Page 67 of Blood Bound

“What’s happened?” Evelyn’s voice is sharp.

“It’s Rowan. She’s been taken,” I reply without ceremony.

She squeezes her eyes shut for a moment, then moves aside. “You’d better come in.”

I step into her house; the interior is warm compared to the chill I feel in my bones.

“Tell me everything,” Evelyn demands, leading me to a cozy sitting room and gesturing to a chair. Once I’m sitting, she takes a seat across from me, perched on the edge, her hands on her knees. She’s laser-focused; her eyes bore into me, her face a mask of barely contained emotion.

Skirting mention of the encounter in the alcove, I recount the events at the Nocturne Lounge, my voice tight with frustration and worry. Finally, I add, “What worries me most is the bond…it’s gone silent. I can’t sense her anymore.”

Exhaling a sharp breath, Evelyn’s eyes flash with anger. “I knew this would happen. I warned her about behaving rashly. Getting involved with your kind always brings trouble.”

I bristle at her words but force myself to remain calm. “We don’t have time for this, Madame Blackwood. Rowan needs our help.”

She takes a deep breath, visibly trying to compose herself. “You’re right. We need to focus on finding her.”

“What do you suggest?” I ask, knowing that I’m grasping at straws. Short of turning the world upside down in a fruitless search or tearing Marlowe’s empire apart, I don’t have a lot of options.

Evelyn rises suddenly, her movements deliberate as she approaches an ancient, ornate cabinet set in the corner of the room. The wood is dark with age, its surface etched with symbols I don’t recognize. She retrieves a small, intricately carved box, its design similar to the cabinet.

“There might be a way,” she says thoughtfully. “An ancient spell, bound to our bloodline for as long as the curse that divides our kinds.”

My interest piques at the mention of the curse. “You know about the Bloodbane?”

Evelyn’s eyes meet mine, sharp and knowing. “We Blackwoods have carried this knowledge for generations, Darick. The curse, the Bloodbane, the blood bonds – they’re all connected in ways few understand.”

She opens the box, revealing a delicate gold pendant. Its design is intricate, with intertwining symbols that seem to shift as I look at them. “This heirloom has been in our family for a millennium. It’s said to have the power to strengthen the connection between blood-bonded individuals, even across great distances or through magical barriers.”

I reach for the pendant, but Evelyn pulls it back, her expression grave. “Before I entrust you with this, I need to know. Are you truly committed to finding her? To protecting her? This bond between you and Rowan – it’s more significant than either of you realize.”

I meet her gaze, unflinching. “I would do anything to bring her back safely. Anything.” I wish there was a way to show her how deeply I mean what I just said. I guess my actions will have to speak for themselves.

“Anything?” She tilts her head. “Because there may be sacrifices you’re not prepared to make.”

“I don’t care,” I say firmly. The emptiness in me that Rowan is supposed to fill is becoming intolerable. “I’ll do what it takes.”

“You’re sure about that?”

“Dead sure.” I lock eyes with her, unflinching.

Evelyn studies me as if weighing the truth of my words against some ancient standard. “You must understand, Darick. This isn’t just about Rowan. The Blackwoods have long played a role in maintaining the balance between vampires and witches. Rowan’s connection to you, I believe it’s part of something larger, something that could change everything.”

She places the pendant in my hand. It’s surprisingly warm to the touch, almost alive. “Use this wisely. It may guide you to Rowan, but it will also reveal truths you might not be prepared to face. About yourself, about Rowan, about the very nature of the bond you share.”

As I clasp the pendant, I feel a surge of energy, a deepening of the sensation that I’ve come to recognize as my connection to Rowan. With it comes a sense of foreboding, as if I’m stepping onto a path that will irrevocably change my existence.

“Thank you,” I say, my voice rough with emotion. “I won’t let you down. I won’t let Rowan down.”

Evelyn nods, her eyes shimmering. I sense there are tears lurking in those wise depths “Then find her. But remember, Darick – in saving Rowan, you may be setting in motion events that have been prophesied for centuries. Be careful, and be brave.”

I rise from my seat and stand, looking down at her. I don’t know what I’m about to walk into, but I have a feeling that after this, there’ll be no turning back.

21

Chapter 21

Rowan

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