Page 73 of Sinful Shifters

Almost as if it's been waiting for long enough and wants its guardians back.

Thale observes, "It needs a guardian."

"Itdemandsa guardian," Lucian says. "Eli isn't lying about its desire for sacrifice. It was built on sacrificial magic, and it has an unending quench for it."

Anxiety pricks me. "What'll happen to the mate bond if one of you goes back in?"

"I don't know," Thale confesses. "All I know is, Teller has to be up to something, and this wellspring is the most powerful of them all. It's the only one that can keep the Destiny Packs together long enough to rebuild them properly so they can fight him off."

"I'll do it." We all look at Eli, who's sitting upright, vigor on his face for once. "I'll sacrifice myself to become the wellspring's guardian."

I laugh, but he isn't kidding. "I know that I messed up by summoning my brother. I need to atone. And I know you won't leave me alive, so I might as well die doing something useful."

He isn't wrong about that, I didn't plan on leaving him alive any more than I planned on leaving his mad brother alive.

"I want to be more than just a lost soul inside it," he announces, raising his chin fiercely. "I want to be a true guardian. And I'll repent for what I've done while I guard the wellspring—I promise."

"I don't know," Everett says. "It may not be enough."

Adar points out, "It solves all our problems in one fell swoop. And if it doesn't work, we're in the same spot we are now. We've lost nothing."

As if on cue, the wellspring trembles again.

And Ali burst into the prison, her eyes darting around. "Well. You all felt that. What are you planning on doing about it?"

Chapter63

Rina

Eli seems pleased to be led up in chains to the Mating Circle, which doesn't sit right with me. But there's a crack running across the stones, and we need a sacrifice. I won't give up my mates to it, which means he's the next best thing.

"Are you ready?" Ali asks me. "We can only do this once."

"I'm ready. Let's do it."

She steps up to the witches' plinth, and I step up to the one for the alpha. Thale stands behind me, lending me his support. Through our bonds, I can feel his connection to both the pack and the wellspring at our feet.

Together, Ali and I raise our voices as one.

Ancient magic, we call to you.

Let the barrier between our world

And the next open wide.

Let power release itself from its bonds.

The stones beneath our feet begin to glow. Adar yanks Eli towards the center of the circle, and he stands there, his face lit by moonlight, an eager expression dancing on his lips.

My stomach rolls.

This is our sacrifice, our offering to you.

We call on you to take back what was once yours.

Let the willing guard your ancient halls,

and let us keep what once was.

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