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The table fell silent for several minutes, no one quite knowing what to say. Lukas grew agitated. Blaire rested her hand on his thigh, and he tucked his head into her neck again. She could feel him, and it was the most wonderful feeling to know she sensed him.
“Whatever the reason is, they won’t make it easy for them,” Seth said.
Lukas nodded. “You’re absolutely right, but I will spend my life protecting Blaire no matter what it takes.”
If he had to go up against the Order, he would do it. Nothing would stop him from protecting the keeper of his heart.
Walking away from the window on the highest floor of the administrative building, the Oracle crossed over to stand before the seven robed council members. They sat on high-backed chairs resembling thrones of black stained wood, with burgundy upholstery, positioned at the top of several steps in front of a large, red stained-glass window.
“The human has been claimed and now bears the boy’s mark,” she said, her voice soft but firm as she stared forward.
One of the cloaked men jumped to his feet, face twisted. “We will be unable to determine what is so special about her blood now!” He threw his hands into the air. “This is a disaster!”
The one in the middle of the group raised his hand to call forth silence. “Sit down and calm yourself Kirill,” the man said in a thick Italian accent.
The man fell into his seat as he cursed in Russian beneath his breath.
The middle council member continued calmly, “Now, as long as she remains human, we can continue to conduct our experiments on her blood. The bond should not change anything about the makeup of her blood or genealogy.” He looked to the Oracle for confirmation.
She nodded once, then smoothed her hands down the front of her robe. “The girl is still very much human, and as long as she remains that way, there should be no change.”
“Excellent.” The middle council member clapped his hands.
The Oracle lifted her hand to stop his premature celebration. “But I have seen the indecision within the child. She is wavering in accepting the Dark Kiss. It will not be long before she relents and accepts it.”
The seven members began whispering and cursing among themselves as she walked to the window again that overlooked the courtyard.
“We have very little time left to discover the anomaly.”
39
MESSAGE
Blaire sat on the bed reading the last few pages of the novel she started on when she arrived at Blackthorn Academy, finally done with her schoolwork and ready to relax for the brief summer break.
The door opened, and Lukas entered the room. And when his eyes found her, he smiled. She would never tire of seeing that reaction to her. With all the fears laid bare, and the bond completed, he had settled down. She felt at greater peace within herself as well. She no longer felt this constant pull to act without knowing what action she was supposed to take.
“This was on the door for you,” Lukas said as he sat next to her on the bed, passing her a cream envelope with her name in stylish black calligraphy on the front and sealed with a burgundy wax seal of a feather on the back.
Blaire looked at him with furrowed brows as she popped open the seal. “I wonder what it is.”
Inside the envelope was a delicate parchment with the same intricate calligraphy. Lukas looked over her shoulder as they both read the message inside.
There is more to your blood than a lover’s bond eternal.
A long ago buried secret,
An unknown history stained crimson,
A balance broken to hold control and power.
The stars have aligned;
Your awakening is nigh.
The Dark Kiss is the key,
But the consequences are shrouded.
