Page 106 of Bound in Blood

Lucifer? As in the devil? This suddenly feels like a terrible idea.

“It is what must be done, Ameena,” Nazeel says. “We cannot allow the veil to fall.”

My head is spinning. The world is about to literally descend into hell. Alexandros and the boys aren’t here. I’m scared and freaked out, and I don’t know what the hell I’m supposed to do.

A warm hand slips into mine. “We got this, girl,” Cadence says.

I roll back my shoulders and steel my spine. “Can I help with the spell?”

Nazeel shakes her head. “It is a spell that can only be performed by a descendant of the white witch. One that can channel earth magic. Enora and I have such lineage and power, and we will do all that is necessary.”

Ameena nods toward the battlefield. “Zendaya and I will help hold back the hordes. Are you good with incantations, child?” she directs the question to Cadence, who nods her agreement.

“So am I,” I insist.

Anikêtos stops me short.You will stay here, Ophelia.

“You are too valuable to risk, Ophelia,” Nazeel says.

I open my mouth to protest, but Nazeel grabs my hand and squeezes tightly. “Ophelia, your humility and your compassion for others is noble, but not when it will risk your life. Look around you. You see all of these people fighting?”

I do as she asks, noting the fallen and those still valiantly battling, and force myself not to feel the crushing pain of those we’ve lost.

“They do not fight for you, Ophelia, but for everything you represent. The future ofallour species. They fight for the light. And if you recklessly endanger yourself because you believe you are not worthy of their sacrifice, then they do all of this in vain.”

What Nazeel says is true, and humbling, but I’m stopped from having to reply by Ameena. “Do you know the spell?” she asks her sister.

Nazeel nods. “Both Enora and I do.”

“I’ll keep fending off the hordes from here, then, alongside Ani and Elpis,” I say.

Ameena and Zendaya glance up for the first time, then immediately bow their heads in respect of the dragons looming over us. Without any further words, they make their way to the middle of the quad, where Zendaya immediately beheads a warlock. Cadence gives me a quick look that saysbe carefulbefore she darts off too.

Nazeel takes off her robe and lays it on the ground, then pulls a gold pentagram from around her neck and places it on the cloak. “Let us get to work.”

She and Enora kneel beside each other, and I go back to directing my energy toward slowing the advancing line of shadows.

Enora’s voice melds with Nazeel’s over ancient words I don’t understand, and the air fills with their energy.

They chant.

The shadows roar a battle cry. My heart pounds, but I keep channeling my magic into destroying them over and over again.

Thunder rolls and lightning splits the sky in two.

Nazeel and Enora cling to each other.

The shadows scream now.

It’s working. The spell is working.

Hope floods my chest.

Anikêtos torches the entire line with Dragonfyre, and they scatter to fragments.

A piercing shriek permeates the night.

The shadows reform.

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