Page 182 of Obsidian and Frost
As I sat on the tall stool that Cassius had grabbed for me, also shirtless and without my comfy forest-green hoodie, I looked out at Velra standing just off to my right holding hands with Cassius.
I could feel the intensity coming off them, their pulses a little faster than normal, even though they were flashing me reassuring smiles.
They were worried about what Sylas would find through the Blood Traceandhow I’d react, what it might do to me.
Not surprising given my outburst earlier.
That shit had been building though. It’s not like I was some crazed, melodramatic, chaos-bringer. I’d had my reasons.
“As much as I’m enjoying this new take on theBlood Trace, especially with you baring all that hotness right in front of me, this isn’t how I remember the spell when I had that sorceress do it for me.”
“Good, because given how inexperienced she was, she would have killed herself,” Sylas told me.
“He needs to break the Death Seal,” Cassius explained.
Sylas stepped right up close to me. “Now, for most beings, this would be aggravating, unsettling, and painful for them. But for you, it’ll likely be highly arousing. However, under no circumstances can you rise to that or break my concentration.”
“Please. Icancontrol myself.” Off their looks, I added, “When it’s called for.”
I eyed Velra and she gave a nod. “Yes, you can. You did very well with me.”
“Vindicated,” I told Sylas.
He gave me a withering look.
But, despite my words, as he pressed the blade to the center of my chest, I swallowed hard and tensed.
“Ready, babe?”
“Yes,” I breathed. “Do it.”
The blade pierced my skin, earning a hiss from me.
He drew it down and around, carving into me, creating two magical symbols that I didn’t recognize.
Despite not being a magic-wielder, I was suitably schooled in the magical arts—something Wraeven Academy insisted on for non-magical beings as a form of protection—but these were deep in necromantic lore. And he was definitely doing it differently to how that sorceress had for me. I guess he was creating something to break that Death Seal first, and then he’d do the actual Blood Trace.
I dug my fingers into the seat of the stool as the burning pain continued on as he cut into me, blood dripping down my torso all fucking over.
While the scent of my own blood didn’t turn me on, the fact that it was him cutting into me was definitely arousing as fuck.
He finally stopped cutting and then he spun the knife and sliced both his palms open with a grunt.
He handed the knife off to Cassius, who returned it to the case after cleaning it of blood with a spark of his magic.
I saw Velra cringing as she looked on.
“All good, love,” I choked out.
Cassius wrapped his arm around her and stroked her hair.Good.She wasn’t squeamish, but she didn’t like us hurting. I’d be the same way if it was her undergoing this. Actually, let’s face it, I’d be way worse.
Sylas’ magic flamed as he held his palms out toward me. “Brace yourself,” he warned. “This will be a lot to take.”
I had a ton of dirty responses to that one, but I forced myself to swallow them down after what he’d told me before he’d started. He couldn’t be distracted.
So, I just gave a nod.
He pressed his palms directly over the symbols he’d carved into my chest.
