Page 94 of Their Blood Rite

‘Are you confessing?’ Dorian asks dryly.

‘Oh yeah. I snuck out and stole some eyes for magic I have no interest in doing.’ I look at Shaw, quickly growing tired of Dorian’s shitty attitude. ‘Is there someone out there taking eyes? Another blood witch?’ The idea fills me with dread. I’ve grown up being told how dangerous they are. How evil. The idea of one being out there… other than me… is terrifying.

'Why did you heal the fawn?’ Shaw asks. ‘Instead of using it for power?’

‘Because I won’t be a monster.’ I pull the blanket higher around my neck. ‘Like you three, using my blood to make you stronger.’ I look out the window and see the sun has long set. ‘How long was I out?’

‘The day,’ Archie replies.

‘You said they would come,’ I sigh. ‘How did my coven know I was here? Did you tell them when you went to the village?’

‘It’s possible they were after Archie,’ Shaw replies. ‘They probably saw him in his wolf form and tracked him down for revenge against the attack.’

‘This never would have happened if you weren’t so distracted getting your dick wet,’ Dorian grunts, side-eyeing Archie. ‘Or acting like an idiot and running around as a giant wolf.’

Archie starts mocking Dorian by mimicking his talking and rolling his eyes.

Considering they’re immortal warriors, they’re incredibly childish.

‘I need you to do something for me,’ Shaw says, guiding my face to him and away from the other two.

‘What?’

‘Talk to the man you killed in the woods and ask who sent him.’

'We know who sent him. My coven. They were the ones who attacked.'

'We need to be sure.'

'I'm sure.'

'Well, I'm telling you, that's what I need. So you'll do it. Understood?'

I watch him. His face is unreadable as it meets my gaze.

'You just want to see if I can,' I realise. ‘Test my power.’

He replies with a slow blink.

‘Which man?' I sigh, knowing I have no choice. 'I think I killed a couple.’

‘This one’s blood boiled inside his body.’

‘You know the more I use blood magic, the less of me there will be.’

‘We know. But it takes a few years to reach that point. And we need to be sure if they were after Archie or you.’

‘What do I get in return?’

He can’t help but smile at my audacity.

‘You get to stay out of our cells,’ Dorian interrupts.

‘Three questions,’ Shaw replies, cutting him off. ‘At least one answer.’

I get to my feet and sway a little. Shaw reaches for me, but it’s Dorian who grabs my elbow to steady me. An action that seems to take him by surprise even more so than me. He swiftly removes it and steps back.

Shaw stands and faces me.

---