Page 16 of Do You Even Hex, Bro?
"The kind who accidentally summoned a herd of possessed raccoons during the homecoming game last year," I remind her.
"That was intentional," she says primly. "Your dumbass football team crushed my friend's art installation with your stupid victory parade."
"It was made of trash," I shoot back.
"It was a commentary on consumerism!"
"Children," Killian interrupts through his teeth, "can we focus?"
Sadie rolls her eyes again but continues her preparations. "The spell will simply make your destined Bonded aware of you. If there's a magical being in the area who's compatible with your pack energy, they'll feel drawn to you." She starts mixing ingredients in the copper bowl. "Basic magical magnetism. No coercion."
"And you're sure this will work?" Killian presses.
My sister fixes him with a withering stare. "No, I'm doing this elaborate ritual for fun. I justlovehanging out with a bunch of overgrown dogs who smell like cheap cologne."
"Hey, my cologne cost two hundred bucks," Sean protests. "Rowan's the one who gets his from fucking Zara."
"How did you even know where I get my cologne from?" Rowan demands, turning away from the door.
"Watch the door," Sadie barks at him.
Sadie adds something that smells like cinnamon to the bowl, then something darker that smells suspiciously like dried and powdered blood. Tough to tell under the weed smell, though. The mixture begins to smoke slightly, thin tendrils of gray vapor curling upward.
"Now," she says, reaching into her bag and pulling out a wicked-looking obsidian knife, "give me your hands."
Killian is on his feet in an instant. "Whoa, what the fuck? I specifically told Micah no blood magic!"
"And I specifically ignored that because it's stupid," Sadie replies calmly. "Do you want a Bonded or not?"
"Not if it means blood magic," Killian snarls. "That shit is dangerous."
"All magic is dangerous, genius. That's what makes it magic and not a party trick." Sadie taps the flat of the blade against her palm. "I need essence from each of you to create the connection. That means blood."
"Essence could be hair or saliva," Killian argues.
"Or come," Sean offers with an innocent grin.
Sadie physically gags. "No, you fucking moron! Save that shit for your Bonded. Blood is the strongest conductor. The best. It's not like I'm asking for your firstborn or your social security number."
I look between them, caught in the middle as usual. Killian's nostrils flare, a sure sign he's close to losing his cool. The pack bonds are humming and throbbing with tension. Sean shifts uncomfortably beside me, and from his position by the door, Rowan watches with alert eyes.
"Kill," I say carefully, "she knows what she's doing."
"Does she?" he challenges, not breaking eye contact with my sister. "Because I remember a certain incident involving my fucking fur and?—"
"Oh my gods, get over it!" Sadie throws up her hands. "It grew back!"
"That's not the point!"
"It does look kinda like a cutie mark," Sean points out. "I'd be pissed too if I had a star on my ass."
Killian snarls like he's going to rip Sean apart and wring out enough blood for blood magic from here to the end of the eternity.
"Look," I interrupt, standing up to place myself between them. "We're running out of time. Morgan's coming back in two weeks, and we're no closer to finding a Bonded than we were a year ago. If Sadie says blood magic is the way, then maybe we should trust her."
Killian's jaw works back and forth, his ice-blue eyes boring into mine. I can practically see the wheels turning in his head, weighing the risks against our increasingly desperate situation.
"Fine," he finally spits out. "But if anyone grows a second tail or starts speaking in Latin, I'm holding you personally responsible." He jabs a finger at Sadie.
