Page 6 of Bound in Blood

None of us bring up the fact that when we return, it will probably be to confront Lucian. The idea that we are all destined for some epic magical battle is both too terrifying and too absurd to contemplate right now. All we can do is keep taking one breath after another.

Finding out how to save my boys and bring Alexandros back are my priorities. And having a purpose is what is keeping me on my feet. It gives me strength and determination.

As soon as we reach the safety of Giorgios’s mountain fortress, I can get to researching and working on a plan. One thing I’ve come to realize in the past few months is that knowledge is everything. The more I learn about my power, the stronger I become.

Chapter

Two

XAVIER

Never in my life have I been one for sentimentality, but as we stand on the porch of our house, the place that’s been our home for decades, I can’t believe this is goodbye. Because even though we’ll come back, it won’t be the same.Hewon’t be here. And he is the only thing worth coming back for.

Axl shrugs his bag onto his shoulder. Giorgios told us to pack light and gave us a few minutes to throw some stuff into a backpack while he went over the logistics of the spell with Enora. “Giorgios said he’ll speak to Eugene about looking after the Ruby Dragons while we’re gone.”

I shrug. “Seems kinda pointless if we’re all headed for some epic fucking battle with Lucian.”

“Yeah, one we’re gonna win, so everything has to keep running as it was,” he retorts. “We figure out how to bring Alexandros back, then we kill his evil fucking spawn, and then we go back to normal.”

I turn and give him my full attention now. “You really fucking believe any of that?”

His dark-brown eyes fill with sadness. “I have to, Xavier, because if I don’t, then I’ll…” He swipes his tongue over his bottom lip. “I can’t think about any of that not being true, or I’ll fucking stop. And if I stop… Tell me you believe it too.”

Fuck, I wish I believed it. I wish I could stop feeling like my entire world fucking imploded around me. Like I’m not staring into a future filled with nothing but darkness and pain. Maybe then I could fucking breathe. With my hand on the back of his neck, I pull him toward me and rest my lips on his forehead. “Yeah, I believe it.” I lie with ease to give him an iota of comfort and wonder when the fuck I became this person.

Right then, the very reason I’ve become this sentimental asshole—the guy who does what he can to make the people he cares about feel better—comes walking down the stairs, holding onto Malachi’s hand. She’s changed from her usual uniform of miniskirt and tank top to jeans and a hoodie. Her hair is tied up in a ponytail, her dark roots peeking through.

“Did you get everything you need, Cupcake?”

She bites down on her bottom lip and nods.

Axl clears his throat. “Giorgios is waiting outside. He said we should go to the mouth of the river, near the ancient pagan ruins because magic is stronger there.”

“And then what?” Malachi asks.

Ophelia reaches the bottom of the stairs and slips her hand out of Malachi’s and into mine. “From what I gather, he’ll be able to transport two of us at a time to his fortress in Tibet.”

“I don’t think I like the idea of splitting up,” Axl says, a distinct snarl in his tone.

“Me neither,” I agree.

“From what I overheard, there’s too great a risk of transporting too many people at once,” Ophelia says. “Like our atoms could tear apart or something.”

I can’t say I love the thought of my cells being strewn about the earth like some kind of vampire confetti, but I still don’t want us separating.

Malachi slides his arm around Ophelia’s waist. “Transportation fucks with your body’s molecules as it is. As much as I’d prefer to all go together, best not to fuck with the science too much.”

“And I should definitely go last,” Ophelia declares.

“Why, so you can make sure one of us doesn’t get torn to pieces before you risk it?” I can’t resist teasing her despite—or maybe because of—the heavy cloud that’s still looming over us all.

“No!” She bumps her arm against mine. “But…” She chews on her lip, looking uncomfortable all of a sudden.

And now I feel uneasy again too. Her presence allows a little light back into my world, but not enough to banish the darkness. “But what, Cupcake?”

“I don’t want to risk Giorgios not coming back for you all. I’m not saying he’d do that, but what if something went wrong and he didn’t want to try the group teleportation thing again? He’s more likely to risk it to come back for me than for two of you.” She whispers the last few words, her cheeks turning pink like she’s embarrassed to be more important than us, even though it’s an obvious fact of life.

Axl tips his face up to the ceiling and sighs. “Girl has a point.”

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