Page 27 of Bonded Chaos

Eleanor chuckled. “It’s nothing onerous, Your Majesty. A little blood will suffice.”

“Good,” I grunted as I rolled up my sleeve.

Eleanor disappeared beneath the counter and rummaged around her cupboards. When she reemerged, she held a bowl and a wicked-looking dagger.

She dropped the collar into the bowl and then lifted her gaze to meet mine as she waited expectantly. I placed my exposed forearm over the receptacle and nodded for Eleanor to proceed.

The sharp tip of the blade pierced my skin with a sudden jolt, leaving behind a burning sensation in its wake. I watched in fascination as crimson droplets of my blood welled to the surface before running down my arm and into the bowl. With each drop of my blood, the wound throbbed as if it had its own heartbeat.

Eleanor dipped her fingers into the metallic substance and coated the collar in my blood. Next, she used my blood to draw runes around the base of the bowl before marking the same symbols on her arms.

The candlelight flickered, and then darkness swallowed the room.

My shadows stirred to life inside me, feeling at home in the endless night.

Eleanor chanted in the ancient language of the Fae, and a bone-chilling cold seeped beneath my skin. Whispers surrounded me, as if the shadows were answering the Blood Fae’s call.

A gust of wind tore through the space, and the whispers grew louder, swirling around us like an enchantress of dark promises. My shadows continued to writhe, eager to join the dance of power that Eleanor was weaving.

Eleanor’s chanting intensified, and her commanding voice rose above the din. The runes Eleanor had painted with my blood ignited, casting a crimson glow across her face.

Concentration creased her brows, and beads of sweat lined her temples. I watched as Eleanor’s lips moved in sync with the pulsing runes as her chanting reached a crescendo.

Then, one by one, the candles reignited, the darkness slowly retreated, and the glowing runes faded. Silence replaced the eerie whispers that had tried to tempt me, and the room settled once more.

I cast a glance towards the bowl, which now only held the collar; all traces of my blood had vanished. When I looked up at the Blood Fae, her head was bowed, and she pressed her arms against the counter to steady herself as she regained her breath. She was panting heavily, her chest rising and falling with each ragged inhale, and sweat slicked her forehead.

If I were a good man, I would offer her a seat and perhaps a glass of water as I waited for her to recover from the vast amount of power she had expended on my behalf.

I was no such man, however.

“Is it done?” I pressed, impatience coloring my tone.

“Y-yes,” Eleanor wheezed.

I stalked towards the counter and plucked the collar from the bowl. It felt heavier than before, as though it carried more than mere magic — an unseen presence that demanded to be noticed.

“Good.”

I slipped the collar beneath my tunic and narrowed my gaze at the Blood Fae. My shadows filled my eyes as I pinned her in place with my stare.

“I trust you understand the consequences should you speak of this to anyone?” I said in a lethal tone.

She swallowed thickly, a tendril of fear spiking in her blood before she let her anger get the best of her.

“I’m not in the business of spilling secrets,” Eleanor bit out as though I had offended her. Then, remembering who she was talking to, she added, “Your Majesty.”

I rapped my knuckles on the counter. “Make sure it stays that way.”

I brushed past the beaded curtain. The sound of the beads clicking together followed me as I proceeded down the hall.

I might not have my mate’s submission yet, but I couldn’t deny the feeling of victory stirring inside my chest.

Oh, sweet Cadence, you never stood a chance.

Chapter Eleven

Cadence

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