Page 16 of Bitten & Burned
“That, I don’t know,” he replied. “At the very least, there is something that keeps powering the thing. Are you using magic?”
“No, not at all! Or at least, I don’t think I am.”
“Still, it’s better to be vigilant.”
“Yes, I know. But Vael thinks it might be a sigil? Do you think?—”
“I already went that route and determined it was not connected,” he said. “I could not find any sigils like that one you have in any of my notes. I even wrote colleagues in other countries, at every school I could think of. None of them recognizes the sigil.
“That doesn’t mean it’s not a sigil, though, does it?”
“It’s highly unlikely, Dearheart.”
“Vael thought it might be something hand-drawn, perhaps?”
“Handwritten things wouldn’t show up in research. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. I’m afraid the logic of following that line of inquiry doesn’t carry, Rowena. I know he’s trying to help you.”
“Well, I suppose you have certainly done the research,” I replied. “I apologize, I’m just… so tired…”
“Aye, I know you are. I’m trying everything I can to figure this thing out for you.” He placed one hand on mine, cold fingers squeezing mine before he removed it. For whatever reason, the action set me on edge. I forced my smile tighter.
“And I do appreciate it, Silas. No one has been able to touch the pain besides you, except for when Vael takes my blood, obviously, but?—”
“Vampires drinking your blood every damn day is no way to live. Bleeding yourself for a wound is barbaric and archaic.”
I took a deep breath before replying. “True, but itisa blood curse, so…”
“I suppose. Not nearly as effective as if you were to do a blood bonding ritual with him. That might offer more relief.”
A blood-bonding ritual. It was an ancient rite where a vampire bound themselves to their human consort. It was a way to protect them from other vampires and to prolong their short human lives without passing on the vampiric curse. It was basically the equivalent of a marriage. It was generally the step before being made a vampire to see if you could stand one another for all of eternity.
The rite belonged to Camarae, goddess of life, the afterlife, and the inbetween, and patroness of vampires. Some whispered she created the first of them as her eternal guard and lovers. To bond in her name was to swear fealty not just to each other, but to the goddess who claimed dominion over death and devotion alike.
For Vael, the answer was yes, though I would never dare say it aloud. Especially not here, not to Silas. To him, I gave the opposite instead, a lie sharp enough to taste on my tongue. “ I don’t think that’s for me.”
“Well, I suppose that’s that. You’ve only known him six months anyway.”
“It’s actually closer to a year,” I reminded him.
“Ah, right. A year. Still barely any time at all, to an ancient vampire like him.”
Vael was barely one hundred and twenty. Hardly ancient. “A blood bond might help, now that you mention it.”
“But you still shouldn’t do that lightly. Blood bonding with someone just for pain management… It’s a very real and very binding ritual, Rowena. It’s nearly permanent.”
“Oh, believe me, I know,” I replied. “I do care about him, but I don’t think I could ask that of him just yet.”
“You don’t think he’d be up for it?” Silas asked. It was a rather personal question, but, at the same time, the information he was requesting wasn’t exactly top secret stuff.
“I… don’t know, actually. Doesn’t matter anyway; we’re still in the beginning of our relationship. That’s actually one of the reasons I’m here. I’m going to Kravenspire this weekend. Planning to spend the next few weeks at Halemont... I’d like to get the amulet cleansed before we leave.”
“Kravenspire, huh? That’s up the mountain, isn’t it? You seem to be spending more and more time up there.”
“I suppose I have. Vael has a flat here in Caer Voss for when he’s working, or he sleeps down at the archive during the day. But we like to go as often as possible to see the rest of his coven. It’s not far, but it’s a change from the city.”
“Mm,” Silas nodded, but seemed miles away. “Well, let me at that amulet, since that’s why you’re here.”
“Obviously not the only reason, I do enjoy our conversations, Silas. And thank you. I don’t know how to repay you for everything you’ve done for me.” I removed the amulet and handed it to him.
