Chapter 47
Renata
Days have passed since our failed seance and Archer’s return.
Each one has gone by in the blink of an eye. Sybil has wanted to spend time with Archer and has stopped arguing with him about his decision.
Neither of us have told the other witches what our plans are, but I swear Sybil knows.
Something changed between us after the failed seance. Perhaps she realized how deeply I care about Archer, or seeing me nearly dead has her worried about losing two people at once.
I hope it’s not the latter, but I’m grateful for the change of heart. If she’s not at the library or with her brother, she gravitates toward me. We don’t talk a lot—neither of us being the chattiest in the coven—but there’s a new understanding shared between us.
At the moment, Sybil and Archer are taking a midnight walk in the woods nearby. I remember Archer’s story about how she always wanted to fall in love with a vampire, so they’d go exploring. It’s a weird tradition if you ask me, but it’s something important to them. That’s all that matters.
I’m setting my room up for the Soul Tie ritual, following each direction to the T.
A mixture of salts form the circle around us—half of it is made up of black salt with the other half evenly split between red and pink salts.
Black for guidance as our spirits find each other, and for protection against negative energies.
Pink represents the love between us and healing our hearts as one.
Red for passion to commit to each other, and courage to accept our new bond.
A variety of candles in the same colors are already set up and waiting to be lit.
While I wait, I finish anointing the candles with a variety of oils: rose, clary sage, and cedarwood. Then I carve our initials into each candle.
Everything else—laying the salt out, anointing our own bodies in oil, tying the ribbons, and lighting the candles—all need to be done while Archer is here.
We agreed he should be back by three a.m. There’s still fifteen minutes until the clock strikes the hour, but my impatience grows the longer he’s away.
Running a hand down my lacy nightgown, I try not to get too excited thinking about everything that book hinted at happeningafterthe bond is secured. The rush of emotions and adrenaline cause a very primal reaction.
I haven’t forgotten about Archer’s promise to take me—own me—in every way, and Gods, I hope tonight is the night it happens.
The door creaks open and I turn on my knees, taking in the handsome sight of him. He’s in his typical attire of jeans, a t-shirt, boots, and his leather jacket. His cheeks are pink from the nighttime air, and his hair is lightly windblown. But it’s the way his eyes devour me that has my skin burning with need.
I can’t get enough of him, and he seeks out private moments as much as I do. Even if we aren’t having sex, being near him is enough to make me feel like I can breathe again.
“Hey, love,” he says as his eyes move over me. They snag on the lace trimming that curves around my breasts.
The outfit isn’t much different than what I wear on a typical night, but it’s sexier —shorter and tighter, made from a pretty, transparent lace.
“Hi,” I greet him and smoothly stand, falling into his embrace as he closes the distance between us.
He wraps an arm around my waist and holds my jaw with the other, taking me in for a fierce kiss. It’s needy, like two hours was too long of a time apart for his liking.
How could he ever think I’d choose this world over us? Over him?
“Let’s do this,” he says against my lips and leans back to look at me. He says it as a statement but the question is swimming in his eyes:Are you sure?
Nodding, I brush my lips against his cheek and step away. “Everything’s ready—just needed you.”
I always need you.
Without a word, his eyes are trained on me as he kicks off his boots and slips out of his jacket, throwing it on the nearby chair. I take in a deep breath as he reaches behind him and pulls his shirt off, leaving him in nothing except his dark jeans with his boxer-briefs peeking out.
