Page 44 of Sigils & Spells

“I give you this collar as a symbol of your submission,” he whispers in my ear.

If he thinks he’s going to get that, he’s in for a shock. I don’t know if his queen submitted to him, but it’s the last thing I intend to do. Keeping hold of my arm, he turns back to the people.

“Make the offering.”

I gasp as each of my fellow students holds up their right hand and a Fae warrior wielding a dagger steps forward. They cut into the humans’ palms and blood drips to the ground.

“What’s happening?” I ask, startled by this turn of events.

“A sacrifice must be made to ease your passage home,” Fionn says. “These pathetic mortals will cross over to my realm and live out their days in servitude.”

I look at him, stunned.

“They agreed to that?”

“Not exactly.” He looks completely unrepentant at having tricked them. “Now, my queen, it is time to go home.”

A part of me wants to go with him, but another part wants to stay right here. As Fionn wraps his arm around me, I know he’ll never let me go. I cry out as the earth rumbles beneath our feet. The stone slab splits open and together, we tumble into darkness.

*.*.*.*.*

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