Page 140 of Hunt Me

Uziah’s hands on me are rough as he hauls me up.

The dark green cords remain wrapped around my ankles, burning lengths of rope made of hell-magic that burns as it eats through my flesh. I twist and pull against them, but they don’t break or bend.

Tori screams my name as a bolt of that same dark magic hits her shoulder. It singes her clothing, and she cries out, hunching over as the scent of her burned flesh fills the air.

“Stop!” I don’t wait to see if they’ve listened before I raise my bloodied hand and rush to say the words that complete the binding. “I bind myself to you, Maricha and Uziah. I am blood bound at your command and yours to wield as you desire. My will is yours. It is done.”

I lean over and grab Uziah’s hand, pressing his bloodied palm to mine. The sky cracks with a response. My mother appears, clearly worried about being left out of the binding. She grabs my bloodied hand and presses it to her own.

The sky cracks again.

Across the divide of broken earth, Tori screams.

I turn away from her as I feel the old familiar leash wrap itself around my heart and mind. The binding is done. And I am once again ruled by monsters; a mateless prisoner, eternally trapped.

Chapter 37

Tori

Iwatch, helpless and devastated, as Legion binds himself to the two monsters before me. Uziah’s betrayal is a cut I will never forgive, but it’s Maricha who makes my blood run cold. The evil that lives in her depthless feline eyes is something I’ve never encountered. Then there’s her twin blades. The way they respond to her suggests a sentience in them. I’ve never faced anything like it. Not even from Legion.

Seeing Maricha now, I realize I was so wrong about the things I said to him before. Or the things I thought of him when we met. Legion was never evil. But she is, and I have no idea how to stop her.

“It is done,” she declares, dropping Legion’s hand and stepping back like touching him makes her uncomfortable.

The green smoke binding Legion’s ankles vanishes right along with the thunder as if the magic knows the show is over.

Legion doesn’t meet my eyes, but I refuse to let this be the end.

“Legion,” I start, but Maricha’s eyes flash, and she cuts me off.

“We’re done here. It’s time to take your place,” she says to Legion. “Come.”

“You will never have my obedience outside the blood oath,” Legion growls.

“Have it your way,” Maricha says.

She utters words too low for me to hear, but Legion is clearly affected by them. I watch as he turns and follows her, head down, shoulders curled.

Uziah starts to follow when Maricha barks out one last command. “Bring her. She’ll be a useful motivator.”

Legion whips around, eyes blazing, as Uziah comes for me. I lift my hands, preparing to call on the dark vines again. I’m not sure how it’s possible that I can still wield them without the poison curse, but I’m not in a position to question it either.

Uziah must sense my intention because he stops and watches me warily across the narrow divide still open between us.

Maricha glances back and gives an exasperated sigh. “For hell’s sake.” She lets her blade fly faster than I can see it coming. I don’t get the chance to move before it’s buried in my ribs.

I gasp, stumbling.

Legion roars at Maricha. “You vowed to keep her alive.”

“No,” Maricha says. “I vowed to heal her wound, and I did.”

“Breaking your vow will end the bond,” he warns.

“I have broken nothing,” Maricha snaps.

She looks back at me and whispers some words I can’t make out. The blade twists as if moved by an invisible hand, and a force like I’ve never known slides over me, claiming me with its iron grip. I’m sucked into its depths of unconsciousness, my scream never making a sound.

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