CHAPTER 15 — The Test That Changed Everything
905 Words
The door closed behind Adrian, and Mirabel suddenly felt the absence of his warmth. The room felt colder, emptier—too quiet without the steady presence of the man who had stood like a shield between her and the world.
The doctor moved closer with a gentle smile.
“Don’t worry, Miss Mirabel. This will be quick. We just need a blood sample.”
Mirabel nodded, but her hands trembled slightly.
The doctor noticed. “Pain?”
“No,” she whispered. “Just… everything.”
As the needle slid into her arm, a strange chill spread under her skin. Not painful—just… odd. The doctor frowned slightly as he watched the vial fill.
“Hm,” he murmured.
Mirabel’s heart fluttered. “Is something wrong?”
The doctor quickly masked his expression. “No, no. I’m just… surprised your levels are stabilizing so fast. You heal quicker than we expected.”
“Heal… quickly?” she repeated, confused.
“Yes. For someone who went through poisoning, dehydration, and physical trauma, your body is recovering at an unusual rate.”
Mirabel’s brows pulled together. “Unusual… how unusual?”
The doctor hesitated, then lowered his voice.
“Your vitals are stronger than they should be. Almost like your body is… adapting.”
Mirabel’s heartbeat picked up.
Adapting?
To what?
Before she could ask more, the doctor removed the needle. “You should rest. We’ll have results soon.”
He left the room, but Mirabel’s pulse was racing.
She looked at the door.
Adrian was right outside.
And suddenly, she needed him.
“Adrian?” she called weakly.
The door opened immediately—too fast, like he’d been waiting for her voice. He entered the room like a storm ready to fight.
“What happened?” Adrian asked, crossing the room in powerful strides.
Mirabel’s breath softened at the sight of him. “They… they took my blood.”
His jaw clenched. “Did they hurt you?”
“No,” she whispered. “But the doctor said something strange… he said I’m healing too fast.”
Adrian’s expression tightened… almost like he already suspected it.
Mirabel studied him. “You knew.”
He didn’t deny it.
Instead, he reached out and gently lifted her wrist, brushing his fingers along the spot where the needle had entered.
“Your body is changing,” he said quietly. “It’s responding.”
“Responding to what?” Mirabel whispered.
Adrian’s eyes held hers, deep and dark and unguarded.
“To me.”
Her breath caught. “Adrian… that doesn’t make sense.”
“I told you,” he murmured, stepping closer, “your body called to me that night. You don’t sense it fully yet… but it’s there. A connection.”
Mirabel blinked rapidly. “A… connection?”
He nodded slowly. “Something that can’t be explained by normal logic.”
Her heart raced, confused and drawn in all at once.
“Are you saying,” she whispered, “that you did something to me?”
Adrian’s thumb brushed her wrist, and she felt a small burst of warmth—like a pulse of heat from under her skin.
“No,” he said.
Then he leaned closer, his lips near her ear.
“But I awakened something in you.”
Her entire body reacted—shivering, flushing, trembling.
She swallowed. “Adrian… what are you?”
He didn’t blink.
Didn’t hesitate.
Didn’t soften the truth.
“Not human,” he said quietly.
Her world tilted.
Mirabel’s lips parted, but no words came out. Adrian watched her carefully, his hand moving to cup her jaw, steadying her, anchoring her.
“You’re not afraid,” he murmured, noticing her reaction.
She blinked. “I… should be.”
“But you aren’t,” Adrian whispered, his thumb brushing her lower lip, sending a rush of heat down her spine.
Her chest rose and fell quickly. “I don’t understand.”
“You will,” he said, voice deep and rough. “In time. But for now—”
He lowered his forehead to hers again.
The gesture was becoming familiar.
Comforting.
Electric.
“For now, you only need to know this,” he whispered, breath ghosting against her lips.
“You are changing because you were meant to survive.”
His hand slid to her waist.
“And because I wasn’t supposed to find you… but I did.”
Mirabel trembled beneath his touch.
Before either of them could speak, the door burst open again.
This time it wasn’t a doctor.
It wasn’t a nurse.
It was a security guard—breathless, eyes wide.
“Sir—Miss Mirabel’s visitor… the woman earlier—she didn’t leave the building.”
Adrian’s eyes darkened instantly.
Mirabel’s blood froze.
“She’s still here,” the guard continued. “And she’s heading toward the lower floors… the restricted ones.”
Adrian straightened slowly, his expression turning cold, dangerous, lethal.
“Esther,” Mirabel whispered, fear gripping her chest.
Adrian turned to her, brushing her cheek once more before stepping back.
“I told you,” he said in a voice that sent chills down her body.
“No one touches what’s mine.”
He walked toward the door.
This time…
Mirabel didn’t try to stop him.
Because she finally believed him.
Adrian Volkov wasn’t just protecting her.
He was claiming her.
And whatever he was…
Esther was about to find out.
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- Writer
