Page 24 of Their Blood Rite

‘I refuse to do the Rite.’

‘Then you will die.’

‘So be it.’

He tosses a chair at the wall, shattering it in sheer rage.

‘Cole has forgiven you and will still take you as his wife. Now you will drink it and get ready.’

‘Heforgivesme?’ I lift my head, bitter, hot tears slipping past my cheeks. I’m not sad. I’m enraged and trapped. I see my fate, and I want to burn it to ash. I want to tear at it with my teeth and devour it. ‘He was fucking my best friend. In the only place in this village I can call my own. The only place I find peace.’

‘It doesn’t matter.’

‘He threatened to have me gang raped by all his friends tonight! Does that matter?’

‘Only if you refuse him! And tonight, it is your duty to take the men of this coven. Despite that, he has asked me to inform you that he will be the only one to touch you tonight and for all your nights to come, despite knowing it will weaken tonight's ceremony.’

‘I’ll be taking my chances with his friends.’ I slide the wine away. I’ll need my wits if I’m to survive. I’ll be killing anyone who comes near me. I don’t care if it kills me in the process or what they do to me when I refuse to perform this sick ritual.

I can’t believe Cole brought me back here. Returned me to my father as if I’m a petulant child and told him I tried to run away. That I attacked him. My father doesn’t care what actually happened. He knows. Knows what Cole did and what he said.

But he doesn’t give a shit.

Not when my marriage will provide him comfort and luxury for the rest of his life.

The clock chimes in the hall.

He slides the wine back to me.

‘Drink it, Ashe. Make tonight a little easier for yourself. One night. Then it will be over with.’

I slide it away.

He slams his cane on the floor three times.

‘No, Father, don’t!’ I plead, rushing to my feet.

‘Furatus aer,’ he snarls.

I still. My body becomes his. And I can’t breathe.

That blank expression on his face starkly contrasts the already writhing rage that has ignited behind his eyes.

‘You will take the ten strikes, Ashe. You will drink the wine. Then you will get ready. Five,’ he says sharply, holding out his hand expectantly. I look at that palm and fill with panic. ‘Four.’

The entire world slips away. All of it. All that matters now is finding something before he gets to zero. I don’t even hear him counting as I start scanning the kitchen.

I have nothing to offer that won’t leave me too sore to escape tonight.

My eyes linger on his cane, still dangling on the crook of his bent elbow.

Not the cane… anything but the cane.

I rush forward and remove his belt instead, sliding it from his trousers as he remains perfectly still. He watches me closely, sneering as I lean in close to remove it. I place it in his waiting hand.

Turning, I fall to my knees, cover my head with my arms and wait.

‘Zero.’

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