Page 1 of Blood Freed

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Chapter 1

Mia

It’s over. My God,I can’t believe it’s over. I sink into the warm strength of my father’s arms and let the fear and desperation seep out of me.

“You’re going to be just fine,” he says gently. “He’s gone now.”

“Gone?” I blink in confusion. Is he talking about Soren? “What do you mean gone?”

My father strokes the hair from my face, brushing his lips over my forehead. “It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you. I’ve got you now.”

“But, Dad—” The gravel crunches under my stumbling feet as Dad half-carries me toward the line of waiting vehicles. Headlights blind me, and I struggle to focus as I twist in his grip, searching desperately for Soren’s van through the sea of faces. “Dad, please… Soren…”

“There’s nothing to be afraid of, sweetheart,” Dad murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. “That vampire can’t hurt you anymore.”

My knees buckle. “No! No – no, he can’t be dead!”

“Not yet.” Dad’s voice is grim. “But if he makes it, his fate will be a matter for the Conclave to determine. Execution would be too good for him.”

Oh, thank God, he’s alive.

But captive… Execution?

I have to do something.

“Mia!” Mom rushes forward, her hands trembling as she touches my face. “Oh, my baby girl…”

Seeing her makes my heart swell with joy, and I melt a little as she winds her arms around me and pulls me close. “Mom,” I choke. “Mom! I missed you so much.”

“Baby…” My mother is sobbing, shaking as she keeps me close. For what feels like a lifetime, we hold each other, crying.

But then the anxiety surges again.

“Dad,” I turn to my father, “we have to do something.”

“Yes. We’re leaving now,” he says firmly.

“No. You don’t understand!” I tug against Dad’s hold. “Soren helped me escape. The Maker’s Bond was killing him – we have to go back!”

“Go back?” Dad frowns. “Sweetheart, we’re taking you home. Where we can take care of you.”

Gran appears beside us, her green eyes sharp with concern. “Mia, darling, you’re safe now. Whatever that creature made you believe—”

“He didn’t make me believe anything!” My voice cracks as I fight harder. “He protected me, kept me alive when the others would have killed me. Please, listen to me!”

“Stockholm Syndrome,” someone whispers from the crowd. I catch glimpses of Kara and Rowan hovering uncertainly in the background, their faces etched with worry.

“She’s hysterical,” Mom says softly, stroking my hair. “We need to get her away from this place.”

“I’m not hysterical!” Magic pulses through me, making the nearby cars’ headlights flicker. “Soren sacrificed everything to save me. How can you just stand here while he faces death?”

But they’re already pulling me toward the vehicles, exchanging concerned glances over my head. Their hands are gentle but firm, their voices soothing as they dismiss my increasingly frantic pleas.

“It’s the trauma talking,” Gran tells the others. “She doesn’t know what she’s saying.”

“I know exactly what I’m saying!” I twist in their grip, desperately searching for anyone who might believe me. “Please – you have to help him!”

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