Page 152 of Their Blood Rite

‘Blood magic destroyed us, Ashe,’ Shaw says. ‘In every way. It destroyed so much and so many. Neve and her sisters didn’t just curse us. They tormented us. Had us on a leash for decades before we got strong enough to turn on them. To break away long enough to join those who stood against them.’ He pales, remembering that part of his life. True horror is all I see him reliving. ‘We were powerful creatures who lived free in nature before they caught us. Now we need the blood of a blood witch to access our magic and we have to feed off humans so we don’t grow weak and feeble. Neve and her coven made us…’ He swallows dryly. ‘No one should have to go through what we went through.’

‘I lived deep in the ageless forests beyond the sea,’ Archie says, a wistful smile on his lips. ‘I’d run with my pack for days. There are trees so thick it would take an hour to circle the trunk. Moss would grow as deep as your knees. There were flowers that would have you smiling for hours in bliss.’ His eyes glaze in blissful memories.

‘Pack?’ I ask. ‘There were more of you?’

‘They’re dead now. Neve and her sisters killed them. Slaughtered them, destroyed our forests, and took me.’

‘Why?’

‘Because Sinthia, Neve’s youngest sister and third in command of the coven…’ He can’t even look at me as he says her name. ‘Because she liked my face. And she wanted to see how long it would take to rid me of my smile.’

‘I was with Neve herself.’ I look at Shaw. ‘She cursed me three years before Archie and Dorian. The curse makes it impossible for us to use our magic without their blood, and it makes us crave human blood, which was perfect for Neve because we were happy to slaughter humans to satisfy our cravings. We became addicted to them. Willing to do anything to get their blood so we could use our powers. It took years to get the strength to sacrifice our magic and break away from their hold. To get the blood thirst under control. We joined the humans and the other covens. Led them as vampires. Creatures known only to history as blood drinkers and strong immortals. Those who stood against Neve were desperate for any aid, so they welcomed us. We demanded blood in exchange. We demanded freedom and money, which they gave.’ He sighs heavily. ‘But blood from anything other than a blood witch is just sustenance. Like you living off water. We lost our magic. Lost what made us who we were. We were empty, unable to access the part of us that made us whole. We thought that killing them would undo the curse. It didn’t. And with them dead, we had no idea how to undowhat they did to us. Imagine living like that, Pixie. Starving and missing your soul.’

‘I can’t live without free access to my wolf any longer,’ Archie admits. He meets my gaze. ‘My wolf is my soul, Ashe. It’s half of me. When I can’t shift, it’s as though I can’t breathe. I can’t feel. I’m hollow.’

‘It’s the same for all of us,’ Dorian adds. ‘Without your blood, the shadows suffocate me.’

‘We can’t keep you locked away like this for the rest of your life.’ Shaw leans in close, resting his forehead against mine. Such sincerity shines through them. Such desperation. ‘Your blood has given us all back our souls. But it’s getting harder and harder to control ourselves. There are three of us, Pixie. And each one of us wants to drain you dry. You will die if we don’t lift this curse. We will wish for death if we have to go back to living without our magic. Will you help us?’

‘Blood magic is evil. Look at what it demands. My father’s heart was still beating right in front of you. And all the other organs? The eyes? The tongue? You killed Kieran. When did you even grab Thalia? Is she still alive?’

‘We took her as you slept in the carriage as we returned home. She’s alive. For now.’

‘You took her after you blew sleep dust in my face?’

‘Yes.’

‘Will you let her go?’

He shakes his head.

‘Nothing good can come from such evilness. It will change me. Make me twisted, just like Sinthia, Dhalia and Neve. You get your souls back, and I lose mine. I become the thing you hate. The thing you kill.’

‘It’s a risk we have to take.’

I pull back, away from his touch.

‘And if I agree? I do this spell. Break your curse. Will you let me go?’

His lips seal together as he looks deep into my soul.

‘You won’t, will you?’

‘You’re too dangerous to be free,’ he says. ‘We can never let a blood witch go.’

‘You’ll kill me.’

‘No,’ Dorian says.

Archie and Shaw all shake their heads, too.

‘We’ll keep you. You’ll be safe and watched. We’ll make sure you don’t hurt anyone.’

‘Will I stay in the cells? Locked up? Hidden away?’

‘We’ll give you every freedom when you see that being with us is best for you. You will be killed if you’re discovered. And we swore not to let that happen.’

‘You can’t keep me locked up down here.’ I pull at the chain. ‘Let me out!’

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