Page 79 of Blood Freed

“The power is still settling.” I choose my words carefully. “It’s natural for it to be volatile after what happened.”

“Natural?” She laughs bitterly. “There’s nothing natural about this, Soren. Look.” She holds out her arm where dark veins pulse beneath pale skin. “It’s changing me. I can feel it.”

I take her hand, pressing my lips to her inner wrist where her pulse beats too fast. “We’ll figure this out.”

“Will we?” Her free hand traces the line of my jaw. “I saw your face when I killed those vampires. You were afraid.”

“Not of you.”

“Liar.” But she smiles slightly. “You should be afraid. I’m not sure I know myself anymore.”

Before I can respond, her phone chimes with a text. She reads it, her face draining of what little color remains.

“Lucien’s called an Assembly meeting,” she says. “He’s using what I did as an excuse to declare war on the covens.”

“I know. Marcus just told me.”

She pulls away, standing to pace the room. Magic crackles around her like static electricity, making the air heavy with power. “We have to stop him.”

“Mia—”

“No, listen.” She turns to face me, and for a moment, I glimpse the darkness swimming in her eyes. “He’s been manipulating both sides, playing vampires against witches. Using people like Heath and Morgan to spy and sabotage. If he starts a war…”

“It will destroy both communities,” I finish. “I know.”

“Then help me end this.” She moves closer, and I feel the magic radiating from her skin. “You can walk in daylight now. You’re stronger than ever. Together, we could—”

“Together, we’ll find a legal way to stop him,” I interrupt firmly. “Not through violence.”

Her laugh is sharp enough to cut. “Since when are you opposed to violence, vampire?”

“Since I watched it start consuming the woman I love.”

She flinches as if I’ve struck her. Through our bond, I feel her hurt, her fear, and underneath it all, the seductive whisper of power urging her toward darker solutions.

“I won’t let him hurt anyone else,” she says softly. “Whatever it costs.”

The words send a chill down my spine. I’ve heard similar vows before, watched them lead good people down paths of destruction. But before I can argue further, both our phones buzz with urgent messages.

“Lucien’s made his first move,” she says, reading the text. “He’s attacked a small coven in response to Victor’s death. Three witches dead.”

My own phone shows a message from Marcus confirming the same. The political game has begun, and we’re all just pieces on Lucien’s board.

I watch Mia’s hands clench into fists, shadows gathering around her unconsciously. The woman I love is still in there, but for how long? How much darkness can one soul contain before it breaks?

The coming war isn’t just about vampires and witches anymore. It’s about saving Mia from herself.

And I’m terrified I won’t be strong enough to do both.

29

Chapter 29

Mia

Ilie in bed,staring at the ceiling as shadows dance across it. Magic pulses through me, whispering promises of power and vengeance. It’s not the magic I know. Not the magic I understand. This feels like something that wants to consume me.

You brought it on yourself.

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