Page 51 of Treasured

Although maybe if you were a monster, it didn’t bother you to be tied to one as well.

Genevieve ignored my interjection, continuing, “If the Maker’s bond is severed incorrectly, the younger vampire risks death.”

My stomach formed a knot, and the Binding Mark pulsed with deep emotions. There were too many for me to decipher, but unease filled me. Shadows darkened the room, flooding out of Sebastian, and a haunted look filled his eyes.

Death was never far off in Eleyta. It had been looming since my wedding night, waiting around the next corner like an unwanted friend. Now, it was closer than ever.

We don’t have a choice, Sebastian murmured in my mind. The bond needs to break.

I know, but…

Even through our mental connection, I couldn’t continue this train of thought.

If he died, I would break. Assuming the severing of the Tether didn’t kill me first, my heart would shatter into a million pieces.

Even now, my lungs tightened, and breathing was difficult as I thought about a world without Sebastian. It would be filled with death, darkness, and an endless night with no relief.

How could I ever live without him? He was my other half.

Stop.

I gripped the armrest, forcing myself to take a deep breath. I couldn’t continue down this train of thought. It wouldn’t do either of us any good.

Instead, I asked, “What do we need to do to ensure the bond is correctly severed?”

That was the most important thing. I couldn’t think about anything else. Sebastian would survive this. He had to. I refused to consider the alternatives any further.

The priestess hesitated. “There is an ancient ritual.” She rubbed her temples. “I can do it with the help of a trusted witch, but even so, it will be difficult.”

“And this is his best chance?” I confirmed. “There’s no other way to break the bond?”

Genevieve shook her head. “The tonic will mute the call, but the ritual is the only way to sever the bond completely.”

Then it needed to be done.

What do you think? Sebastian asked through our new connection, this thumb sweeping back and forth across my hand.

I want you to be free, I answered immediately. More than anything else, I wanted every single tie we had to Queen Marguerite gone.

Sebastian smiled, pressing a kiss to the back of my hand. “We’ll do it,” he said out loud.

“Alright.” Genevieve stood, retrieving a fresh piece of parchment and a quill before reclaiming her seat. “Three items are required to break the bond. The first is a feather from a sunfire owl, the second is blood from a living white wolf, and the third is a red moonstone.”

“We can get those,” I said with more confidence than I felt. Maybe if I pretended long enough, the false confidence would become real.

“The stone itself isn’t powerful enough. It needs to be touched by the light of the midday sun.” Genevieve frowned, tapping the paper. “You’ll need to find someone you trust…”

Sebastian shared a look with me before nodding. “We will ensure it happens.”

My Sunwalking was only known to the two of us, and we were going to do everything in our power to keep it that way.

Genevieve smiled. “Good. Once you have collected the items and the moonstone has been blessed, we can perform the ritual.”

And Sebastian would be free from the queen.

Thank the gods.

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