Page 148 of The Witch and The Blood Oath

As Cordelia continued her chant, the Handmaidens drew small daggers from under their cloaks and wrapped their palms around the blades. The witches circled the bones, and their blood dribbled onto them. Where blood met bone, light shone, and shadows spread across the floor like spilled ink.

The shadows stretched until they shrouded Elle in their darkness. The High Witch’s chant grew louder, and pain sliced through my chest. It was as if something cut me, but no wound marred my skin.

I threw my head back, as if I could escape the anguish, and movement caught my eye. Perched on a ledge in the domed ceiling, Ryder hid. I had spotted him moments ago and barely bit back a smile. His eyes blazed a vivid amber, and he was partially shifted into his wolf form. As his gaze met mine, I gave my head the tiniest shake.

Ryder was the one variable in the High Witch’s plan that she had not been able to control. His distraction needed to be perfectly timed. The ripple wasn’t far—if Arion was freed, he could get there in seconds, closely followed by Ryder. If mine and Ryder’s distraction worked, Elle would make it too.

I, however, couldn’t stand.

I couldn’t walk.

Walker’s and my Anchor bond zapped to life. Lightning and wind and water and flame arched between us, over Elle and her bed of shadows. Our bond surged between us and warmed my chest with its magic but remained entirely untouchable. Our magic was a puppet whose strings were pulled solely by Cordelia.

Amid the chaos, Walker held my gaze like a lifeline. No one had ever looked at me the way he did.

What forms an Anchor bond?I thought. Walker’s answer had been quick.

Love.

As the pain worsened and our bond flared brighter, I gritted my teeth and studied the brilliant blue of his eyes, the sharp angle of his jaw, and the barely-there softness of his cheeks. My cowboy was kind and good and beautiful, and he would never leave me behind.

Though he didn’t believe me capable of returning his love, he wouldn’t abandon me here. It was a fact I knew in my bones.

As Cordelia’s spell dug its claws into our bond, I couldn’t defend us with magic or combat. The only things left in my arsenal were my mind and my voice. Mabel’s words echoed in my memory.

And you must never,eversay that name again.

Unfortunately, I needed to disobey my Elders one last time.

I inhaled deeply and shouted.

“MEDEA!”Tears burned down my cheeks.“Medea!”

The High Witch stuttered, and the shadows stilled. Terrible, wild magic cut through headiness of Cordelia’s spell. As Ryder spoke, his voice boomed with the authority of an Alpha.

“Medea!”he cried out. “Medea!”

Light, as brilliant as the sun, burst from Elle, and the shadows slithered away from her like scared animals. Walker’s and my Anchor bond snapped back into our bodies, and the arch of our magic dissipated. As Elle sat up, her eyes glowed red, and her braided locks lifted on a phantom wind.

“Don’t say her name!” Cordelia roared. “Somebody stop them—”

Ryder and I shouted again.“Medea!”

The guards descended upon him and turned their backs on Elle. As she rose to her feet, it would be their lethal mistake.

Elle shuddered and glowed, and Cordelia’s spell faded to the background. Bones crunched, and Elle’s pretty face elongated and sprouted golden tufts of hair. Huge caninesdescended from her wide jaw. Her shoulders broadened and slouched to the ground.

While golden fur sprouted down her front legs, and her hands shifted into clawed paws, silver hair grew on her widening torso and down her legs. Ropy muscles and silver fur formed across them. Her feet transformed into thick hooves, and an emerald, serpentine tail trailed behind her. Leathery, bat-like wings sprang from between her back.

With her lion’s head, Elle roared and leaped upon the guards.

My mother’s words echoed in my mind.

To lead is to sacrifice.

As I gripped the dredges of magic summoned by our bond, I realized what she had really meant was that tolovewas to sacrifice.

And I loved Walker.

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