Page 98 of A Bond with the Dark

“Is that a witch joke?”

Ollie laughs, but it’s hallowed. “No, the whole ‘phoenix’ prophecy thing. There is someone else you can call that likes murder and mayhem that may help you with the blokes coming to kill her.”

“I’m not calling him Ollie. No.”

“Just saying.”

“Got any other ideas?”

“Well. What was your plan thus far?”

“Keep helping her with her magick and wait for Tallyn to send another Whispering Leaf so I can get more information from her.”

“And there’s no way to get Tallyn to contact you otherwise?”

Going over to the couch again, I sit. “No. She has to come to you.”

“I guess your only option is to lay in wait at her house and intercept anyone that comes to kill her. Help her with her magick in the meantime.”

“You know any strong witches that can help me with that?”

“I may know a few. Give me some time. I’ll see what I can come up with.”

“Thanks.”

“Sure. And Dom . . .”

“Yeah?”

“Try not to die yourself, okay.”

I laugh. “I’ll try not to.”

29

NYKTORIM SYNDICATE

DOM

For the next three days, I'm a complete mess.

Sayah doesn't know, but I've been living in my car across the greenbelt from her house, watching her every moment she is there alone.

The first few days are quiet. There is nothing out of place, and she comes and goes from work. I follow her to work, stake out in the parking lot, and watch for any nefarious movement in the bushes or surrounding areas.

After she gets off, I follow her home and wait in my car until the early morning hours, when I creep into her house. I pretend to just get off work and lay with her in bed until she gets up to start her day again.

It isn't until the third day that the Nyktorim show up.

Sayah is in the shower when I hear and feel the magick with which they enter.

Like a breath of lightning, I'm at the basement window where they've entered.

Four of them.

Unlike other groups of leaders, this one is more matriarchal. However, they don't identify as any gender; they are simply non-binary. They've been around since the dawn of time and quite possibly are even older than the fae. They are like a cross between vampires and warlocks; they drink blood but not to live. They drink it because they love it, and the high they get propels them through any universe they choose to enter.

They are quite possibly what would happen to us if we killed every time.

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