Page 178 of Owned

I traced my bloody hand over the symbols that blossomed on the pages.

“What is it—”

“This is how you will take Lucian by surprise—”the voice in my mind murmured.“My precious girl—”

“What—”

“Can you not see?”The emotionless whisper that was always kept just out of reach sounded different. Grew stronger.

It was intimate.

Too familiar.

Too close.

The blood trail I’d left on the Grimoire’s page was already disappearing into the parchment, and the symbols that only moments ago had made no sense to me were clear as day.

A binding.

But not the basic spell I’d learned during my time with the Sages. Or the one I’d laid on my stepbrothers.

Something deeper.

Something dangerous.

It was a level of magic that I’d never dared to imagine myself capable of.

“It is the only way,”the grimoire said.“Lucian is too strong. Without this— you will fail.”

“I know,” I hissed.

The grimoire tingled with delight at my defiance, and the presence in my mind swelled.

“That’s my girl—”

“Stop—” I started, but I was already on my feet.

I pushed my bloody hand through my hair before I realized what I was doing. I stared at my scarlet-stained fingers infascination as the wounds closed over. My breath came in ragged gasps.

“What are you asking me to do?” I choked out.

“Let me in,”the voice said.“Let me guide you—”

“No,” I whispered.

But even as I said it, I knew that if I didn’t agree I would be dead before the moon rose over the estate on my wedding night.

I licked my lips nervously as I stared at the arcane symbols on the grimoire’s pages.

Symbols I had never seen before.

A different binding.

A spirit binding.

“The Black Thread,”the grimoire urged.“My power will flow into you—will guide your steps. And your hand.”

“But—”

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