Page 115 of Her Blood Revenge

The goblin lifts its hand, and Pix laughs as she takes her familiar from its palm. The snake unfurls and slithers up her arm.

Then she turns to me.

‘They have somewheresafe for us to go,’ she says, getting to her feet and holding out her hand for me to take.

‘We’re not going anywhere with them, Pix.’

She steps closer.

‘Please, Archie. Trust me.’

We walk for an age, led by these critters and their pointy sticks. Pix has been painfully silent, lost deep in thought as we’re led through the thickening forests.

She told me everything. About seeing Hel on that shore. About the manacles and the mark. About Athir. She’s shown me the grimoire, and although I am glad it is back in her hands, I worry.

Because if Athir is real and alive, and he is her father for real, then this is a huge concern.

Not that she would hear anything against him. Her precious earth god.

I knew something felt different when she used earth magic against Cole. She said she reached for her grimoire and couldn’t remember anything after that.

Part of me is relieved the magic performed wasn’t hers.

And another part of me is terrified of the alternative.

She staggers and winces as she cuts her foot on a rough stone. I catch her before she stumbles.

‘You good?’ I ask. I’m surprised to find her skin hot to the touch. ‘Do you have a fever?’

She tuts and swats my hand away when I feel her forehead.

‘I’m feeling warm. That’s all.’

She lifts her foot to inspect. A bead of blood seeps to the ground, and my mouth fills with saliva. I’m filled with her magic and ready to go.

I don’t need to taste her, but fuck, I really want to.

She lowers her foot back down. A patch of dense moss blooms beneath her foot. She wriggles her toes.

‘I can shift. You can ride me,’ I offer, the words coming out before my brain truly comprehends them.

“You can fucking ride me?”

What am I? A horse?

‘I’m fine,’ she replies, still utterly distracted. ‘Let’s keep moving.’

She places her hand in mine, and we walk on. With each step, more moss grows beneath her feet and disappears when she leaves it. I don’t even think she realises she’s doing it. Her eyes are unfocused, and her brow furrowed.

Her earth magic is growing stronger every day.

But I know that what happened at the coven was not her earth magic. It was something else.

And it frightens me.

She’s holding my fucking hand. Her fingers are entwined with mine like it’s nothing. Like I’m not… me.

I squeeze it. She squeezes me back. And I smile like a damned child.

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