Page 2 of Forged in Blood

The child’s cries continue to ring out through the night, and Kameen lifts the baby, covered in a thick film of blood and ash, from her mother’s charred womb. Insignius removes his cloak and swaddles her tiny body before pressing her close to his chest.

Content now in the wolf’s arms, she blinks up at me with eyes so radiantly blue that they appear otherworldly. I squeeze my lids shut and fumble in the darkness to connect with her new energy. Except it is not new at all. A force like a lightning bolt hits me in my chest, and I stagger back a step.For the child borne of fire and blood…

Pressing my lips together, I suppress the squeal of delight that wants to tumble free. “Her energy is old and powerful.”

“Do you think she is the one?” Insignius asks.

“It matters naught. We cannot interfere,” Kameen warns, his tone stern and commanding.

“We already have,” I remind him.

He looks down at the baby too, his dark brow furrowed.

“She summoned fire from inside her mortal mother’s womb, Kameen.” Insignius’s voice is full of awe, his focus locked on the baby’s face. “And Nazeel sensed…” He looks up at me now, blinking. Pleading.

I shrug, aware of Kameen’s eyes on me. It is too soon to allow my mind to run away with itself. How many times over the last millennia have I allowed myself to believe, only to have my hopes dashed? “I sense an old power in her, but she is a descendant of Azezal himself. Perhaps it is nothing more than the echoes of the ancient bloodline.”

“She needs to be protected,” Insignius insists. “We won’t interfere in her life, but now that we know she exists—who shecouldbe…”

Kameen snorts. “She could be nothing more than a powerful witch.”

“The most powerful witch I have seen for centuries,” I say, peering down at her as she gazes up at the three of us. “She sensed she was in danger and summoned fire to protect herself. Before she was even born.” I trace a fingertip over her tiny nose and she blinks.

Insignius looks to our leader for guidance. “We have to take action. There is no telling what damage she might cause without her father to guide her.”

Kameen trains his eyes on me. “Then bind her powers.”

I open my mouth and close it again. Finding my backbone, I shake my head. “That’s barbaric.”

His face contorts in a deep scowl. “More barbaric than having her burn her entire kindergarten class alive when she throws a temper tantrum?”

I shake my head. “Kindergarten? You intend for her to be raised with humans?”

“If there is any chance that she is who you both think she is, this child is already in great danger. Thesecreatures…” He glances around at the scorched remains of the attackers and sniffs the air, determining their origin. “These vampires already killed her parents because of her power. Regardless of who she is—or who she will be—sheisa powerful being. Without her parents’ protection, the safest place for her is with the mortals.”

My heart breaks for the tiny babe. “But we could?—”

Kameen’s lips curl back, his teeth bared as he edges closer to me. The fire of his rage burns through my veins. Forever bonded to him, I cannot keep him out no matter how gifted a witch I am. “We could what, Nazeel? Raise her in the Order?”

I tip my chin in defiance. “Why not?”

He grabs my jaw in his strong hand, squeezing tightly enough to make me wince. “We. Do. Not. Interfere.”

“Says who?”I bite back.

“Says I.”

Even if she is not the child from the prophecy, she is your niece! You are so stubborn, you refuse to even consider change, even for?—

Do not, Nazeel!

Insignius sighs, aware Kameen and I are speaking through our bond. It is impolite, but I would never challenge Kameen openly. His position could not allow it.

I wrench my jaw from his grip. “We could find a witch family to take her in. Teach her how to control her power.”

“And put them in danger too? Could you live with that, my caring little witch?” he says, his eyes narrowed.

Stop mocking me!

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