Page 109 of Bound By Darkness

Iyanna’s hand lightly tugged my head to the side as she exposed the unblemished skin beneath. Her nails pricked and prodded the area as her pulse quickened against mine.

“By the Mother, your word and my word will be upheld. You’re making a smart choice,” Iyanna purred against my skin. Her breath was hot and fresh like chamomile, sending goosebumps along my flesh. Her teeth grazed my exposed skin as I stared at Ivan, my heart beating frantically.

I was making a blood oath with her. I was making a blood oath to protect Moria and give us the supplies we needed. Despite my hatred, it was an excellent plan. A safe plan where I wouldn’t lose another person I cared for.

Her teeth were against me in a flash of white as she pierced my flesh, my thoughts fizzling to smoke. Hot pain sliced through my neck, tendrils of it twitching the tips of my fingers.

I winced as her teeth bit and drew blood. It swirled with hers as something deep tore… and something else was reforged. My eyelids fluttered at the pinching pain. It dissipated in a flash as she removed her teeth, her lips ruby.

I stumbled forward as Ivan caught me, his arm wrapping around my waist to hold me steady. His fingers brushed over the fresh wound, a deep growl rumbling from his chest. Pain mirrored his face. A deep agony as if he experienced the fire licking my bones.

“Quiet. It’s the bond snapping into place.” Iyanna licked her lips, her white eyes shimmering. “She may be a little drowsy because of the ancient casting flooding her system, but I merely took a few drops.”

His hands were cold against the throbbing bite mark as his thumb traced the pattern inked into my skin.

My forehead pressed against his chest, and every muscle in my legs worked to keep me standing. My heels dug intothe ground, and I bit back stars until that single, woven thread tying myself to her snapped into place.

Iyanna grinned. “Love is the most devastating curse.” Lifting her hand, she waved at me in dismissal. “Get some rest. I’ll call for you when I need you.”

“You’ll call for me?” I coughed, my voice hoarse. Was casting always this potent?

My body lurched from Ivan’s as Iyanna’s hand curled around my cheek.

“You won’t be able to resist when I call for you.” She snapped her fingers. “There should be an empty tent near the outskirts of the town. I hope you don’t mind sharing between the three of you. Space is tight.”

I bit my lip, a slow dip of my head sufficing as a nod.

“You have my word Moria will be kept safe within this camp along with the supplies you request.” She leaned closer, her lips brushing my ear. “I say this from one female to another. Stay wary of Ivan. While I might have manipulated both of you this time, he is still a Fae male—a master manipulator.”

Jerking my head back, I gave her a curt nod before stumbling out of the tent. I made it three steps under the faelight before Ivan blocked my path, his eyes swimming with liquid silver flame.

“Do you know what you’ve done? What you’ve rightfully broken?”

“Not now. Let’s go to the tent.” My head swam with various colors and images. All of them collided across my eyes in a sweeping headache. I didn’t need a lecture.

“What happened?” Fin asked as he rushed over, his hands keeping me steady.

Ivan pushed past Fin. “She has full control over you and your casting abilities. If she wishes you to fight, you’ll have to. I won’t be able to protect you anymore.”

“We didn’t have… any other options.” My head swam from the flooding of casting. Nausea curled my stomach, a feeling I was slowly becoming used to.

“You could have said no and walked out of the tent with me. We could have discussed this as a team.”

“Discussed what?” Fin asked. “Someone tell me what the hells happened in there!”

“I made a rational decision to protect Moria and get the supplies we needed!”

His eyes fell upon mine as he held my gaze. Ivan’s lips pursed together. “Iyanna will do anything to protect her people, and will not hesitate to cast you aside if it comes to it.”

“Take me… to my tent.”

“Did you do something, Thalia?” Fin’s eyes roamed my body, stopping as they met the mark against my neck. “Did you make a blood oath?”

“Yes,” I answered. “I made a blood oath with Iyanna to protect Moria and provide us supplies to find the Book of Spells.”

“She made a rash decision without considering any of the impacts,” Ivan stated. “What will Moria say when she finds out what you did for her?”

“Don’t,” I said. “I will tell her at a later time.”

---