Page 72 of Her Blood Revenge

‘I will. Wife.’

‘Never call me that again.’

He hands me a book from his cloak.

‘What’s this?’ I ask, taking it.

‘A wedding gift. They’re some notes from the earth grimoire.’

‘How… how did you get this?’ I ask, quickly opening its pages.

‘Dug it out of Cole’s head. His father has been making him read it on and off for years. Cole didn’t take much notice, but I managed to pull this stuff out for you. Hopefully, it will help you practice until we get the real grimoire back for you. It makes no sense to me, but hopefully, it will for you. You’re definitely powerful enough to read from the actual grimoire and wield the spells. I’m not sure it works if written in a different book, but it’sworth a try.’

I open my mouth to cast a spell, but he places his hand over the written word.

‘Perhaps now is not the time to test it out. If you break the carriage, we shall have to walk.’

Fair point.

I sit back and flick through the pages. There are a fair few spells in here. They’re pretty basic, but my gods, am I excited to give them a go. My familiar slithers from around my neck and peers down at it through my hair as if reading with me.

Can she read?

There are spells to find your way if you’re lost. Incantations to find shelter. Plants and herbs that can be used in potions. Techniques to manipulate the soil and roots. I flick through page after page for hours, utterly engrossed in these scribblings until I have memorised several. Only when I glance out the window and see the human kingdom in the distance do I lower it.

I take a shaky breath, dreading this with every fibre of my being.

Shaw takes my hand in his and squeezes. Our eyes meet.

‘If it goes bad, you have my full support and instruction to tear the place down to get yourself out of there. Leave us behind if you have to.’

‘I’ll be wearing the cuff to nullify my magic.’

‘My darling girl. You could tear that palace down with no magic and one hand tied behind your back. Besides. Your little friend and I have come up with a plan.’

He winks at my familiar, who winks back.

‘You have her wrapped around your little finger,’ I grumble, taking her off my neck. ‘Why don’t you go slither aroundhisneck if you love him so much.’

She slithers back up my arm in apology, making him laugh.

‘You realise that she only feels what you feel for me? If you hated me, she would hate me. But. If she loves me-’

‘What plan do you have?’ I ask, cutting him off before he can finish.

‘You’ll see.’

We stop. The carriage door is opened.

And we’re met with a dozen heavily armed guards.

‘Happy wedding day,’ Archie sings, looking at the many sword hilts. ‘This should be fun.’

Dorian appears by the door and offers his hand to help me leave the carriage. I’m presented with the nullifying bracelet almost immediately. No part of me wants to put that thing on my wrist. No part of me wants to step foot inside those intense and intimidating stone walls.

Shaw clears his throat.

I hold out my wrist, and on it goes. My magic fades away as if pushed into a little box deep in my soul.

---