to chuckle with him. She wanted to speak without it hurting, but she couldn't. Her hand reached out to him once more and he quickly took it.

"Come in," Drystan ordered them.

Melora watched as the three men walked into the room and stopped behind Drystan. The brothers and Carwel stared down at her with worry on their faces. Carwel placed a hand on Drystan's shoulder. "How long has she been in pain?"

"It just started," Drystan answered him. Drystan wouldn't take his eyes off Melora. It comforted her slightly knowing that his attention was all on her. "Can I take away her pain?" he asked in a hushed tone. 

Carwel took a deep breath and looked over at the brothers. "There is a way," he answered Drystan slowly. 

Drystan's eyes widened as he stood up and turned to look at Carwel. "There's a way? How?" His hand gripping Melora's tightened slightly. 

Carwel looked down at Melora, his face softening at her pain. "She would be in more pain for a while."

Drystan shook his head. "What are you talking about?"

"You need to take the venom out of her and replace it with yours," Carwel explained. 

Drystan's grip on Melora's hand tightened. "I'm not biting her. She is in too much pain right now. I'm not going to be causing more pain to her."

"Drystan," one of the brothers, Dante this time, spoke up. "Yes, it will cause her more pain for a time. Although, it will hurry her turning process. You are her mate. With your venom and you by her side, her pain will lessen and the process will speed up." He looked down at Melora. "Alathic's venom, as you know, is torture. He is not her mate. He is not the man that she loves. His venom will do more damage to her than you know."

Drystan looked down at Melora and sighed. "Are you saying I have no choice?"

"You do have a choice," Carwel started. "Whatever she tells you to do. It is her body. It is her choice whether she wants you to inject your venom into her or not." He paused slightly. "You cannot stop once you start. You have to finish."

Melora pulled on Drystan's hand, sitting up. "Drystan," she croaked. She started to nod her head quickly. "Please, I want to do that." 

"Melora," Drystan started. 

"Drystan," she begged. The fire in her body started to rise. She was afraid that her blood would start to boil if nothing was done. "Please. Please do it."

Carwel placed a hand on Drystan's shoulder and nodded his head. "We'll give you two some space." He motioned to Draco and Dante and they followed him out of the house, closing the door behind them. 

Drystan sat down next to her on the bed. "Melora," he started. "I could hurt you."

Melora couldn't help but nod quickly. "I know, but I still want you to do it." Drystan started to shake his head again, but Melora placed her hands on each side of his head, stopping his movements. "Drystan, please."

Drystan leaned back against the headboard, his eyes showing he was deep in thought. His jaw tightened as he reached toward her and pulled her onto his lap. He gently pushed her hair back off of her neck. "Forgive me, my love." 

Melora didn't get a chance to brace for his fangs before he plunged them right into her neck. Searing, white-hot pain started in her neck and then traveled down to the rest of her body. She couldn't help the screams that came ripping through her throat. Her grip on Drystan's shoulders tightened as her knuckles whitened. White flashed over her eyes before she started to feel faint. 

Melora had the faint impression of feeling Drystan's fangs retract out of her before she was laid down on her back. Drystan was leaning over her, his eyes searching her face. His lips were moving, but she couldn't hear what he was trying to say. Her eyelids slowly moved down. She was tired. Her body felt weak. All she wanted to do was rest. 

And that's what she did.