Page 19 of Bound in Blood

“It is because of Ophelia and her unique abilities that I believe there may be a way to reverse the deterioration.”

Reverse the deterioration. So we’re not going to die and leave her. Relief, warm and hopeful, flows through all four of us as we stare at Giorgios, the man with the answers we seek. I squeeze Ophelia’s hand, and she gives me an optimistic smile.

“Ophelia’s bond with Alexandros somehow connected her to you on a deeper level than is usual. As your bond with Ophelia is so unique, and because it remains intact, it is possible to—” He presses his lips together like he’s searching for the word. “Transfer the sire bond.”

“Transfer it to who?” Axl asks, blinking with confusion. “To Ophelia?”

Giorgios shakes his head. “No. To another vampire. Ophelia would have to…” He clears his throat again, and my hope evaporates. No way is our girl bonding to another vampire. Over my dead fucking body. Which, I realize, is highly likely. “Ophelia would have to bond to another vampire. Specifically to a blood relative of Alexandros to ensure the greatest chance of success.”

And the final flicker of hope is snuffed out entirely. There’s no way any of us would expect her to bond with Giorgios, and surely he must know that. And there’s not a chance in hell we’d accept him as our new sire. We’re all still devoted to the one we lost. Ophelia squeezes my hand tighter as a horror-filled gasp falls from her lips.

“And that would be you, I guess?” Xavier growls.

“Not necessarily.” Giorgios holds up his hands. “I am not the only member of House Drakos, although I can guarantee I am the only one you should consider for such a role. My father has been advised of my brother’s demise, but I have managedto keep Ophelia’s identity from him thus far. I am not sure how much longer it will be before I am forced to endure a visit from him.”

“Alexandros said he was a danger to me if he found out what I am,” Ophelia says, still frowning, but I can practically hear the cogs in her brain working overtime.

“And he is, Ophelia. He would lock you in a cage and breed you until you produced him a whole army of elementai and vampire children. It is what he planned to do when the last few elementai were herded into the apparent safety of his castle. I do not know whether it is fortunate that he did not succeed.” He winces and swallows hard. “And let us not forget the other son of House Drakos—Lucian. An even darker fate than my father. Neither of them is a pleasant choice, Ophelia. Neither would be so considerate as to seek your permission first. The safest way for you to ensure neither of them force a bond with you is to bond with another first.”

“And again, that leads us all straight back to you.” Xavier’s voice drips with disdain.

“I will protect you whatever the outcome. But regardless of which path you choose, I am merely presenting you with the options. You need not take any of them if you do not wish to.”

Ophelia’s skin is pale, and her lip is trembling. Her fear and anxiety spike so alarmingly that I quickly wrap her in my arms and utter soothing words in her ear.

No fucking way, princess, Axl growls in our heads.You don’t have to fucking bond with him.

No, sweet girl.I smooth back her hair.Stop trembling. You’re safe. This isn’t going to happen.

I don’t want to bond with him.She rolls back her shoulders and twists her head from side to side.But if it’s the only way to save you, then I?—

There’ll be another way, Xavier assures her.We don’t want another fucking sire, Cupcake.

He’s right, princess, Axl adds.

She ignores our objections and narrows her eyes at Giorgios. “Are you even sure it would work?”

He gives a single nod, his face entirely unreadable now. “After I met with the seer, I did a little research of my own, which also led me to believe it would.”

A lone tear runs down her cheek, and she angrily swats it away. “But wouldn’t I be… betraying him?”

“How is saving his sireds—your mates—and protecting your own precious life, the one he so willingly gave his own for, a betrayal of him, Ophelia? He is gone. He cannot save you. And I cannot be sure, but…”

“But what?” Hope ignites in her heart once more. Hope is a dangerous thing—without it, we are lost, but with it, we are doomed.

“Alexandros asked me to protect you all, and I cannot help but wonder if this is what he meant. What he would have wanted.”

The fuck he would have. A rumbling growl rolls deep in my chest, and before I can react, Axl is already on his feet. “I can guarantee with one hundred percent certainty that Alexandros Drakos would not, under any circumstances, have wanted you to bond with Ophelia.”

“Not even to protect her?” Giorgios scowls. “To protect you?”

Axl falters, but I don’t. “Not even,” I bark.

Giorgios stands and brushes imaginary creases from his suit pants. His ire simmers directly beneath the surface. Dangerously close. And I suppose I can’t entirely blame him. He presented us with a solution he worked hard to find, and we threw it straight back in his face. “As I said, I am merely presenting you with achoice, it is entirely up to you whether you take it.” He walks out of the room.

“You’re not fucking bonding with him, princess,” Axl snaps, his teeth bared.

“But if it saves you…” she protests.

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