's gnarled hand. Moonlight filtered through the cracked stone above, falling

flinch. She cou

The mark on her wrist throbbed, alive with heat and power. Not just Thorne's magic. Now it pulsed with so

ehind her, sil

dlelight, "this ritual does not simply sever. It awakens. Once we begin, you

ded once. "

the priest revealed what they'd accidentally bound between them. But she could feel his presence behind h

, maybe. Or

liquid-thick, tar-like. Evelina caught a whiff

again. The flames around them guttered, bending inw

te-hot pain seared through her wrist, slicing down her arm and into

didn't

e

a stone altar, whispering a

ct with Thorne, a sly grin hi

sleep as shadows c

own chest to feed a dying vampire, whispering,

daughter. Line to line. She was never meant

eone brok

ground. She wasn't sure when he'd moved-just that his arms w

ina's wrist erupted in crimson light before vanishing-

-sil

lsing. No

ract was

ed. A pull not toward Thorne, bu

ed up at

kn

d in the blood between them. It shimmered in the space where their skin

with exhaustion. "The vow is severed. Th

herself uprig

he vow held more than just a claim. It kept balance. I

ghtened. "What

velina, not Lucien. "Y

ed into the shadows, ro

inst the altar, sh

were still on her wrist-now bar

ooked at her mad

for this," he

eplied. "But I

ped to hers.

d means I'm not a pawn

"It also means I can feel yo

th hitch

rrifie

fluttered against her throat-not from fear. Fr

hed for

you feel," s

is fingers around hers, and the

irrored ache. Their magic curled together like s

ou," she

to her ear. "Then yo

es

led in the spac

hers, a sound shattered the m

fened. "The

sked, heart slammin

rowled. "Worse

the narrow exit. "W

y r

snarls. Lucien moved like lightning, Evelina at his side, guided more by instinct than mem

tunnel split. He turned to

won

ight h

you?" she asked

expression. "Then I hope whatever's inside y

pulled him into a kiss-b

e whispered, "I'd bu

over the tun

oved her

with cold fire. More followed, cloaked in the ancient garb

sence was

contract," one

s teeth. "She w

" another said. "The

d forward. "I

hoose," the Elder h

d, dark energy gather

de him, her own ha

know what s

t she wo

ders a

leane

s," he whispered

voice wa

way

h

attle