Page 28 of Their Blood Rite

He cuts his palm, holding his hand over the fire and letting his blood spill into the flames.

A silver whisp wraps around his wrist.

‘Air,’ he smiles. Then, he recites the words, binding himself to that coven for life. Silver markings snake up his forearm. The vow is left in ink. Unbreakable. Till death and beyond, he now belongs to the air coven.

Smiling, he returns to his friends. To words of congratulations and over-the-top pats on the back.

The next comes. He does the same. Air.

The next three follow in their footsteps.

Then, a water witch is found amongst them. The water rises from the bowl and wraps around his wrist, leaving behind blue markings.

The air females go next. All but two are air. One is Earth. Another is Fire. They all say their pledge and sob as they leave their coven and friends to join the strangers who welcome them.

Perhaps I’m the only one hoping to be something else. They look devastated. I would weep joyfully and laugh smugly at Cole and my father as I took my place amongst them.

Next, the fire witches.

All remain where they are, both male and female. They show no emotion at all as the orange marks stain their skin.

Then, the blade goes to Cole. The eldest Male.

When Cole approaches, everyone falls silent.

He cuts, adds his blood, and watches.

The bowl of dirt wraps around his wrist. He says his words and steps back, the green markings on his arm. He never looks away from me.

His father applauds loudly and welcomes his son with open arms.

The rest follow.

Cole’s father takes back the blade when the last male makes his vow. It drips red, all their blood mixed and still warm. Then he walks to us and hands it to Thalia. The eldest female. Her hand is steady as she takes it. It seems she’s unafraid. She doesn’t hesitate and cuts, adding her blood to the fire. It spits and hisses.

Earth witch. Smiling, she hands it to the next. As she steps back in line, she watches Cole, chewing her lip.

And so it goes on. Each one varies. Some are trembling. Some are determined. Most are earth witches. One is water, and one is fire.

Then, the blade is handed to me.

The girl whose blood marks the blade freshest urges me to take it. I just stare at it. At that blade. At all that blood.

My father clears his throat, making me twitch. Still, my hand won’t take the damned thing.

I step back.

‘Ashe,’ my father warns. ‘You must add your blood, or your power will not come.’

I look at him. He has that smile. So well rehearsed. So kind.

Nothing but a lie.

He takes the blade and places it in my hand. I only grip it because he curls my fingers around the handle.

‘Add your blood. Get your magic. Before the crimson moon fades, Ashe. You must.’ His hand tightens on mine. ‘Cut.’

In the distance, a wolf howls so loudly everyone turns to look. Everyone except us.

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