Page 32 of The Blood Moon Oath

“No,” I say, my tone low and almost amused. “Of course he didn’t. That’s Kael for you. The great strategist. Always making decisions for the greater good.”

She looks down at her hands, her fingers twisting together in her lap. “He didn’t have to ask,” she says softly, almost too quiet for me to hear.

I sit up, curiosity sparking in my chest. “Oh? Why’s that?”

She hesitates again, then lets out a slow breath. “Because... deep down, I wouldn’t have said no.”

The admission sends a jolt through me, and I grin, leaning back in the chair with a low chuckle. “Now that’s interesting. So, you wanted it, then?”

Her head snaps up, and her eyes flash. “I didn’t say that.”

“But you didn’tnotsay it either,” I tease, the grin never leaving my face. “See, kitten, that’s the thing about you. You fight us every step of the way, but deep down, you know you want to be here. With us. Don’t you?”

She glares at me, her jaw tightening, but she doesn’t argue. That’s as good as a win in my book.

I lean forward again, my tone softening just a little. “The binding,” I begin, “is exactly what it sounds like. Kael tied himself to you, permanently. It’s not just some superficial connection—it’s deep, ancient magic, the kind no one uses anymore because it makes you vulnerable in ways you can’t imagine. Anything you feel, he feels. Pain, fear, anger, joy—it’s all shared. And death? If you die, so does he. There’s no way out of it. No spell to break it. It’s for life.”

Her eyes widen slightly, and I can see the weight of my words sinking in, but I don’t stop. She needs to understand what’s been done, what Kael has committed to. “It’s not just that, though. The bond... it grows. As your connection deepens, so does the binding. It becomes stronger, more intricate. You’ll start to sense him, even when he’s not near. His thoughts, hisemotions—they’ll bleed into you, and yours into him. It’s like two people slowly becoming one in ways you can’t control.”

I pause, watching her process what I’m saying. “And here’s the kicker: a warlock can only ever be bound to one person at a time. Ever. No second chances, no do-overs. Once it’s done, that’s it. No other bonds, no other connections. It’s why no one dares to do it anymore. The risk is too great.”

I let out a low laugh, though there’s no humor in it. “To be honest, I’m surprised Kael even knew how to accomplish it. Binding magic isn’t something you just stumble across—it’s old, older than most of the spells we practice today. It’s been all but lost to time because of how dangerous it is. But that’s Kael for you. He’s always been the smartest of us, even if Finn would never admit it.” I smirk at the thought, shaking my head. “He must’ve found the knowledge somewhere, probably buried in one of those ancient tomes he keeps locked away.”

I glance at her, my voice dropping as I lean in slightly. “And you, kitten—you’re important enough to him that he thought the risk was worth it. Think about that. He didn’t just tie himself to you because he felt like it. Kael doesn’t doanythingwithout a reason.”

She frowns, her expression clouded. “Why would he do that? He barely knows me.”

“Because he sees what we all see,” I say honestly. “You’re not normal, kitten. There’s something about you. We can all feel it.”

Her brow furrows, but she doesn’t interrupt. I take that as a sign to keep going.

“As for the Trials,” I continue, my tone dropping lower, “that’s where it gets bloody. They’re not just one fight. They’re a series of battles designed to break even the strongest of challengers. Brutal, dangerous, and often to the death. And it’s notjust about you fighting Rothgar at the end—it’s about surviving everything that comes before.”

Her gaze sharpens, her voice steady but edged with unease. “Who is Rothgar?”

I let out a slow breath, leaning back in my chair. “Rothgar’s... a monster, plain and simple. Powerful, ruthless, and relentless. But you won’t just face him. Not at first. That’s not how the Trials work.”

I pause, giving her a moment before I dive into the details. “Here’s how it goes: anyone who challenges another in the Trials doesn’t just fight for themselves. They’re allowed two champions. Those champions fight first, battling the challenger’s champions, one by one. The winner of each fight goes on to fight in the next, skewing the odds more and more until the last fight is fought.”

Her brow furrows, and I can tell she’s piecing it together. I press on. “It’s designed to wear you down, to stack the deck against you. The challenger who makes it to the final fight often faces a fresh opponent while they’re barely standing. That’s why the Trials are so deadly. But that’s also how we got here. How we gained our power.”

Her head tilts slightly, curiosity flickering in her eyes despite her apprehension. “What do you mean?”

I smirk, leaning forward. “Kael challenged the former ruler of the northern tribes years ago. Finn and I were his champions. The three of us went into the Trials knowing we’d have to work together to win, and that’s exactly what we did. The former ruler’s first two men were strong, but they were no match for us. We tore through them like paper, and by the time it came to the final fight, it was three against one. Kael, Finn, and me against the ruler himself.”

I let the memory settle for a moment, feeling the familiar surge of pride in my chest. “That’s how we won. That’s whywe’re powerful. Because we didn’t just survive the Trials—we dominated them. We know how to fight together, to cover each other’s weaknesses and exploit every opening. It’s why no one’s dared to challenge us since.”

Her lips press into a thin line, and I can see the weight of my words sinking in. “And you expect me to do the same? To face Rothgar?”

“Not just face him,” I say, my tone firm. “Beat him. And we’ll make sure you’re ready.”

Her eyes narrow, skepticism written all over her face. “How? I’ve fought before, but I’ve never faced anyone like this. You said it yourself—he’s a monster.”

“And that’s why we’ll teach you,” I reply. “We’ll train you to fight like we do—together. You’re not going into this alone, kitten. You’ll have us. Rothgar isn’t an easy challenge, but we’ve beaten the odds before. And we’ll do it again.”

I let my grin spread, watching her carefully. “And if you fight with us, I have no doubt you’ll dominate those Trials. Just like we did.”

Her expression darkens, and she looks down at her hands, twisting the edge of the blanket. “I didn’t know,” she says quietly, her voice almost breaking. “I didn’t know the Trials would involve you, too. I demanded them because I thought... I thought it was just me. My fight. I didn’t mean to drag you into this.”

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