Page 115 of Challenged Mate
Literally.
Even within our isolated space, I could feel the wrongness of the power threatening to bring harm to the innocent shifters within the Wilds Pack town.
With one last kiss, I stepped out of Asher’s arms. He reached forward and held onto my hand. Then, he removed the barrier.
The first thing I saw once my mate’s magic cleared was my father’s tight expression. He looked ready to beat his fists against the opaque magic keeping me from sight. Seeing I was unharmed, he lowered his arms and unfurled his hands.
Despite the fact my father was once mated to the most powerful sorceress alive, he still wasn’t comfortable around magic.
“Have a nice chat?” Hugh asked with a bite, pulling my attention away from my father.
The Graystone sorcerer’s face was hard as granite. Irritation ticked the muscle in his jaw. He didn’t like our disappearing act.
“Very,” Asher replied coolly, pretending not to notice how the sorcerer’s eyes flickered with ire. Gently, his fingers squeezed mine.
I took that as my cue.
“I agree to come with you,” I stated.
“Blair, no—”
“But you must swear the blood vow first,” I cut off my father’s protests. Each of my fellow shifters emanated their unease, but no one else tried to speak.
Hugh, on the other hand, looked positively delighted by the turn of events. “That is very good news, Blair. I will, of course, make the blood vow.” He reached behind him, lifting the back of his shirt. He pulled out a long, jagged dagger. Its jeweled hilt glinted in the afternoon sun’s light.
Hugh held the dagger’s blade against his palm.
Before he could utter a single word, Asher said, “If it is agreeable to you, Graystone, I would like to dictate the terms of the vow.”
The sorcerer frowned. “There is no need.”
“I disagree,” I countered. I released Asher’s hand so I could cross my arms over my chest. “I will only willingly leave Wilds Pack lands and help you retrieve the Moonstone if my safety is guaranteed. To ensure that is the case, Asher will choose the wording of the vow. If you truly have no ill-intentions, then it shouldn’t be a problem.”
It was as clear as the Summit Pack’s lake on a cloudless summer day that Hugh Graystone wanted nothing more than to reject our proposition.
Once again, his pale eyes flared with ire. His handsome features twisted with disdain.
I wasn’t sure he would acquiesce. I braced myself for the cloud of black magic to descend and wreak havoc on town.
That’s why I rocked back on my heels when Hugh said, through clenched teeth, “Very well. Tell me your words.”
Asher paused for only a moment. “You, Hugh Graystone, vow no harm shall come to Blair Hemmings by your hand, or the hand of any coven member, while you work to retrieve the Moonstone. You also vow to release Hunter Warner and none of your brethren will step foot on Wilds Pack territory, or any pack’s territory, unless explicitly invited by the pack’s alpha.”
“A wordy vow,” Hugh stated with cool detachment. “And additional items added.”
“Consider them precautions,” Asher replied. “You’ve proven you are willing to resort to violence against shifters. Blair will not risk her safety without these assurances.”
I ran Asher’s words through my mind, searching for any gap in my safety, but his words were thorough.
“I will make the vow,” Hugh, once again, shocked me with his acceptance. Without warning, he sliced his palm and uttered words in an unfamiliar language. Then, he repeated Asher’s words, word for word. His blood dripped onto the ground, sizzling and steaming upon contact.
My father muttered a curse.
I pressed my lips together to refrain from muttering one of my own.
Vaguely, I heard Chase and Axel whispering to one another. Kayla commented something about “mistake”, but I was too focused on the vow Hugh was weaving to pay them much mind.
As the last syllable fell from Hugh’s mouth, a ruby red streak of magic flew out from his bleeding palm in an arc. I gasped as the power went right through me, amazed that I didn’t feel a thing.
