The room, furnished an expensive interior, where once high-ranking guests and people important to the kingdom could stay, now had many single beds covered with boiling white sheets.

The air smelled of herbs and medicinal potions made with alcohol.

As soon as Artemis entered, her nose wrinkled by itself from the unpleasant smell, but all this instantly left her attention as soon as she saw her friends in hospital beds.

All the male werewolves looked the same as she remembered them the last time she met them. They were sleeping peacefully and there was not a single hint of injury or recent torture on their bodies.

- There must be a reason for their rapid regeneration. - she thought, pleased that at least they were not worth worrying about.

Her gaze lingered longest on Adeline, who looked slightly emaciated, with numerous bruises on her face and exposed parts of her body that were not hidden by the white cloth. She was immersed in a deep sleep under the supervision of a nurse who periodically changed bandages and gave medicines.

Her first thought was to rush to run to Thea’s injured friend, but her attention was attracted by a quiet, extremely painful moan that came from somewhere to the side. She turned around and noticed a screen blocking her view from whoever might be making those heartwarming sounds.

- We are not involved in this. - Amanda tried to justify herself, squeezing her forearm. - He followed you into the maze.

- Terrence? - Amanda nodded and her eyes widened in horror, her hand involuntarily flew to her mouth, covering it.

- He was lucky that we made it in time, but he was too badly injured. Almost on the verge of life and death. - The vampire commented in a slightly drooping voice. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

- It’s too early to make predictions. - A rough male voice sounded and then, pushing aside the curtain of the screen, a man in a white coat appeared. - Next time, I’ll inject you with a large dose of sleeping pills, naughty patient.

The man was serious, but she could understand that he was jokingly scolding her, but he could understand her concern. However, Amanda tensed behind her back, apparently she was going to be severely reprimanded later.

- You’re going to do everything you can to keep him alive, aren’t you? -Temi asked with real concern.

- It is likely that he will survive... - There was a quick reply that brought her relief. - But the question is different...

That momentary pause made her tense up again.

- We had to transfuse a very large amount of vampire blood to him in order to increase the rate of regeneration of the body’s cells in order to prolong the time for our manipulations. If he dies, he won’t be human anymore.

- He won’t be able to accept it. - She shook her head, imagining a furious Terrence if he suddenly turned into a vampire.

- He doesn’t have many options to choose from. I suppose, in any case, you can bring him to reason. The first hours are the most important for a newly converted vampire. Either he stays with his humanity, or he turns into an inferior mindless monster. Although there is a third option, unlikely, but still... he may not survive the conversion and his blood will boil. But there have not been many such cases in my memory. I think he’s a strong guy– he’ll pull through.

- Then make sure he doesn’t die. - She almost screamed.

- It doesn’t depend on me. His body has to cope on its own. I understand that this is what you want me to say, but I don’t want to give you false hopes.

- Can I see him? - Temi asked hastily.

The healer nodded and motioned for her to follow him.

Despite the fact that Terrence was not actually a relative or close person to her, she still felt some affection for him, since she had lived in Thea’s body all her years and witnessed his kind attitude towards his sister. It couldn’t help but bribe her. She was worried and didn’t want him to die or become a vampire.

He was lying there all alone, in an isolated part of the room, and he looked like he had just been dug out of the grave. The pale, almost gray color of the skin, as if it shone through, exposing the veins.

His lips were pale and dry, the skin under his eyes was sunken, forming bruises, and there was a huge laceration on his lips that stretched all the way to his cheek.

The rest of the body was tightly buried under the cloth, making it impossible to see all the horror that Artemis’s imagination had already drawn.

She walked slowly and very quietly, almost on tiptoe, to his bed and held out her hand, stopping it a couple of inches from his face. She had an irresistible urge to touch his face and feel his warmth, to make sure he was still alive, but she couldn’t. She was afraid to disturb him, cause pain, discomfort, or even wake him up.

- I could try to use healing magic. – she turned to the healer.

- Your body still hasn’t recovered enough to use its powers for such a serious spell. This can be fraught. - The healer cut her off, categorically refusing to accept her help. – Leave him the opportunity to fight on his own. We did everything we could.

Artemis lowered her head dejectedly, pursing her lips in displeasure. She didn’t like at all that some doctor was telling her what to do, it was unpleasant.

Who does he even think he is?

She was already an adult girl and could feel the turbulent currents of power that literally pulsed at her fingertips.

- And now, if you have satisfied your curiosity, go to your room. I’ll be back in about fifteen minutes for an inspection. – the man ordered menacingly and urgently.

Amanda trotted forward, hobbling on crutches, and Temi took one last look at Terrence and, unnoticed by the others, while the doctor was giving instructions to the nurse, touched Terrence’s shoulder covered with cloth with her fingertips.

A soft blue glow began to envelop him like a fluffy cloud, and at the same time he absorbed the healing power that Artemis gave him.

- Oh, what is it ... - she jumped up on the spot when a hissing exclamation of a disgruntled doctor sounded behind her, and her magic dissipated as imperceptibly as it appeared.

- I couldn’t leave everything as it is! - She protested. – Really, if it concerned a person dear to you, would you just stand and watch him die?

- Go to the room! - The doctor blurted out dryly and sternly and pulled her out of the corner where Terrence was lying, pulling the curtain of the screen.

Amanda rolled her eyes and shrugged, but for her condition, she almost cheerfully trudged out of the medical office.