Page 86 of Blood Sacrifice

“Tarrack, delve into our archives to find anything related to the void, Titans, or Leviathans,” Salvator instructed. “Also, check the creature register, and that includes the fossil record.”

Tarrack typed as Salvator spoke, his fingers speeding over the keyboard. The magical community had been intervening for years at Palaeontological excavations, ensuring the humans didn’t find evidence of our kind.

“No amount of talking or planning is going to help us out there,” Salvator said, a frown marring his beautiful face. “The ultimate advantage we have is the element of surprise and the fact they don’t know who we are working with or that we’ve broken their hold on us.”

“Agreed,” Dominic replied, pushing himself to his feet. “Give me twenty-four hours’ head start to put my people in place, and then we can convene to discuss what we’ve discovered.”

Salvator nodded once. “My wolf’s instinct is to charge in now and fight our way through whatever meets us.”

My hand landed on his thigh. “That is what Balor and his people want. They know wolf instinct. To win, we need to do what they least expect,” I said, squeezing his leg and feeling him relax at my touch. “They believe they still have the upper hand, and that will be their downfall.”

“I need a minute with you before I go,” Maia said while the vampires were studying maps alongside Salvator and his trackers. She linked her arm through mine to lead me away.

There were smaller, private rooms down from the main conference room. She closed the door behind us, drawing runes on the door to ensure privacy from prying eyes or listening ears.

“We don’t have much time,” Maia said. “I was visited in a dream last night by the souls of witches past. They watch over you, but send a warning.”

My heart thudded in my ears because I knew who she was talking about.

Maia grabbed my hands in hers, her eyes meeting mine. “They said to remind you to trust only yourself. The truth is shrouded in lies and the future is cloaked in darkness.” Maia pursed her lips together. “I read the cards when I woke up, and I sense the truth of their message, so I say to you as your friend and sister in magic: The other side has powerful soul manipulators, which means they can influence any of us.”

She squeezed my fingers, her eyes filled with worry.

“I promise to do what I have always done, Maia. I will protect the people I love, and follow my path.”

“That’s all we can ask,” Maia replied. “You started this organisation with pure intent, and you need that now more than ever.”

“You be careful,” I said, emotions starting to choke me. Maia had been a sister to me over the past few centuries.

She hugged me, and stepped back, removing a small, velvet bag from the laptop bag hanging over her shoulder. “One of the witches told me to create this bag for you. She said to tell you her connection with crystals remains strong, even from the other side.”

The energy of the crystal Cybele had given me in Purgatory still pulsed inside me, incorporating into like a spell as I descended back into my body.

My fingers closed around the bag, and I felt the energy of my old friend from the stones inside. I straightened my back and stared at Maia. “May the great goddess keep you safe in your travels, and protect your body, mind, and soul.”

“And may she keep us all from harm and influence from others.”

“So mote it be,” I concluded.

I watched her walk away, and felt the presence of Death as he watched from the sidelines. We were about to walk into war and not all of us would return.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Luna

The first wave of warriors had ridden in metal beasts into battle, their weapons forged from ancient magic. I needed to escape from this prison made of bricks and mortar, to free myself and re-energise myself under the light of the moon who had always guided me.

Salvator didn’t question my request for some fresh air, his dark eyes watching my every movement as if he was terrified that I would disappear if he looked away. He drove in silence through the darkness, street lights non-existent this high up in the mountains. The stars were bright overhead, no moon to distract from the beauty of the heavenly display.

“There are few places in the world where the stars are this bright,” I said when I emerged from the car to stand and gaze up at them, leaving my shoes behind so I could wiggle my toes in the ground. “Since the advent of electricity and the rise of technology, the night sky has been stolen from us.”

Salvator prowled around from his side of the car to stand beside me, the heat from his body permeating into me, his presence soothing me. “There hasn’t been a night since you left that I haven’t stood under the stars and not been consumed by thoughts of you.”

I looked up at his powerful profile to find him watching me.

“We had our future stolen from us,” I replied.

Salvator tugged me into the circle of his arms, his chin resting on my head, while his hands cradled my lower stomach. “Not stolen since we found each other again. I never moved on, neither did you, and now we’ve been given a miracle.” His thumb stroked over the skin on my stomach as he spoke.

---