Page 63 of Blood Freed

The thought pounds through my head with each step. Everything I’ve done has just made things worse. God, the irony tastes bitter.

I should have told her everything the moment I understood what was happening between us. Should have trusted her strength instead of trying to shield her. Now she might pay for my arrogance with her life.

“Move!” A shove in the small of my back has me stumbling forward as I hesitate before a stairway. I know what lies beyond those stairs.

I keep my head high, my face impassive – I won’t give Lucien the satisfaction of seeing me break. But inside, I’m frantically searching for any way out of this trap.

How did I miss it?

Probably because I was trying to avoid the bullshit politics our kind is so susceptible to. All those years ignoring Lucien’s machinations – I never saw the full scope of his plan. The way he used our shame about the Bloodbane, turned it into a weapon.

But what if we’ve all been looking at it wrong? The curse that drives us to seek witch blood – it’s not just about survival. The compatibility, the bonds that form…it’s like nature itself is trying to tell us something. Forcing our kinds together, creating connections that transcend the old hatreds.

Not that the revelation helps much now.

The guards’ boots echo against stone as they march me along the corridor. Each step draws us closer to the Chamber of Dawn, where condemned vampires meet their final sunrise. But my chest aches with a pain that has nothing to do with what I’m about to face.

Then I feel it – a flicker through our bond, like candlelight catching in dark water. Mia. She’s reaching for me, her presence both familiar and desperate. The wards that have been blocking our connection are weakening as we move away from the cells, but what good does that do now?

Her consciousness brushes against mine, and for a moment I’m overwhelmed by the force of her emotions – fear, tenacity, love. So much love it nearly brings me to my knees. The young guard steadies me, probably thinking it’s just the silver taking its toll.

Mia, my fierce, beautiful witch.

I want to tell her everything – about Lucien’s plans, about the corruption in both our societies, about how sorry I am for pushing her away. But there’s no time. Dawn approaches, and I can already feel the building’s eastern wards preparing to open.

Instead, I focus all my remaining strength into one clear thought, praying it reaches her through our weakened bond: “Fight this, Mia – find the strength. You can live without me.”

The connection wavers, like a radio signal fading in and out. I feel her protest, her refusal to let me go, but the guards are already turning the final corner. Ahead, I can see the firstgray light of pre-dawn seeping through the chamber’s enchanted walls.

Death is waiting.

22

Chapter 22

Mia

Papers fly about, andthe curtains flutter in the face of my restless energy. The lights overhead are pulsing erratically. A vase crashes to the floor as my magic lashes out, but I can’t bring myself to care about the mess.

“Mia, darling, you need to calm down.” Gran reaches for my hand, but I pull away.

“Calm down? We’re out of time, and they’re still debating procedure.” My voice cracks. The chandelier above us starts swaying, and the crystals in the room flash warning signals of red and amber.

Poppy scampers across the coffee table, her tail twitching. “At this rate, they’ll still be discussing proper protocols while your vampire boyfriend gets crispy.”

“Not helping, Poppy,” Rowan snaps.

I pace the length of the parlor, each step sending ripples of power through the floorboards. The family photographs on the walls rattle in their frames. “We have proof now. Sabine and Jemma’s testimony, Darick’s evidence about Lucien’s activities. Why isn’t that enough?”

“Politics,” Dad mutters from his armchair. “The Conclave won’t move without the Blood Assembly’s cooperation.”

Something else is bothering me. For the past hours, I haven’t felt Soren. And it’s not the same wall I’d felt before when he was locking me out. This is something stronger. Unyielding.

The crystals pulse faster, matching my heartbeat.

“I can’t wait for them to make up their minds.” I turn to Gran, who’s been watching me with knowing eyes. “There has to be another way.”

A particularly violent surge of magic knocks several books off their shelves. Gran catches them mid-air with a casual wave of her hand. “Careful, Mimi. Uncontrolled magic won’t help anyone, least of all Soren.”

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