Page 83 of To Vanquish Darkness

Florent gripped her tighter. "It’s not as simple as all that."

“Then explain it to me.”

“You wouldn’t understand—I don’t want you to understand.”

Rachel pulled back, and she opened her mouth to respond, but Florent cut her off. "You have no idea what you're asking for. What you're offering." He stepped closer, his breath hot on her face. "This isn't a game, Rachel. This is life and death."

Rachel's heart pounded in her chest, and she forced herself to meet his gaze. "I know that." Her voice was steady, despite the fear coursing through her veins. "I'm not a child, Florent. I understand magic holds risks. But I also know what I want. I know what I need."

Florent's eyes darkened, and he shook his head. "You don't know what you're saying." His voice was a low growl, and Rachel's breath hitched.

"I do." She stepped closer, her fingers brushing his cheek. "I know what I want." She leaned in, her lips grazing his ear. "I want you."

Florent's jaw clenched, and Rachel's heart raced. He was going to push her away. He was going to tell her to leave, to forget about him, to?—

“What do you feel? When you close your eyes and send your thoughts deep within you.”

Rachel frowned. The question was so strange, she wasn’t sure how to answer. “I feel many things.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist. “Close your eyes, Rachel. Sink into yourself. What do you feel?”

Rachel did as he asked, but how to put it into words? Her thoughts raced, making it difficult to focus.

“Breathe.” Florent ran his hand over her back.

Rachel inhaled and imagined herself dropping into the river, her body sinking into the soft mud and river rock. “I feel warm. I feel . . . tight. Like there’s something lodged against my spine. I don’t know how to describe it.”

“Is it cool? Dark?”

Rachel’s brow knit together. “I don’t know. It’s just there. A knot I should unravel, but don’t know how.”

Florent smoothed her brow with his thumb. "Good. Well done.”

Rachel’s eyes fluttered open. What had she done to deserve such praise?

He pursed his lips. “There is a way."

Rachel's heart skipped a beat, and she pulled back, her eyes wide. "What?"

Florent's eyes were dark, his expression pained. "There is a way to solidify what we have. To make it permanent. To give me back my power." Florent's jaw tightened, and he looked away.

Rachel brushed her fingers over his arm. "Tell me."

Florent's eyes met hers, and Rachel's breath caught in her throat. There was something in his gaze—something dark and dangerous. But there was also something else. Something that made her heart ache.

Florent’s voice was low when he spoke. "There's a ceremony.”

Rachel nodded. She wanted Florent. Not just as a secret. “Show me what to do.”

35

1836 SERVON TO MORDELLES, FRANCE

Amalie hesitated. There was a chance she’d be putting Olivie in grave danger if she followed through with this. But Ren hadn’t attacked her yet, and if he was after her blood, Olivie would be nothing to him.

She grabbed Olivie's hand and yanked her toward the storage closet after mumbling something about an asp sting to the server. Dust motes danced in the stream of light pouring through the small round window above the door, and the room smelled faintly of dust and old wood. Without a word, Amalie began stripping off her clothes.

Olivie stood frozen for a moment, her eyes wide as she watched Amalie toss her blouse and trousers into a pile on the floor. Then, as if realizing they didn’t have all morning, she fumbled with the buttons on her blouse, struggling to undo them with shaking hands.

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