Page 93 of Bound in Blood

Her eyes narrow, but she does not argue the point with me further. “Why Malachi, though? If Giorgios has been planning something all this time, then every move he makes is a strategic one. Why Malachi?” She directs the last question to Ophelia and Xavier.

Xavier shrugs and runs a hand through his hair.

“Enora is right,” I say. “There must be a reason he was taken. Giorgios said as much. Was there anything at all that he said or did to reveal why Malachi may be his target?”

They stare at me blankly for a few seconds. “Giorgios seemed strangely interested in who bit me first,” Ophelia murmurs as if she is talking to herself. “The way he asked when we weren’t talking about anything to do with that—it was weird.”

“But that has no bearing here because Axl was the first to bite you.”

Her eyes grow wide, and panic bubbles up inside her. “Yes, I know, but Malachi said it was him. I don’t even know why now, but Giorgios seemed weirdly curious about it.”

Enora presses her lips together and flashes me a knowing look. She is thinking about the damn prophecy. I suppress my frustration. “So Giorgios took Malachi because he believes he was the first to taste your blood.”

Xavier blinks at me. “And the wraith was actually supposed to take Axl?”

“If we are assuming that is the case, then this could be a good thing. It buys us a little more time.”

Xavier shakes his head. “But what the fuck has he taken him for? What the hell has biting Ophelia first got to do with anything?”

Enora speaks before I can stop her. “The one who first drinks from the untouched vessel determines its poison or its nectar.”

Ophelia and Xavier stare at her, their faces masks of confusion.

“Stop, Enora,” I growl.

She scowls at me, her slender hands balled into fists. “You can deny it no longer, Alexandros! Ophelia is the child of the prophecy.”

I advance on her, my muscles rigid with anger. “I will not make decisions based on archaic nonsense.”

She straightens her spine and tilts her jaw, her gray eyes sparking with defiance. “Then make them based on facts. Ophelia was born in fire and blood. She has mastery over fourelements, making her one of the most powerful beings who ever lived.”

“Stop!” I roar.

She presses her lips into a thin line and glares at me. We are wasting precious time. Ophelia’s hand curls into mine, and warmth snakes along my forearm, easing the tension in my muscles. “Alexandros.” Her voice is soft and soothing. “I have been told of this prophecy so many times now. Can you at least tell me what it is?”

I turn to her. She is so innocent. So pure. How can I put this on her? She will hear the words, and she will know, as I do, that she is the one it speaks of.

“I will speak it if you cannot,” Enora says.

I glance at Xavier, whose eyes are pleading with me too. Every instinct I have tells me to take her and run, but instead, I give Enora a nod.

Her lilting voice fills the room.

“Until the balance tips to inevitable destruction,

the sands of fate shall shift unrelenting.

And those who cannot live in peace,

shall thrive amongst the anarchy.

Until Chaos swallows whole the universe once more

and Gaea, Tartarus, and Eros do mourn.

“But there is one who can save the fates of all.

For the child borne of fire and blood

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