Page 17 of Bloodmoon Ritual

Chapter 4

The one thing to stophim

My brother immediately pulled up short on the steps to the greenhouse, only a few inches of glass separating us now.

Heat seemed to pulse from him, his whole body radiating it, his power extending miles on either side of him.

A huge crack appeared in the door, the glass so fragile that my brother’s steps were about to shatter the entire thing.

Godsdamn!I thought, in my panic going back to the curses of my childhood.

Little slivers of glass were flaking down on me.

“It’s about to come down,” I warned shakily, my palms sweaty as I gripped the blade.

My twin’s big body was frozen in place as I moved directly underneath where the glass was beginning to crumble.

For a moment I was paralyzed with terror as we locked eyes. His were as blue as they always had been, a bright vivid summer sky blue.

“Move out of the way, Temperance,” he ordered.

But I saw the way his eyes flicked to where I had dug into the door. I knew I was safe as long as he was afraid any movement would hurt me.

I ignored him, forcing my fingers to move over the lock. Another fine shower of glass fell on my head and I heard the low, unearthly sound Rhyder made and it raised the hairs on the back of my neck.

“Move, Temperance,” he growled, his voice raw and shot through with fear. “You’re going to get hurt.”

The men beside me shifted, restless.

I had to get out of there

They were edging toward me, men who had known me for years, ready to pick me up and hurl me into the arms of a violent, unhinged cult member.

My brother was motionless, his hands raised, hovering close to the glass as if he could prevent it from crumbling into a million pieces all over me.

“Back away from the door, sister,” he said. “Please.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw there was a side door open over the long lush lawn, and it opened onto their circular driveway, filled with cars. Then there was a main highway.

It was probably my best hope of escape.

“Youback up,” I said. “You’re going to make it fall on me.”

I was in a vulnerable position. All he had to do was wrench at the doorknob and the whole door would implode, spraying shards over me and making it easy for him to grab me.

But I saw his big shitkicker boots take one step back, and he waited on the bottom stair.

Craig the cowardly betrayer gasped beside me.

But it would be a mistake for anybody to see Rhyder’s movement as a sign of weakness.

I would have exactly one chance. As quickly as I could, I yanked the file from the door and ran.

It was easy to dart between the bodies of the guests as I heard the door shatter behind me.

I knew he couldn’t possibly make it through the crowd very fast.

My feet were out of my high heels, and I was already sprinting when my toes touched the cool grass.

---