Page 34 of Defying the Relic Hunter

“It’s the Coletti version of a wedding ring,” Ethan hastily inserted. “It proclaims to the universe that you belong to me. He opened the box and held it out to me. It contained an onyx neck band with intricate copper etchings.

Everyone knew the Coletti were a possessive bunch. “It’s beautiful.”

A relieved smile lit up Ethan’s face and he quickly fastened the band around my neck. The warm metal band adjusted to fit my neck perfectly. “Our souls are forever united.”

“Aw, that’s so sweet, but you do realize I come with a lot of baggage?” I grabbed my bracelet and quickly put it on.

“Such as?”

The temperature dropped radically as Granny Annabel materialized looking like something out of a zombie movie.

“Her.”

Ethan’s right hand dropped to his weapon.

Displaying nerves of steel, Zarek and Voss remained seated and casually studied Granny.

“Gentlemen, this is my grandmother, Annabel Dragos, and I’m not sure why she looks like this.” I gestured at her scary as hell form.“What’s up with the walking dead look?”

Granny threw out her arms dramatically.“I was searching for you and this creature attacked me.”She flashed me the image of a feathered serpent with a dragonlike head.

“Holy crap! When you said beware of the serpent, you weren’t kidding! I never imagined the Thunder God was Quetzalcoatl.”

“He is not Quetzalcoatl. He projects this illusion to frighten people. The Thunder God was once an Aztec priest. He touched a sphere of great power and was transformed into something other. He believes this sphere granted him Godhood. Every full moon he captures a dozen men and women and performs ritual sacrifices to appease the ancient Gods.”Granny shuddered.“The trapped souls scream for vengeance.”

A knot formed in my stomach.“How many?”

“Too many for us to safely cross over.”

“Even if we had a summoning circle?”

“With the blood vendetta, none of the others will risk helping us,”Granny said sadly and turned her attention to Zarek. “The sphere’s power is fading, and the monster is looking for another source to feed from.”

“Which explains why he took Adan prisoner,”Ethan growled.

“I bet the Thunder God thought Granny would make a tasty treat too.”I grinned.“You opened a portal and drew him in, didn’t you?”

Granny gave me a smug smile.“I did. The Thunder God expended a great deal of energy escaping the wraiths.”

“Wraiths?”Ethan’s eyebrows climbed up his forehead.“Are you talking about things that go bump in the night?”

“In a way. Remember the esoteric plane is basically its own universe inhabited by unusual lifeforms.”I popped the image of a skeletal figure cloaked in vaporous shadows into his mind. “The wraiths are soulless creatures trapped in a hell of their own making. Anything they touch, dies.”

A worried frown creased Ethan’s forehead.“What keeps them from killing you?”

“This.”I held up my cross.“It’s been blessed by the Pope himself. The wraiths can’t touch me as long as I wear it.”

“And if you lost it?”

“I’d be a fool to open a portal,”I stated calmly.

Ethan wrapped a protective arm around me. “I’m getting you more crosses.”

“The Pope excommunicated the entire Dragos clan and refused to give me another blessed cross.”

“You’re not Dragos anymore and the Pope will give you as many crosses as you need,”Zarek stated darkly.

I couldn’t wait to see the Pope’s face when I showed up with my new clan.“That’s a good idea. Everyone needs to wear a blessed cross until this monster is defeated.”

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