Page 119 of Blade's Battle
Blade reached behind him, and Frank slipped the cloth into his hand. “As you know, Angel, shifters exchange blood at a blood-bonding, not rings. The ultimate gift one can give a mate is to share a piece of his soul and his life force. I won’t ignore who you are and the traditions you grew up with, so. . .” Blade opened the cloth to reveal a matching set of gold wedding bands. One band was on a gold chain.
Tears of joys pooled into her eyes as he slipped a ring onto her finger. She reached out and took the second ring, the one on a chain. He bent his head, and she slipped the chain over his head. “I’ll wear it around my neck, so when I shift, it will always be with me, as you will always be with me.”
“Nice touch,” Damien said as he picked up the knife. “Now, if no one has any objections, time for the blood-bonding.”
“Stop this ceremony!” yelled a voice from the back of the pack.
Blade couldn’t believe what he was seeing. At first, he thought it was Hayden who was objecting, until he realized Hayden was standing in the front of the pack, only a few feet away from the dais.
Drake was shoving his way to the front.
“Don’t,” Damien growled as he clamped a hand on Blade’s arm, preventing him from attacking Drake.
“This ceremony is for pack only, Drake,” Damien said as he motioned toward two shifters. “My guards will escort you to my house. I’ll be there shortly to speak with you.”
“I’m here because of this mockery.”
“Get out of here, or I’ll—” Blade said until he caught Damien’s glare.
“Blade,” Tess whispered to gain his attention. “Anna.”
When Blade turned, he could see Anna was on the verge of collapsing. She was shaking and very pale. He placed his hand over hers and gave a slight squeeze to reassure her. This was her greatest fear, that Drake would find her and take her back.
“This ceremony is a farce,” Drake shouted for everyone in the pack to hear.
“There’s no law against shifters and humans blood-bonding,” Damien said. “Leave, Drake.”
Hayden stepped forward from the pack, taking his position alongside Damien. That show of loyalty to Damien further enraged Drake who stepped up onto the dais. Hayden side-stepped in front of Damien, and the two brothers locked eyes. “He said ‘leave’,” Hayden repeated.
“Not that this is your business, traitor, but I can’t leave until this ceremony is halted.”
“You’re not part of this pack,” Hayden said.
Drake stretched his torso to peer past Hayden and face Damien. “You will stop this farce of a bonding ceremony now. The human belongs to me.”
“Then you admit to imprisoning and torturing her?” Damien asked. “Be careful how you answer because she’s part of my pack. And I don’t take kindly to anyone kidnapping or abusing my pack.”
“And I don’t approve of anyone murdering members of mine.”
“Leave, Drake. Now,” Damien growled. “We’ll discuss this when I’m done here.”
“You can keep your murdering scout, Damien. I came for the woman.”
Damien pushed past Hayden. “Are you ready to go up against me, Drake? You’re on my territory right, threatening one of my pack. Treaties won’t save you from me if you touch her.”
“I’m not threatening anyone. I came to claim what is rightfully mine. And I’m not leaving without her. Unless you intend to start a war over her. Don’t forget that your pack is smaller than mine, Damien.”
“But yours is weak. The virus has crippled you.”
“Liam will side with me when he knows you’re keeping her from me.”
“What is she to you? Why do you want her so badly?”
Drake locked eyes with Damien. “Anna is my mate. We’ve already blood-bonded.”
Chapter Twenty
ANNA
