“Like I can swear I hear voices or whispers around me, but when I look, no one’s there.” She shivered again. “And I get this weird feeling. Like I’m being watched.”
“What does your mom think about it?”
“Oh, she’s been MIA lately with work. Plus, I don’t want to worry her. I think I’m just stressed and need this Thanksgiving break more than I’d like to admit.” She laughed.
I laughed too, but a moment too late. Everything Sara-Kate said reminded me of my own paranoid and discombobulated days when I was being stalked by Stonebound and death echoes. I tried to push it out of mind, refusing to believe that Sara-Kate would also be pulled into this world.
But I had an awful feeling that this thin facade of normalcy for both of us was starting to crack. I forced myself to smile and change the subject, but inside I was screaming. I couldn’t lose Sara-Kate too. Not to the Stonebound. Not to the bond. Not toanything.
Chapter Fourteen
Walking through the underground chamber beneath the St. Patrick’s Cathedral where the New York Bloodwright Society was held, I couldn’t help but tremble with trepidation, my heart pounding so loudly I could have sworn that both Alaric and Uncle Dan could hear it echo off the stone walls. They walked on either side of me; their presence was the only thing that kept me from turning around and running away. I glanced up at Alaric, his tan face set in a serious expression. I’d been so caught up in my own thoughts about this blood bonding ritual that I never stopped to consider what this meant for him. I wasn’t the only one being trapped. He was too.
“Wait,” I spoke, my voice a little too loud as I pulled on Alaric’s arm.
His jaw tensed as he glanced down at me, irritation and impatience swimming in his dark green eyes. “We don’t have time for this, Mari. I know this is not ideal, but it’s the only way to keep you safe and to continue your training.”
“He’s right, Mari,” Dan conceded.
“No. I’m not worried about me. I’ve accepted this, but what about you, Alaric?”
His face fell into confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Are you sure this is whatyouwant?” I asked, my voice soft and sympathetic. Yes, if I didn’t go through with this, I would most likely die. But Celeste was right yesterday when she said Alaric had a choice. “You don’t have to tie yourself to me. It’s not fair to you either.”
Alaric stood stunned for a few moments, an unfamiliar emotion glistening in his eyes. He cleared his throat, turning slightly to Uncle Dan. “Can you give us a few moments? We’ll be right there.”
Uncle Dan looked like he was about to argue, but then nodded his head, walking away towards the main chamber where the rest of the Council and the other Bloodwrights waited to conduct the ceremony.
Alaric gazed down at me, his hand coming to cup my face. I was surprised to see him so vulnerable, so soft.
“You don’t have to do this.” I tried again, tears stinging the back of my eyes, my voice cracking. “I know I’m the last person on earth you want to be tied to, and you feel bad because if you don’t, I’ll probably die, but I’m sure I can figure something out. I’m sure there is more we can research and—”
Before I could continue my nonsensical, emotional rambling, Alaric pushed me up against the stone wall and kissed me deeply. This time I didn’t hesitate to respond. I threw my arms around his waist, pulling him close as his lips met mine.
This kiss wasn’t soft or sweet, but desperate as his tongue pushed my mouth openand tangled with mine. I whimpered, my hands holding tight to him as if he would disappear at any moment. His lips molded to mine in a way that felt permanent, as if the bonding ritual had already begun in this lonely, dark hallway. I felt bound to him, and no blood had even been exchanged. I wasn’t sure how long we stood there, kissing, but eventually we broke apart, each of us breathing heavily as we gazed at each other.
“I need you to understand something, Mari,” Alaric whispered against my mouth, placing light kisses on my cheeks, forehead, and nose. “You may be the most infuriating and maddening person I have ever met. And we may have only crossed paths a few weeks ago, but I know you feelthisbetween us.” He brushed a stray curl behind my ear tenderly. “You are smart and brave and beautiful, and it’s not just the bond talking or me being your mentor. So please know that I am walking into that chamber with zero reservations. The only regret I’d have is if I let you go right now and you ceased to exist in this world.That, I won’t stand for.”
I nodded dumbly, my pulse and power thrumming beneath my skin, my face hot everywhere he touched and kissed me. He smiled sadly, pulling away and taking my hand as he led me down the hallway, towards the inevitable.
I was still breathing heavily as we entered the main chamber. At the center of the room was the Council, Elias in front, with the other Bloodwrights behind him, among the shadows. I caught Celeste’s eyes and immediately regretted it as she stared at me with such scorn and disgust, it made me falter a step. Alaric’s hand in mine held tighter still, pulling me along with him as we came to stand before the council. I glanced down and noticed a different sort of sigil drawn with ash and salt onto the ground in front of me. The other Bloodwrights and Council members spread out around us, encircling us as Alaric and I stepped forward into the sigil with Elias, who stood robed with arms crossed in front of him.
“Deep breaths,” Alaric whispered to me, his breath tickling my ear.
I nodded, inhaling deeply as we came to stand right in front of Elias. I kept my eyes on his aged and kind face and my hand tightly bound in Alaric’s, finding comfort there.
“This initiation is unlike any other,” Elias began, his voice deep and somber. “This is not a mere confirmation of an awakened Bloodwright, but the rare and sacred binding between mentor and apprentice known as Twinflames. In our history, it is rare for a mentor and apprentice to be drawn together without blood relation. In fact, there have only been three records of this type of bond.” He paused, smiling at us tightly. “Now four.”
I took another deep breath, willing the beat of my heartto slow, my grip on Alaric’s hand becoming more vice-like.
“Time is of the essence with this particular Twinflame bond,” Elias continued. “The death mark upon Mari may only surrender once she has fully awakened and anchored her own soul and blood to that of her Twinflame mentor, Alaric.”
Elias lifted his hands, closing his eyes as he mumbled something in a language I couldn’t understand. As he did so, dark splotches of ink appeared in the air before him, covering his hands. As he continued his incantation, the ink solidified and formed a dagger, pitch black and glimmering in the candlelight.
He held out his hand to Alaric and I. Alaric went first, placing his open palm in Elias’. Elias took the ink dagger and swiped a clean, deep line in Alaric’s palm, the blood already oozing. Alaric winced minutely, but kept his features stoic, his hand steady as Elias reached for me.
I held out my palm, my own power thrumming just beneath my skin in anticipation. As if it knew this ritual was what it needed to fully awaken. Elias quickly sliced my own palm; the sting and pain from the blood shocked me for a moment. Before I could even process the pain completely, Elias took Alaric’s bleeding palm and pressed it into mine, the deep cut’s throbbing only rising to a deeper crescendo. Elias began to whisper words, another incantation, and my head felt light and dizzy. A bright light and shocking heat grew from where our hands were pressed together, spreading up both of our arms, blinding me.
