Page 2 of A Bond in Flames

Death grew larger before my eyes, his grip on the staff so tight, the wood creaked.

I pushed on, refusing to back down. I couldn’t. “If you make an enemy of Lucifer, there’ll be a war. You’ll disturb the balance between the four realms.”

Death made an inhuman sound that sent spikes of terror through me. “She doesn’t need to die to enter my world, witch. I can take her as she is. Her soul will still be mine.”

“Rose’s brother-in-law is Lucifer’s alpha hellhound, a male he considers a friend. Do you think Lucifer will let that stand?” I said, trying to sound as strong as I could in the face of his immense power.

“The bargain grants her immortality, not where she’ll live out eternity. Lucifer will have no grounds to start a war.”

His voice made me want to cover my ears and scream.

“Come here, Rose,” he said to my cousin.

She turned to me, shaking, teeth chattering. “It’s okay.”

Death held out his hand.

I held on to her tighter.

“It’s okay,” she said again, taking a step forward.

I pulled her back. It was time.

“You did all you could, but you can’t stop this. No one can,” Rose said.

Gritting my teeth, I turned from her and back to Death, my heart beating fast. I wanted to run the fuck away from here so badly; instead, I stared into his cold gaze. “It’s not Rose you want. It’s me.”

Rose spun to face me. “What?”

Death stilled.

“You’ve been searching for me for a long time, but I made sure you couldn’t find me. I hid, using this.” I lifted my arm, showing him the tattoo. “I’m the one you want, the one you’ve been waiting for.” Releasing Rose’s hand, I stepped forward. “You came to me in my dreams when I was fifteen years old. You told me who I was, what you wanted from me, and I ran. Do you remember?”

Death said nothing, his tall frame stilling under his cloak.

“I woke up after that first visit from you, and I refused to go back to sleep until I found a way to keep you out of my head. It cost me, but I did it.”

Death leaned forward, still in his realm, but right at the edge. “Who are you?” he demanded.

Scooping up my blade from the ground, I pressed it to my forearm and, with a cry, sliced the small tattoo from my arm, removing the mark I’d worn on my skin for the last thirteen years. “Your birthright. I was born to be your consort, Mors,” I said, using Death’s true name.

He jerked back, then flew forward again, hand outstretched, but unable to reach me.

“Zinnia, no,” Rose cried.

I turned to her, holding my cousin’s horrified stare. “I’ve been running from this for a long time. He was drawn to your soul because of me. I need to make this right, to protect our family and our coven.”

“Don’t do this,” she choked.

“You were willing to sacrifice yourself for your coven, Roe. And so am I. It’s the only way.”

“Come to me, consort,” Death said, so deep and menacing, it chilled me to my core.

I straightened my spine and turned to him. “Your consort must enter Limbo willingly, and I will go with you, but I have a condition.”

“Name it,” he said.

All his focus was on me now, as if Rose no longer existed.

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