Page 155 of Their Blood Rite

Thalia.

I try to sit under my own strength. Dorian only releases me when I manage to.

‘It’s almost time,’ Shaw calls, gazing at the sky.

Above us, a star shoots across the sky. Then another and another.

‘Dorian. Dorian, please. Don’t make me do this, I’m begging you. I’ll stay. You can feed from me whenever you like.’

He releases the bindings around my wrists, and I take the chance to run.

Foolish.

He grabs me around the waist before I’ve even got to my feet and holds me close as I kick and scream, begging for someone to help me.

‘Stop struggling,’ he warns in my ear, holding me to his chest. The claim mark burns, and I fall limp in his arms, sobbing desperately.

‘You can keep me,’ I cry. ‘I won’t fight. I won’t struggle. I’ll be yours, just like I was.’

‘You won’t. You’ll run.’

‘I DON’T WANT TO BE A MONSTER!’ I cry, screaming my words through sobs. ‘You can fuck me. Bite me. I’ll be good. Please. Please don’t make me do this!’

He turns me and looks down, watching me through sad eyes.

‘I’ll be your whore,’ I try, my lip quivering. ‘Just let me keep my soul. I am begging you, Shadow Master.’

His forehead rests against mine, and he lets out a long exhale.

‘Please forgive me,’ he says. My mark burns. ‘Stay in the circle.’

He lets go and steps beyond the blood circle, standing between Shaw and Archie. They all watch me.

‘Pick up the grimoire, Pixie,’ Shaw commands, his claim mark burning. ‘And read. Don’t stop until the spell is done.’

His order has me held. I take the blood coven’s grimoire in hand.

‘I’m not even strong enough to use this!’ I argue, still crying and even more desperate. ‘Using a Grimoire takes power I don’t have.’

‘You are communing with spirits and reanimating the dead. You have two Kindreds. You’re an extremely powerful blood witch,’ Shaw corrects. ‘Now. Read.’

Around the circle, the stolen body parts move quickly. Like they know what’s coming. The eyes look all around. The tongue flips and rolls. The heart hammers harder.

They’re afraid. I can feel their fear. My father. My old friend.

I feel Kieran’s fear. He doesn’t deserve any of this.

‘Read,’ Shaw repeats. ‘Please don’t make me trigger you.’

I read and hope that I’m right. That nothing will happen. That I’m not powerful enough to command a Grimoire.

‘Blood of my blood. Blood of my enemy. Taken beneath the stars, I summon.’

The power hits me in an instant. The darkest of magic. The most unnatural and fierce. I throw my head back and scream as black sparks erupt over my skin.

The four witches scream as their blood pours from the holes in their hands. It comes to me, a river of red, and pools at my feet. More power. More strength. I’m consumed by it.

Their blood, their life, I’m taking it to fuel this spell.

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