Page 81 of Promised in Blood

I do as he says, listening only to him as he utters words of comfort and praise. I see the dazzling orb of light that is my center. As though it were as simple as flicking a switch, I can breathe again and the house goes still.

When I open my eyes, the witch is still regarding me with curiosity. “You are powerful, Ophelia. But…” She presses her lips together.

“But what?”

There’s a loud commotion downstairs, and I recognize Alexandros’s voice in the melee. Anxiety spikes in me once more, but I control it. He’s demanding to be let into the house. “Why can’t he come inside?”

“Because I have cast a spell to prevent him from doing so.”

I fold my arms across my chest. “Why?”

“Tell him you are safe and that I will allow him inside in but a few moments,” she says. “And then we can talk.”

“Can I give him your name?”

Her eyes sparkle with delight. “Nazeel. He will know of whom you speak.”

I’m even more confused now, but I do as she asks, if only to stop him from tearing the house apart to get to me.

“Nazeel!” Alexandros’s roar echoes through the house. With a wave of her hand, she drowns out all sound, and we’re shrouded in complete silence. I can no longer hear him in my head either.

“Who are you?”

“An old friend of Alexandros’s. An ally.” She rests a hand on my knee and squeezes.

I frown, still unsure of her motives. “He doesn’t seem to think so.”

“He is simply afraid of what will happen when the world finds out who and what you are. But there is no stopping that from happening.”

Terror washes over me at the casual way she speaks of my inevitable demise. “We could stop it though. Why does anyone have to know?”

The spot between her brows pinches together, and she purses her lips. “They must know, Ophelia. Who you are cannot be hidden.”

“I know I’m supposed to be the last of my kind and all that, but?—”

“No.” Her green eyes darken, and she leans forward. “You are so much more than that.”

I open my mouth to speak, but Nazeel flinches back and rubs her temples. “He is much stronger than he was.”

My pulse spikes once more. “What? Who?”

“I must leave.”

“Wait! No.” I have too many questions, and she seems to have several of the answers I need. “Who were my parents? What do you mean I’m more than that? Who are you?”

Her eyes fill with tears, and she takes my hand in hers. “I did save your life, sweet Ophelia. I knew from the moment you were born that you were special. Many will try to use your power for their own ends, but do not let them, my child. Always trust your light.”

She lets my hand go, and before I can ask another question, she has disappeared. Not even a trace of her power lingers. But the sound of Alexandros storming through the house like a bull charging at a matador fills my ears, and I blink when he rushes into the room, his eyes wild as he glances around Cadence’s room.

“Where is she?” he growls.

I glance at the space where she was just five seconds ago. “She disappeared. Literally disappeared.”

Enora races in behind him, and he turns on a dime, wrapping his hand around her throat and hoisting her into the air. “I trusted you.” The rage in his voice is unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. The temperature in the room seems to drop below freezing.

Panic covers my flesh in goosebumps, and I run to him and take hold of his free hand, threading my fingers through his. “Let her go.”

He ignores me, keeping his glare fixed on Enora. “I trusted you to protect her.”

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