Page 71 of Blood Freed

“What is this?” someone demands, but their voice falters as the temperature in the chamber plummets.

Dark magic crackles around me, visible now as crimson lightning that arcs between my fingers and dances across myskin. The cut on my palm glows with an unholy light that makes several vampires shield their eyes.

I can feel the wards around the protected space weakening. They were designed to hold vampires, not an enraged witch drunk on blood magic.

A blur of motion catches my eye – the pale, red-haired vampire lunges toward me, fangs bared.

“Victor, end her now!” Lucien’s command rings through the chamber.

My hand shoots up instinctively, and the dark magic responds instantly. Victor’s eyes widen as crimson tendrils wrap around his throat. One twist of my wrist and his neck snaps with a sickening crack, and then a pop as his head comes clean off. His body crumples, skin graying as he collapses.

The other vampires recoil, but fury drives me forward. My blood-stained palm leaves scarlet trails in the air as I gesture. Two more vampires fall, their bodies withering like dead leaves. Another tries to flee – I catch him with a tendril of power that stops his heart.

Movement behind me. Without thinking, I whirl around, magic gathering for another kill.

A familiar face stops me cold.

Soren stands there, hands raised, eyes locked on mine. “Mia.”

The dark power pulses, urging me to strike, but I freeze. Horror washes over me as I realize I almost attacked him. My fingers tremble, blood magic still crackling around them.

“What am I doing?” My voice sounds strange, distant.

“Come back to me,” Soren says softly, taking a careful step closer. “This isn’t you.”

I’m shaking, fighting to find myself within the darkness.

The Grand Elder’s voice cuts through my haze of rage. “Such actions cannot go unpunished. You have murdered Assembly members in cold blood.”

I want to laugh at her words. Cold blood? After what they’ve done to witches for centuries?

“Your kind has spilled enough witch blood,” I snarl, the dark magic still singing in my veins. “Consider this payment for old debts.”

Lucien’s face contorts with fury as he stalks forward. “You dare murder Victor? The others?” His eyes burn with hatred. “I will hunt down every Blackwood witch. I will make them suffer as you have made us suffer. Starting with your precious sisters—”

The magic surges again, ready to strike, but Soren’s hand catches my wrist. “Mia, stop. Please.” His touch anchors me, pulling me back from the edge. “This isn’t the way. You’re better than this darkness.”

I’m trembling, torn between the seductive pull of vengeance and Soren’s steady presence.

Suddenly, brilliant silver light floods the chamber, so bright it makes even the morning sun seem dim. I shield my eyes, feeling the dark magic recoil from this pure radiance.

“Enough.” Gran’s voice rings with authority as she emerges from the light. Her normally gentle presence now radiates power that makes both vampires and dark magic retreat. Her eyes meet mine, filled with understanding and determination.

The silver light dims, but Gran’s power still fills the chamber. “This ends now,” she declares. Centuries of Blackwood authority give strength to her words.

Lucien’s face twists with rage. “No. The Sun Trail must be completed. He must face his sentence—”

“He already has.” Gran’s words cut through Lucien’s protest. “Look at him, Lucien. Look at what stands before you.”

My gaze shifts to Soren, his skin still glowing with that golden light. He should be ash by now, but instead he’s whole, unchanged. Beautiful.

“Impossible,” Lucien whispers, but I hear the fear beneath his denial.

Arabella steps forward. Her eyes narrow as she studies Soren. “This is true,” she acknowledges. “The Sun Trail has been walked.” Her voice carries the formal weight of judgment. “And survived. This is unprecedented, but the law is clear. He has faced his sentence and emerged. His penance is complete.”

“You cannot—” Lucien starts, but Arabella silences him with a look.

“I can, and I do. The judgment is made.” She turns to address the remaining Assembly members. “Soren Daire has walked the Sun Trail and lives. By our most ancient laws, he is cleared of all charges.”

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