Page 155 of Bound By Darkness

“What did you do?” Kaydn yelled. “If she dies?—”

“Wait,” the woman said, her voice filled with annoyance as she waved a gloved hand. “It’s working.”

My breathing became less shallow as the pain slowly washed away. Where my skin had once burned, no evidence of the roaring sensation lingered as if it had simply faded away. My bones no longer shook as I stilled in front of the woman who now held my fate.

She walked over, lifting my hair as she examined my neck. “The mark is gone and so is your blood oath. Pledge your loyalty to me for removing such a blight.”

Coughing, I narrowed my eyes at her. “I’m not making another blood oath.”

“I don’t care about making a blood oath with you. They are mediocre at best and dispel when someone dies. You’re lucky I had one of my rebels sell you that bottle of potion.”

It had been her. She’d set up the entire encounter and the thought made my blood curl.

Her black cloak billowed around her as she cocked her head to the side. “I can see you aren’t very bright. Otherwise, you would have ingested the potion I’ve crafted significantly earlier, and we could have avoided all of this. Do you know how long it took me to master that spell to undo blood oaths?” She huffed as she walked back, her arms resting across Moria and Fin’s shoulders in a flashy show of dominance. “However, it seems we are here, and I’m growing tired of this conversation,” she said, the mask warbling her voice. “Agree to come with me, and I’ll spare them.”

“I don’t?—”

“Kaydn already informed me of how much you despise deals, but I wouldn’t disagree to this one.”

Faster than Kaydn, she plucked a dagger from her side, the blade embedding in Moria’s shoulder.

She let out a sharp cry, most of it muffled from the cloth.

A trickle of blood dripped from the blade as the woman yanked it out, not caring if tendons and flesh broke.

“I’ll ask again, but it won’t be in a pretty spot,” she said as she angled the dagger over Moria’s neck, her gloved hand entangled in her hair as she exposed the bruised skin beneath.

My eyes swiveled to Kaydn, but he wasn’t even looking in my direction.

“My patience is wearing thin,” she mused, the dagger pressing deeper into Moria’s throat.

“I’ll agree!” Ishouted, my eyes swiveling to Moria.

Moria’s head shook, but I couldn’t lose her. I couldn’t deal with the pain if I was the one responsible for her death.

“What a rational decision,” she stated, the dagger falling back at her side. “I was afraid my gloves were going to get dirty.”

My eyes narrowed. “I agreed, but only if you spare Moria and Fin.”

“Sure. My hands will not harm them.”

“More specific,” I said, my eyes roaming between them.

Where was Iyanna? Where was Naexi? Had they left with the citizens or were they in the middle of fighting? Would they hear the commotion in this tent and help us?

“Fine,” the woman huffed. “I swear I will not harm Moria or Fin with my hands.” She raised both in emphasis, her fingers wiggling slightly.

The tent flaps jostled, a man with fighting leathers entering the room. The rebel crest was etched into the fabric.

He made his way over to the woman, whispering something into her hood before stepping back.

She gave a quick nod as he exited.

“Kaydn.”

“Yes?” He stepped forward, the light cascading across his face.

“It seems Iyanna has broken through my spell and is on her way here. See to it you finish your work as agreed upon.”

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