Page 96 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

I ran my fingers over the words. “Can the spell be broken?”

Amolie sighed. “It says here to free the soul, the blood of the bound must be spilled upon the object.”

“So, we need to take Baylis’s blood?” I asked.

“Yes.” Amolie put her hands on her hips. “Only the blood of the soul can free it.”

I took a deep breath, raising my head to the heavens. “I have to go back to the Highlands, don’t I?”

Amolie sipped her coffee. “It looks that way.”

I needed time to think. I hoped never to return to the place of my torture, but to save Baylis’s soul, I would endure the fires of hell itself.

A long breath escaped my lips. “Okay.”

“There might be another way. I’ll have to do more research, but?—”

I cut her off before she could finish. “This is the only way. We will get Baylis’s blood, find the amulet, and free her soul. I know the castle at Ryft’s Edge like the back of my hand. I can sneak in without being seen.”

“Are you sure?” Amolie gave me a questioning look.

“Yes.”

Caiden’s hand entwined with mine.

Amolie shut the book and made her way toward the door. I grabbed her arm. “There’s one more thing we need to do. Gather the others.”

“What?”

I laid my arm bare. Black rot crept through my veins like ink in water. “It’s time, Amolie. We need to complete the bargain before it takes our magic, and our lives.”

Amolie’s mouth tightened into a straight line. “I’ll get them.”

The door silently shut behind her. Caiden slipped an arm around my waist before burying his face in my neck. “I wish I could go with you.”

“You will be with me,” I said, placing his hand over my heart. “You’ll be right here.”

We held each other until the others came.

Caiden and I stood hand in hand as we addressed our friends. Their sullen faces made my voice crack. “I am going to finish my part of the bargain today. Baylis is safe. The rot on our forearms will hinder our magic. It makes sense to do it before Caiden leaves.”

“Isn’t there another way?” Amolie said, biting her nails.

“No,” Caiden said, squeezing my hand. “We made a bargain, and now we must fulfill it as the laws of this land command. Eventually, the rot will kill us if we do not.”

Hot tears welled in my eyes. “Are you ready?”

Caiden nodded, taking a seat on the bed.

Pushing my feelings aside, I knelt before him, focusing my mind. A sandy grit filled my mouth.

“Wait.” He ran his hand through my hair and down my jaw one last time. “I want you to know I love you.”

“I love you too.” I kissed him one last time, savoring every moment. “Now close your eyes and show me your first memory of us.”

I connected our minds.

We stood in the library of Caiden’s mind. Each book represented a memory.

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