Page 67 of Their Blood Rite

A slight smile tugs on his lips. One that isn’t from a wholesome kind of joy. It’s dark.

It makes him look beautiful.

‘A swearing-in ceremony,’ Archie laughs. ‘Oh, I do enjoy a swearing-in. The wine. The music. The kneeling. The food.’

‘You don’t eat,’ I say, causing Dorian and Archie to look my way.

‘And she’s awake,’ Archie grins. ‘Finally. I didn’t mean your kind of food, Pixie.’

‘What kind?’ I ask.

‘He means the girls they offer us to feed on,’ Dorian replies dryly. ‘The human king is most gracious with his offerings, and Archie is never one to refuse a delicacy.’

‘What’s…’ I clear my throat, hating the idea of any of them with a pretty young woman offering them her neck. Or anything else. ‘What is a swearing-in?’

The other two shift to look at me like a fool who just asked if the sun rises in the morning.

‘When a new coven leader is installed, they’re summoned to a celebration where they will pledge loyalty and obedience to the human laws. And to us, the enforcers of this region. There’s kneeling. Bowing.’ Shaw holds out his hand. ‘They even kiss our hands. You don’t know of the swearing-in ceremony?’

‘I’ve had the same coven leader my entire life. Cole said that when his time comes, the coven will have a great celebration lasting seven days. If it’s like the last celebration I attended, I’ll gladly miss it.’ The atmosphere, already tense, goes rigid. ‘He never said that he would have to attend a human ceremony. Cole will be the new coven leader,’ I say. ‘Assuming he’s still alive. He will kneel to you?’ I ask Shaw. I think he catches the twisted sense of joy I get from that. Cole hates Shaw and the guys. Hates beyond measure. Loathes and detests are just a few words to describe his feelings towards the them.

‘He will,’ Shaw replies.

‘Can I watch?’

He laughs. They all do. It’s a deep and playful laugh that vibrates through the floor to me from every side.

‘Let’s see if he’s alive first, shall we?’

‘He’s alive. Cockroaches and rats are never that easy to kill.’

He nods in agreement.

‘Why are you all on the floor?’ I ask when their laughter eases. I catch a smell on the floor around me, like oranges and cinnamon. I run my finger over the underside of the bed. ‘Did you clean under here?’

‘You feel safe under there, right?’ Archie asks. ‘We cleaned it up and made it comfortable. That’s all.’

‘Why?’

No one answers me.

‘Why?’ I repeat.

‘Because you deserve better than cowering in dust and darkness,’ Shaw says. ‘And we think you’ve earned a little bit of comfort.’

‘That’s a strange sentiment to come from a man who breaks my bones, bites me and-’

‘Made you orgasm so hard you almost broke the fingers I was fucking you with?’ Shaw adds, his words making me blush. ‘Quitthe act, Pixie. Blood witches are primal creatures. Carnal and brutal. You enjoyed blood sharing, and you damn well enjoyed us playing with you. You’re not a mud witch. You don’t have their hang-ups. Sex, pleasure, pain, blood and power are nothing to be ashamed of. Not for you and not for us.’ I watch him as he looks up at the ceiling. ‘We’re going to help you manage your magic. Soon, you won’t need to worry about the shadows in the mirrors. The spirits will be yours to command. Not the other way around. Until then, I’ve had all the mirrors in the castle removed.’

‘And I have made you a talisman to wear on your wrist. It will help keep spirits from view,’ Dorian informs me. I look; sure enough, beads and pendants are wrapped around my wrist.

‘So you see a few scars and decide to be gentlemen?’

‘First. What you have are not a few scars, Pixie. Second. We’re not gentlemen.’ Shaw faces me. ‘All we did was clean under our beds.’

‘Wax, furnish, and even catch fire bugs as a night light for me.’

‘As I said. If this is where you feel safe, then you may as well be comfortable.’ He rolls onto his back and sighs. ‘Get some sleep.’

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