Page 9 of Fated In Forever
“Whatwasin the water?”
Her shoulders slumped. “My blood. Ravok cut my arm, and made me bleed into the pool, which turned the water red, and seemed to…activate the spell, somehow. That was a key part of the ritual.” Panicked, I reached out and took her arm, and yes, there on the inside of her arm, carved into her perfect, pale skin, was a long, jagged scar. Hatred welled up like bubbling poison, my chest rumbling.
Stop. I’m fine. It’s over, and now we need to worry about how to get you back to your old, arrogant self.
He hurt you.All I could see was that silver athame in Ravok’s hand, the jagged proof of his cruelty in Evangeline’s skin.He marked you.A tidal wave of rage roared through me, eclipsing everything.
Stop.Vicious skimmed her delicate fingers across my hand and the rage stopped, shadows disappearing.I’m alive, because of you. We came here for a reason, Malachi, now what do you need Brendan to do? Tell me how he can fix this.
I didn’t have the heart to tell her we weren’t here for me.
That there was not enough magic in the world tofix this.
“Why your blood?” Brendan asked slowly. “What is so special about it?”
Vicious bit her lip, looked uncertainly to me and after a moment, I nodded. “Because my given name is Evangeline Silverwood. I’m the daughter of Silas Silverwood.” She swallowed, and I despised the bitter tang of guiltseeping from her. “But trust me, they were never my family.”
She grasped my hand, her pale fingers wrapping around mine. “I’m one of you now. Riordan turned me, and Blake is my mate, and Malachi…well, we’re still working things out, I suppose, but I know exactly where I belong.” For a moment, I got lost in the depths of her beautiful eyes, in the utter trust she put in me.
“Then what, exactly, do you need from me?” Brendan asked, looking between us. “Why did you come?”
Let me explain to him, mind to mind, what I need. It will be faster that way,I assured her, hoping she wouldn’t question my sudden unwillingness to have her acting as my intermediary. I firmed my grip on her hand.If you could warn him, that would be helpful.
Evangeline narrowed her eyes, her heart slowing down as she searched my face for my true motives.Clever girl.“Malachi wants to speak to you mind to mind, if that would be all right?”
Brendan set down his pen, his expression turning wary as he braced his hands on the desk. “Tell him I’m ready whenever he is.”
She isto know nothing of this conversation. Not a single word, do you understand? Swear it.
Brendan blew out a resigned breath, as if he expected this all along.You have my word. I expect you have good reason for leaving your soul bonded mate out of this, but go ahead.His expression cracked at my snort of surprise,What? You didn’tthink I’d notice? There’s a reason you came to me, Draven, now start talking.
Not only did Evangeline’s blood instigate the ritual, she threw herself into the middle of it, just as I was transforming. Somehow, she prevented me from turning completely into Orcus, and now we’re bonded. I need to know what that means.
It means you get a reprieve. You should thank your lucky stars, it’s more than you deserve.
Not what it means for me, asshole, what does this mean for her? I need you to break this bond between us, so when I turn the rest of the way, I don’t drag her down with me.
When did you become so noble, Draven? The last time I saw you was over a pile of dead bodies.
They fucking deserved their punishment and you know it. Don’t play high and mighty with me, Thorne. We both know what you did for love. Did you do any less? Did you let Lyra spend the rest of her life in the hands of a cruel, power-hungry male? No you didn’t.
How can you know that?His keen gaze narrowed, hand moving toward the knife hidden in his drawer.There are only a handful of vampires who know the truth.
I know more than I’d like, trust me. But that is not why I’m here. Can you break the bond and free Evangeline or not?His face fell and I leaned back—as much as my bulk would allow, pulling Evie into my lap, praying the bench held and we didn’t end up on Brendan’s floor.
Ihadto hold her. She was worried.Scared.
And I hated these emotions flowing from her, emotions I felt more intensely than my own. I tugged her until she was tight against my chest, gently running my finger down the crease between her brows—the one that had been there since we’d arrived—and didn’t stop until she relaxed with an annoyed exhale.
No, I didn’t think so. Now break this bond between us. You’ve done such things before, and I will not go to my grave knowing she’s shackled to me.
It’s not that simple.
Fine. If you won’t help me, I’ll ask Esme, then.That’s where I should have gone first. I should have gone straight to the Sanctum and demanded she return The Book, not wasted my time with Brendan Thorne’s outdated idea of right and wrong.
Esme is dead.
My heart stopped beating for a moment, my mind turning into a black hole.That’s impossible. Nothing could kill Esme, nothing…Except an Elder.And that’s when I finally put all the pieces together.
