Page 60 of Seized By Magic

“Here.” Niall turned the book around to face me and passed it over. “This could work.”

A blood sacrifice. It was meant to save a person on the brink of death. Their life in exchange for another.

“Niall, we can’t.”

“It requires the amount of blood in one body. About five liters,” he began, then pulled his notebook toward him. “If we each give one and one-fourth liters, that's twenty-five percent of our total volume. That’s entirely survivable. We probably wouldn’t even need transfusions.”

Survivable and transfusion. The two words didn’t reassure me, but giving our blood might be our only option.

“Now, how do we find a witch willing to perform it?”

Niall sighed. “I have an idea.”

“You know someone?”

“Maybe.” He closed the books and stacked them neatly in one corner. “We’ll have to tread carefully. We can’t accuse someone of practicing dark magic, but I’ve heard enough rumors about her. I’m pretty sure.”

“Who?”

He picked up his backpack and slipped it over his shoulders. “Saige’s old roommate.”

I followed him down to the tunnels and to the girls’ dorm in silence. There was nothing else to say. I didn’t know who he was talking about, but if he was right, it would solve a huge issue. It was a waste of breath to ask if we could trust her. We didn’t have a choice. Either she would do this for us, and we would owe her, or she wouldn’t. She would be putting herself in a vulnerable position as well if she agreed. Hopefully, she cared enough about Saige to say yes.

Niall didn’t bother checking if the hall was clear before barging in and stopping in front of a door. He knocked and took a step back next to me.

At first, I thought no one would answer, but finally, I heard movement.

The door opened a few inches, and a stunning, raven-haired girl with light brown skin and mischievous eyes stared at us. “Saige doesn’t live here anymore.”

“Can we come in?” Niall asked.

She glared at him, then sized me up before opening the door wider and allowing us in before shutting and locking it.

“What?” She crossed her arms over her red silk pajamas, a set of matching shirt and shorts.

“What do you know?” Niall fired back.

Her lips curled. “You came to me. Don’t you think I should be asking the questions?”

“I’m not playing games, Natasha. What do you know about Saige?”

“I know you and whoever you are,” she paused, eyeing me, “share a bond mark. Plus, Theo Bridges and Sai Saleem.”

Niall nodded. “Have you noticed her absence lately?”

She shrugged a shoulder and looked away. “She’s not my roommate anymore. It’s not like I need to keep tabs on her.”

He took a step closer. “Natasha, I know you liked her. You don’t have to pretend you’re a heartless bitch in front of me.”

“I’m not pretending,” she shot back.

“You helped her. Several times. When you knew you’d get nothing in exchange. I know you like her.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine. Whatever. What does that have to do with her being missing?”

“So you did notice?”

“Of course. Most of our year has.” She flicked her eyes from Niall to me and back again. “Where is she?”

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