Page 51 of Burn Me

The sight sends a rush of dark desire coursing through me. Her pain is our rite of passage, her blood the ink writing our future.

Alistair is next, his gaze fixed on the unfolding ritual with intensity. The blade parts his flesh, a red line welling up against his pale skin. Charlie follows, a grin playing on his lips even as he bares his hand for the cut. Ben offers his hand next, and his blood joins ours on the stone floor.

“Per tenebras regnabimus,” Aldritch murmurs, and a chill courses through me.We will reign through darkness.

The Latin sears itself into my mind, words older than time wrapping around us like chains. Power unfurls within the room, invisible yet undeniable, and I feel it snake through my veins, answering the call of those ancient syllables.

“Potestas... obscurum... imperium...” The chant builds, each word a key turning in unseen locks. It’s as if the nightmarescome alive, twisting around our joined fates, binding us closer than any vow.Power... dark... control.

She doesn’t look at me, but I know she feels it too—this surge of something wild and untamed that now races through our blood, making us more than we were, darker, hungrier, unstoppable.

We stand together, the queen and the Four Cardinals, and I realise there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. My love for Ever is a force beyond control, beyond reason, and as the ritual reaches its crescendo, I know this is only the beginning.

Ever bows her head as Aldritch places his ancient book on a pedestal and picks up a crown of twisted thorns. He steps toward her, the crown hovering just inches from her head, as Alistair removes the gold circlet. Every part of my being screams to protect her, to shield her from the pain, from the burden. But this is her moment—her ascent.

Aldritch’s voice rises, solemn and commanding, as he places the crown upon her bowed head. “Per coronam spinis, regina facta est.”By the crown of thorns, a queen is made.

The sharp points bite into her flesh, droplets of blood welling up on her skin—a physical manifestation of her covenant with the dark forces we’ve invoked.

The room falls utterly silent for a heartbeat—our collective breath held in reverence or maybe fear—as Ever slowly lifts her gaze. The power in her eyes is palpable, a tangible force that demands respect. Her blood trickles down her forehead, but she doesn’t wipe them away as she turns from Aldritch to face the sect behind her. She is the overseer of the Guardians of KnightsGate and KnightsCastle. All those who come after her, after us, will answer to her and her authority will be absolute. A sect within a sect, if you will. She has autonomy, and while the four of us know how we’d use it to rule with blood and iron, she won’t.

No, Ever will turn this shit on its head, and the Elders won’t know what hit them.

A rare smile passes over my lips, and she catches it and giggles. She knows what I’m thinking, and I love that about her. I loveher.

The coronation ends and Ever stands before us, her head bowed as the crown of thorns settles onto her pale hair. She’s regal, fierce, a queen in more than just title now. I can’t tear my eyes away; her pain is beautiful, something I wish to both soothe and increase.

“Long live the queen,” Alistair murmurs with a smirk.

“Fuck off,” she hisses, but gives him a wicked grin. “Is it over? Can we go?”

“Let’s go,” I confirm with a nod and passing everyone, not stopping to receive well wishes, congratulations or exchange pleasantries, we leave the ceremony behind, its ancient stones holding the memory of our dark oaths.

As we approach KnightsGate Manor, I frown, and I’m out of the car before Ben has even cut the engine.

Lila, Cassidy, and Sasha are waiting outside, hovering and nervous.

When Ever climbs out of the car, we surround her. There is nothing left for her with these people who believed lies about her so easily. Who betrayed her in the blink of an eye. Crystal was a master manipulator who knew how to play the game.

Just not well enough.

“Ever, please,” Lila says. “We need to talk. Alone.”

“I have nothing to say to you.” Her voice is ice, her back turned to them as she walks through the iron gates to the front door.

“Ever, you don’t know who these guys are. You aren’t safe,” Cassidy says.

Sasha steps forward, anger etched on her features. “They were the ones who set fire to our house so they could drag you into whatever shit this is. What the fuck are you wearing?” Sasha snaps, glaring at us.

We close ranks around her, a silent show of force.

“Leave,” Alistair states. “You’re on my property, and you’re trespassing.”

“We need to talk to Ever!” Lila yells, getting agitated. “You can’t stop her from talking to us.”

“Watch me,” he murmurs, and with a slight raise of his eyebrow, we turn and follow Ever to the door, slamming the iron gates behind us, locking Ever away from the world and from the people she no longer needs in her life.

24

---