Page 42 of Blood Bound

“We thought…we might find information about Mia there,” Kara adds, her voice small.

I nod, pushing on. “But things got complicated. We saw Darick there, and then this creepy vampire tried to attack us outside.”

“Darick?” Gran’s voice is sharp. “What was he doing there?”

I feel my cheeks flush, remembering the sight of him with that other witch yet again. “He was…feeding. From someone else.”

Gran’s eyes narrow. “I see. And then what happened?”

Kara jumps in, describing Lucien’s timely arrival and the tense standoff that followed. As she speaks, I notice Gran’s fingers tightening around her cup.

“Lucien Marlowe,” she murmurs. “I’ve been keeping tabs on him.”

“Since that first meeting that you took me to with the elders?” I ask.

Gran nods slowly. “When you told me that he seemed ‘off,’ I decided to pay more attention to the man. He’s not someone to be trifled with, girls.”

“There’s more,” I say, pulling out my phone. I show her the text message about Mia.

Gran’s face pales as she reads it. “When did you receive this?”

“Just after we left the Lounge,” Kara replies.

Gran stands abruptly, pacing to the window and staring into the darkness beyond. “This is worse than I thought. Girls, I need you to tell me everything Lucien said to you. Every word.”

As we recount the conversation, Gran’s frown deepens. When we mention Lucien’s cryptic comment about family history repeating itself, she freezes.

“He said that exactly?” she asks, her voice tight.

I nod, swallowing hard. “Gran, what’s going on? Do you know something about Mia?”

Gran sinks back into her chair, looking suddenly tired. “I’m not sure, but I have suspicions. There’s a lot about our family’s history that you don’t know, girls. Things that have been kept secret for generations.”

“What kind of things?” Kara perches on the edge of her seat.

Gran sighs. “It’s complicated…and potentially dangerous. But given what’s happened tonight, I think it’s time you knew the truth.” Gran takes a deep breath, her eyes meeting mine. “Rowan, dear, what do you know about the Bloodbane?”

I shrug, trying to recall the whispered rumors. “It’s some kind of vampire disease, right? Makes them allergic to human blood or something?”

“Close, but not quite,” Gran says. “The Bloodbane is an ancient curse. It affects certain vampires, making human blood not just unpalatable, but potentially lethal.”

Kara frowns. “But vampires need blood to survive. How do they…?”

“That’s where it gets complicated,” Gran says, her voice lowering. “Most can get by – to an extent – if they drink witch blood. But for each afflicted vampire, there exists a singular witch whose blood can sustain them indefinitely. More than that, it strengthens them, gives them unimaginable power. They call this a ‘blood match’.”

The words hit me like a solid right hook. “Gran, are you saying…?”

She nods solemnly. “Since this all began, I’ve been delving into our most ancient texts, and my suspicions have been confirmed. I believe you, Rowan, are Darick Drake’s blood match.”

“What the hell?” The words explode out of me before I can stop them. “That’s impossible. I hate him!”

“Hate and love are closer than you might think,” Gran says, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “But this goes beyond mere emotion. It’s a magical bond woven into your very essence.”

“But what does that even mean?” Kara asks, glancing between Gran and me.

Gran sighs. “It means they share a connection. They’re likely aware of each other’s presence, emotions, even thoughts at times. Rowan’s blood is the only thing that can truly satisfy Darick’s hunger and potentially cure his Bloodbane.”

“And Rowan’s magic getting stronger?” Kara presses. “Is that part of it, too?”

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