Page 45 of Blood

That kiss only cemented what we’ve both been dancing around for months now.

Does he know?

Did he feel our connection flaring to life with that one simple kiss?

Simple.

I scoff.

There was absolutely nothing simple about it.

He possessed me with each swipe of his tongue against my own. There was no doubt in that moment who I belonged to.

Alex is my motherfucking mate.

Which makes what I have to do so much harder.

“Alex, please.”

“You felt it, right?” His voice grows desperate. “The connection between us? You’re mine, Violet Dracula. Mine.”

“And you’re mine.” A single tear trickles down my cheek and catches on the edge of my lips. “Which is why I need to do this.” I take another step toward where Memphis stands at the end of the hallway. “But if you can’t be here to witness it—”

“No way in hell am I letting you go alone!” Alex barks, practically shouldering me out of the way in his rush to get into the room.

I don’t immediately follow him, though. Not with my emotions so raw and profound.

I have another mate.

Alex.

Why would the universe do this to me? Why would it make me accept my feelings for him and then threaten to tear me away? Fate’s nothing but a spinning coin just waiting to fall. Heads or tails, it doesn’t matter. Either option will end in bloodshed.

Pull on your big girl panties, Violet, I chastise myself firmly. You need to do this. For Alex. For Vin. For Dimitri. For Hux. For Jack. For Frankie. For Barret. For Cal.

For Mason.

My heartbeat steadily slows to a thrumming tune as I take a deep breath.

In and out.

In and out.

In and out.

Only when I’m sure I’m not going to fall apart do I step inside the room Memphis indicates.

“Welcome to the Fomorians’ prison!” Memphis swoops his claw out in a ta-da motion as I gape.

This...

This is what I expected a prison of Hell to look like.

Everything in this room is dark, drab, and dreary—the three Ds of despair. The brimstone walls seem to be leaking lava, the red and orange of the flames providing the only lighting. Directly in front of us is a huge doorway that almost appears to be nothing but a rock. Just...a rock. However, there are strange markings carved into the gray stone that seem to thrum with power.

I take a step closer just as the door swings shut behind me with an ominous thump.

“What do I need to do?” I don’t speak above a whisper. I can’t. There’s something about the quietness of the room that seems almost...tranquil. Peaceful? No, those words don’t sound right. It’s the type of silence you’d experience when you enter a bear’s den. You don’t even know you’re dead until a huge, furry paw connects with your face and slashes you to ribbons.

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