He pauses from taking the key out of his pocket to unlock his door. “Youwantto take the blood oath?”
“I suppose want is too strong a word for it,” I admit. “I’mreadyto take the blood oath, to show that I mean the order no harm. That I can be trusted.”
He turns, eyeing me from head to toe with his dark, beady eyes. “If you’re truly ready, then you’ll have no issue with taking it now.”
“I’m not bluffing, Ansaldo,” I assure him. “If doing this is what it takes for you to trust me to leave this place, then I’m willing to do it.”
“And what about becoming one of us?” He folds his arms across his chest. “I haven’t forgotten.”
I stand up straighter. “Believe me, I haven’t either. I’ve only been here a few days; just give me some time to consider it further.”
He watches me, expression neutral, before speaking, “I suppose that’s only fair.”
Without waiting for a response from me, he heads back down the hall. I stumble after him, working to compose myself before we approach the tree of life. I knew he would agree to me taking the blood oath, but that doesn’t mean I’m wholly ready for it. Not after what happened the first time.
The hall is about half-full, with some of the initiates eating breakfast—including Bes and Cec. I don’t care for this much of an audience, but at least now there’ll be plenty of people to spread the rumor that I’ve finally taken the blood oath.
Bes is slouched and sulking in a chair at the head table, picking at his food with his fork. Cec, on the other hand, remains content at his side, taking a healthy bite of pastry.
We’re about to pass the table when Bes finally looks up. Hurt flashes across his face when he sees me, but it’s quickly replaced with confusion when he notices Ansaldo at my side. I don’t slow.
“Miss Hawkins?” he wonders softly, almost as if he wants to call out to me but can’t. I flinch at him using my last name again.
“What’s happening?” Cec asks, mouth full.
I ignore them. Approaching the tree, I kneel before the bowl without ceremony. Ansaldo takes his place beside me without hesitation, though the ritual blade at his hip remains unsheathed.I forgot that the tree already took the two drops of my blood required.
“Miss Hawkins, what are you doing?” Bes asks at my back.
“Can someone please tell me what’s going on?” Cec asks, concern tainting his words now. I glance over my shoulder at him to find worry furrowing his brow, his milky eyes squinted in alarm.
“I’m taking the blood oath,” I say, throat dry.
“Why?” Bes asks, although it almost sounds like an accusation.He hoped I would hold out, the way he never could.Something pricks inside my chest. I hate disappointing Bes.
“Because it’s the only way I’m ever getting out of this place,” I offer, not wanting to get into the other reasons right now.
Bes comes up beside me without touching me. “You don’t have to do this. What happened last night—”
“What happened last night was inevitable,” I cut him off, my own words tasting like ash in my mouth.
When I look at him, I try to convey through my eyes that I have other reasons for doing this, and he’s just going to have to trust me.
After a moment, his lips part and his features soften in understanding before he nods imperceptivity. I glance behind me as murmurs begin to arise from the others eating breakfast, a few even getting to their feet to see what all the fuss is about.
I clench my hands into fists as my knees dig into the stone. “Let’s get this over with.”
Ansaldo smiles. “Happily.” He gestures to the tree. “Place your hand on the bark and repeat after me: I, Amelia Hawkins…”
I do as he asks, the bark smooth against my healing fingertip. “I, Amelia Hawkins…”
“Swear to never reveal the precise location of the Order of Cavendi.”
“Swear to never reveal the precise location of the Order of Cavendi.”
“Nor repeat the full name, the Order of Cavendi.”
“Nor repeat the full name, the Order of Cavendi.”
