Page 96 of Their Blood Rite

My wheezing echoes around the room, and when the edges of my vision blur, I fall to my knees.

‘What’s wrong with her?’ Dorian asks, grabbing my arm as I go down. ‘Is she not healing or something?’ He looks between Archie and Shaw, panic in his eyes. ‘What’s wrong with her?!’

‘She’s having a panic attack, Dorian,’ Shaw replies. ‘Help me get her under the bed.’

I’m guided underneath, gently manoeuvred into position by all three as I hyperventilate.

To where it’s calm. Where it’s quiet.

Where it’s safe.

I sink into the many blankets and pillows left under here for me, clutching them tightly as I curl up small.

A hand settles on my head. When I look up, Shaw is lying under the bed on his stomach.

‘You will not end up in the fire.’

No words come out. I can hardly breathe, let alone speak.

He slides closer, his gaze boring into mine.

‘You will not end up in the fire, Pixie,’ he repeats firmly. His words are a solid promise. A guarantee. ‘Do you hear me? I vow to you we will not allow it.’ He raises his brow, waiting for me to acknowledge and accept his promise.

I nod, unsure if I do, or if I just want him to think I do.

‘Where’s… where’s my snake?’ I ask, past the panicked breathing.

I’d feel so much better if she was here.

‘We haven’t seen her,’ he replies. ‘But she’s a familiar. She’ll come back to you soon.’

‘What Dorian said about-’

‘Those are your questions answered for today,’ he cuts in. ‘You’re safe. That’s all that matters. Focus on your breathing.’

He slides back out of the bed, but my hand grabs his wrist. He looks from that to me.

‘You want me to stay under here with you?’

I nod. I do. I don’t want to be alone.

He slides in beside me. I bury my face in his side and close my eyes.

‘You’re perfectly safe, Pixie,’ he says. ‘Just breathe.’

‘Look me in the eye and tell me that seeing her like this doesn’t bother you,’ Archie says quietly to Dorian. ‘Because it bothers me.’

‘It fucking bothers me, okay!’ he snaps back. ‘Happy?!’

‘A little.’

Archie shuffles in behind me. His arm hooks around my middle, and he settles into my back. I hold him tight, keeping him close.

Dorian sits on the bed with a heavy sigh.

‘This would be a lot easier if she were an evil little cunt,’ he grunts.

Chapter 14

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