Page 117 of Their Blood Rite

I look out the window. We’re travelling through a human village at the moment. I’ve not been to this one. I'm unsure of its name, but the humans look just as poor and bitter here as the ones I'm more familiar with. The bars and brothels are buzzing with activity. The meat markets and bakers are closed. Many eye the carriage and murmur. I wonder if they know that their precious warriors are inside.

‘How do you think it will be received?’ I ask, already breaking my rule of silence.

‘How will what be received?’ Shaw asks.

‘You, a witch killer. Me, a witch. Do you think they’ll buy it? That you’re even capable of love?’

‘I imagine not. So we better do a good job convincing them.’ He nudges my knees apart with his. I slap him away as he chuckles. ‘The king has heard of the situation and wants to see for himself. That’s all. We go. Make an appearance. And go home.’

‘They think I’m just an earth witch?’

‘Obviously.’

‘How did he find out about me?’

Shaw slowly glares at Dorian, whose stare out the window intensifies.

‘Well. Cole knows because someone made it damn clear we had you. And soldiers saw you at the bonfire despite our telling you to stay in the castle.’ He drags his raised brows to me.

‘I told you. The banshee told me you wanted me.’

‘Because she wanted you to catch us doing something you wouldn’t like,’ Archie laughs gently, his nose still in a book. ‘Then she would get Shaw all to herself.’

‘Either way…’ Shaw groans. ‘Word has spread. So we must get in front of the rumours as quickly as possible. You ran from your coven to be with me. You’re an earth witch. Nothing more.’

There’s a scream from outside. My full attention flies to the streets beyond, where a prostitute has just slapped the shit out of another sex worker. She takes a man’s hand and leads him inside the rundown townhouse.

‘Do you think Cole would tell the king? What if that’s why we’re being called to the palace?’ I let out a shuddering breath and flinch when Dorian’s hand rests on my leg. He squeezes in reassurance and turns to look at me.

‘We would already be dead if the king knew,’ he says like that would make me feel better. ‘You’re going to be fine. No way they would ever invite a blood witch to the palace. No way.’

His slight smile settles me.

'Everything will be fine, Pixie. I assure you.'

I nod and trust his word.

What other choice do I have?

‘Everything isnotgoing to be fine…’ Archie says, looking at the lit-up castle. ‘Not by a long fucking shot.’

‘This… this isn’t normal?’ I ask.

‘Nope. Pixie, it is not normal.’ Shaw’s eyes scan the scene before us. The countless guards lining the path to the castle are all armed with swords. They’re rigid. Well trained, I can tell. But there are so many. Way too many. The sound of music travels through the air, that and chatter. A lot of it.

It sounds like a party. It's not like the one at the bonfire. More restrained. Elegant. Royal.

Strange, considering the military presence.

‘Why do I feel like we might not come out if we go in there?’ I ask under my breath.

‘Well. If we turn around and leave, that will be even worse.’ Shaw takes a step forward. Every single soldier’s head snaps in our direction, and he pauses.

‘I don’t like this,’ Archie says. ‘They’re gonna take her and skin us alive.’

Shaw holds out his arm for me and keeps his very well-rehearsed smile on his calm-as-sin face.

‘My Love. Shall we go and meet our king?’

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