With his gut churning uneasily, Vlad tried his best to keep his mind occupied. The little mouthfuls of blood he could stomach were nowhere near enough to replenish what he was losing.

However, he thanked his lucky stars as he could feel the slightest murmur in the back of his mind.

It was gentle, barely there. But it existed.

A mutually affirmed mating bond. A stronger connection to his Beloved, allowing Vlad to take away some of Theo's suffering, sending him warmth, energy and love in return.

It was soothing, to be able to sense his mate. To offer some value instead of sitting there and watching helplessly.

Even now, while forcing food down his throat, struggling to stomach more, his mind subconsciously kept going back to the newly formed connection.

Tracing it as far as he could reach, not expecting any response, seeing how Theo wasn't conscious. Vlad only wished to further strengthen the bond, to be able to meet Theo halfway if needed.

Allowing his energy to get closer to Theo's subconsciousness, hoping to evoke a response, no matter how small it was.

There wasn't much he could do now, besides feeding and researching about Soul Bound individuals. Especially what it entailed to mate with a soul bound.

While Alaric had already done some research and informed him of everything he knew, Vlad still needed to do more. If not to learn more, than to simply keep his mind busy and away from that dreaded what if.

Instead of pondering over what could potentially happen, Vlad decided it was much better to learn as much as possible.

He had even sent a text towards Hisoka, knowing that the Kitsune would undoubtedly know more about the subject than he did.

And Hisoka did not disappoint. Instead of replying with a simple text, Vlad's email notification went off multiple times and when he swiped it open, he couldn't help but let out the amused snorted chuckle.

"As expected from one of the most intelligent beings in the Council." Vladimir sighed, feeling genuinely touched as he scrolled through several pages worth of research. Some of it was typed out, others hand written documents and scrolls, translated by Hisoka themselves.

He buried himself in the work provided, devouring each bit of information and stored it away for later. While he was doing his research, he never stopped actually eating, all in order to keep his strength up.

Vlad nearly rolled his eyes when he noticed several links of black pudding on his plate but he also felt a sense of appreciation for his brother.

If he could sneak in blood by eating it in the shape of black pudding, he would gladly do so if it aided him and Theo. Anything that could improve Theo's chances of survival.

The only time that Vlad left Theo's side was to relieve himself or eat. Seeing how Theo needed his blood on a near hourly basis now, Vlad didn't want to take the risk of taking a stroll to stretch his legs.

Things would be different once Theo was awake. Someone could call for him and the time between feedings would extend simply due to the fact that the feedings would be fresh.

There was a massive difference between feeding from a blood bag and feeding from a live vein. Bag feedings were always filling, sure. But they were void of real sustenance, of long lasting sustenance.

Blood bags were meant as a supplement, not a source to continuously feed from.

Not that Vladimir could feed much from it anyways.

He sighed, laying down the scrolls for a moment, if only to rest his eyes. Even in the massive bundles of information, a lot of it was repetitive and only a few bits and pieces were usable.

Though in a way, Vladimir was grateful. After all, if information had been readily available, that meant that there would be numerous Smothered.

And Vladimir didn't wish this fate upon anyone.

However, he also made sure to record everything he could. The Council was already developing new rules to spread among the people they've sworn to protect. Rules meant to protect Soulbound individuals, to detect Smothering quicker and sharing the means needed to help any Smothered on their recovery.

If it were up to Vladimir, not a single person would be Smothered, ever again. Though he knew that was an impossible feat. There would always be fools and filth, ready to toss away what was destined to be theirs.

A soft sigh sounded from across the room, making Vladimir jerk up. Eyes instantly finding his Beloved, still unconscious yet still alive. When there was no change, he sighed.

There have been little moments like these spread out over the past few days. Sudden sighs, deep inhales or a slight twitch from Theo.

Of course, he had to report every change, every minute spasm that Theo made. If he could at least help other Smothered by making notes of what happened during the event, at least something distantly positive would come from this.

The moment the last morsel of food was taken from the plate, Vlad stood up. Still chewing his current mouthful and grabbing his phone and notebook, he eagerly made his way back to Theo's side.

However, no matter how much he wanted to snuggle up to Theo and share in warmth, Vladimir had different priorities. Remembering the nurse's instructions, he gently started massaging and stretching Theo's limbs.

Gently forcing the Omega to use his muscles, to keep them from withering away. For as long as Theo was in his coma, someone else would have to move his muscles for him, to retain them as much as possible.

Otherwise, the revalidation process would only be that much harsher. And Vlad didn't want Theo to be wasting away and suffer even more due to someone else's actions.

Vladimir made sure to protect Theo's modesty. Even if they were mated to one another, he would never encroach on Theo's privacy, nor would he treat Theo as his property to do with as he pleased.

Plus, just the mere idea of groping Theo while he was unconscious, made Vladimir sick to his stomach. To think that anyone could even consider doing such a thing made Vlad's fangs lengthen, anger coursing through his system.

This was his Beloved. Not some guy he picked up during one of his many outings, who were purring and waiting for Vlad to have his way with them.

Nor any of the scantily clad women, revealing everything to all for see and leaving little to the imagination.

Theo was both purity and temptation incarnate, at least to Vladimir. He knew that he would've stumbled over himself if the pup was awake, let alone conscious enough to realise they were now mated.

No, Theo deserved to be treated with respect and more. Especially after the horrid treatment at the hands of those he trusted, who should have done everything in their power to support him.

Once Theo was properly washed up and stretched, Vlad sat down beside his Beloved with a soft smile. Gently speaking to the young Omega, even though he wasn't expecting a response.

Vlad just wanted to fill the silence, the persistent beeping of the heart rate monitor and the lack of any other sounds. So he spoke about his life, his past experiences, how he was genuinely happy to have met Theo.

How he wished for the Omega's speedy recovery and that Vlad hoped he had the potential to be a good Beloved. Because honestly, if anyone wasn't Beloved material, it was Vlad.

He knew his past didn't cast him in a good light. A former player, someone who jumped in bed with anyone who was willing. Hell, Vlad knew that if one of his relatives came home with a potential partner like the old him, he'd warned them against the idea.

Now that he was on the receiving end, Vlad felt his fingers shake with nerves. He sighed, shook his hands out before intertwining his fingers as if he was about to pray.

Perhaps he was. Praying that he could be a decent man, a decent mate for Theo. That if, no, when Theo struggled through the Smothering, he could slowly erase what happened.

Be the mate that Theo deserved. The last he wanted was to be just decent enough to settle with.

Not truly what someone would want, but good enough to stop looking.

No.

Vlad wanted to be the One. To be the light in Theo's existence, his warmth, his shelter, his safety.

To learn what made Theo smile, what made him cry so he could avoid it, what the young Omega liked and disliked. Hell, he wanted to watch movies together, just to see how Theo would react to them.

His fingers brushed against his lips, feeling a slight smile as he pondered whether Theo liked spicy food or not. If the Omega could handle the heat or whine and tear up at the first bite.

There were so many small, seemingly insignificant things that Vlad wanted to learn. He wanted to take Theo by the hand and explore the world, see it through the Omega's eyes, wanting to see those brilliant blues light up with awe and contentment.

Looking down and to his side, Vlad released a saddened sigh that gained no reaction from Theo. Unmoving but breathing, skin a slightly better tone than before.

Wrapping his hand around Theo's smaller one, Vlad brought the Omega's fingers to his lips before pressing a gentle kiss against them.

"Come back to me. Please." The whisper dissipated against pale skin, echoing through their fragile mind link. Of course there wasn't a reaction, even if he traced their link as far as he could go.

There was no voice responding, not even a slight twitch from Theo. Just the same eerie silence and his soft breathing the only sign the boy was still alive.

There was a sense of desperation, of slowly approaching doom creeping up to Vladimir. While he hoped it wasn't the case, he was slowly fearing that the only way he'd manage to keep Theo by his side, was with a transformation through death.

Guided by that desperation, Vlad raised a finger to his fangs, ripping through his own skin without a care. His blood gleamed in the light as he leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss against Theo's temple.

Gently pressing his finger against Theo's pale lips, beside the tubing that provided him with oxygen. Hoping that the small fraction of fresh blood might do more besides the regular IV's that went straight to Theo's stomach.

That perhaps the taste would trigger a reaction.

It did. But Vlad wished it hadn't.

Almost a second after the blood seeped past Theo's lips, the machines at his side went haywire. Heartrate elevating erratically as Vlad could hear Theo's breathing become laboured.

Footsteps thundered to the room as Vlad blurred to his mate's side, gently grabbing his hand while cursing himself for his recklessness.

While Theo wasn't spasming or jolting off of the bed like some dramatic scene from any Hollywood movie, smelling the distress in his scent made Vlad lock his knees to prevent him from falling to the floor.

The doctors rushed around him, equally helpless to do anything but manage Theo's symptoms. As Theo's heartrate skyrocketed to dangerous heights, Vlad could feel his own picking up the pace.

And then his heart stuttered, alongside the persistent beeping on the heartrate monitor. Even with the alarms blaring through the room and assaulting his ears, Vlad couldn't pay attention to them.

Instead, his head tilted down, eyes dropping to his hand wrapped around Theo's. And the small, crescent nail prints being left in his own skin.

Fingers feebly clutching his own, barely leaving an indent yet the simple pressure was akin to someone grasping his heart.

Vlad's lip twitched in a half smirk, eyes looking up before finally, finally locking onto his pair's.

There was confusion. Exhaustion. Elation. And a combination of Omegan softness and an Alpha's appraisal. That was when Vlad heard it.

"We're back."