“Alaric Michael Gaines,” Alaric’s father’s voice boomed across the chamber. “You have broken several vital codes of the Bloodwright codex. You have bonded with an emerging Bloodwright, thereby taking on her training as your responsibility. Not only have you been reckless, but you have failed to alert the Council to your apprentice’s death mark. We don’t gamble with half-formed Bloodwrights who are marked for death. The Stonebound won’t stop hunting her. You’ve endangered us all.”
The air suddenly felt colder, goosebumps rising on my skin.
“It’s not her fault, Richard.” Dan interrupted, his sallow face turning from me to Alaric’s father. “If anyone is to blame, it’s me. I saw the signs, but ignored them. I had hoped she wouldn’t be doomed to this fate, and if I had just paid closer attention and acted sooner, she would have been my apprentice and none of this would have happened.”
“Doomedto this fate, Daniel?” Dr. Duvall, sharp and intense, barked, clearly offended. “It is anhonorto emerge as a Bloodwright.”
“You know what I mean, Seraphine.” Dan rolled his eyes.
“I think what Daniel is trying to say is, should we really punish Mari for the negligence of her uncle?” Nico spoke up.
“This is no one’sfault but my own,” Alaric interrupted. “If you want someone to blame, Father, you can aim it right here.” He pointed at his chest as he pushed me further behind him, shielding me from his father’s eyes.
Richard’s cold stare turned to his son, the simmering rage and disappointment shimmering just beneath the surface. This man was so different from the one Alaric had described at dinner only hours earlier.
“Mari is Alaric’s responsibility, seeing as he did give her his Bloodroot ring marking them as bonded Twinflames.” The old man at the end finally spoke up, his voice crackling like paper, worn and tired.
“And why isn’t the ring doing its job?” Seraphine turned to the older man in accusation. “If they are truly Twinflames, Elias, the ring and their bond should have increased her resistance to the Stonebound and her ability to refrain from falling victim to death echoes. But here she sits, marked for death and bringing a Stonebound right to our doorstep.”
My mind was spinning as I tried to keep up with their conversation, feeling totally lost and annoyed as they continued to speak about me as if I wasn’t even in the room. Alaric tensed next to me, his arm snaking around my waist, bringing me closer as soon as Elias and Dr. Duvall mentioned the words “Twinflames.” Whatever that meant.
Elias nodded knowingly. “It is quite rare; the Twinflame bond. But I must assume because she is a half-awakened Bloodwright and the two have not sealed the bond with the blood ritual, the ring can only do so much on its own. Especially if Mari is prone to taking the ring off.”
It wasonetime.
“Therefore, she is a liability,” Richard spat. “We don’t make exceptions for half-emerged Bloodwrights. They must prove themselves worthy of initiation or be left to face the Stonebound.”
I felt blood drain from my face at the thought of facing that same Stonebound, but alone.
“And essentially lead her to her own execution?” Dan paled, his fists slamming on the table.
“She has shown so much strength to have made it this far,” Nico interrupted. “She’s already proven resilience that most never show at this stage or survived this long with a death mark.”
“But perhaps the death mark is an omen of what is to come,” Dr. Duvall countered, her eyes looking right through me. My cheeks flushed under her intense scrutiny.
“Elias, you speak of the Twinflame Blood Ritual.” Dan turned his attention back to the old man. “What do you mean? If there is a way to protect Mari and continue her training, then it must be considered.”
Elias replied flatly, “Unless their bond is sealed with blood, the girl’s body may tear itself apart trying to carry the weight of the death mark andher newly emerging status. She is too weak on her own and therefore will need to lean on Alaric’s strength.”
Elias’ gaze turned to Alaric. “If she is to live, then the choice must be made soon: either she ascends fully into Bloodwrighthood and the two become bonded by blood for life—”
“You would bind my son to a half-blood child marked by death?” Richard’s eyes flare in anger.
“If this bond is the reason Mari is still breathing, then we have to see it not as a weakness, but perhaps destiny,” Dan replied, hope kindling in his eyes.
“How poetic. A doomed pair bound by blood or by death. How very . . .tragic,” Dr. Duvall’s smooth voice added, her eyebrows raising in intrigue.
“If Elias is correct, then the only way to save Mari is to conduct the blood ritual and commence her training,” Nico summarized.
“Do I get a say in any of this?” I finally spoke up, tired of being treated as if I wasn’t even in the room.
The room fell silent; Alaric’s grip on my waist tightened as each council member turned their focus on me.
“I don’t know much about this world,” I began, my words coming quickly. “But I’m willing to do whatever it takes to live. If I need to train longer and harder, then I will. If I need to fulfill the Twinflame Blood Ritual.” I glanced up at Alaric’s pale face, apprehension shining in his eyes. “Whateverthatis, then I’lldo it. I’m not trying to bring any trouble to you. I’m just trying to survive.”
“You don’t know what you’re agreeing to,” Alaric warned under his breath.
“Well, since no one has actually been forthcoming with information and it seems I’m running out of time, I don’t have much of a choice,” I snapped, my eyes glancing between him and Dan. If only those two idiots had been forthcoming to begin with, I probably wouldn’t be in this situation.
