Page 113 of Tethered Fates

“Isn’t the answer obvious?” Bran chuckles darkly, then takes a healthy gulp of blood.

The answer is obvious, but too ridiculous to say aloud.

Vidar says through clenched teeth, “The First Blood Mage Tome was created by skinning an ancient, powerful supernatural alive. And they did it willingly.”

Bran smirks, amused.

“You can touch it,” I say slowly, disgusted, “because it is you.”

Ramy releases a long puff of air like he can’t believe what he’s hearing. “The blood mages are vampires’ greatest enemy and…”

“You helped create them.” The words leave Vidar like an anvil.

“Oops?” Bran offers, licking his lips.

I can’t help it; the truth of it is all too much. A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. “Can this family get any more fucked?”

Bran chuckles as if this is all one big joke as he stands. He is not a disapproving, but overall loving father, like Vidar. He’s certainly no brother. As he looks at us all in turn, he reminds me of Fate—to him, we are pawns to amuse him. Or to get him what he wants.

“I will do anything for my soulmate. You sit around, declaring all the terrible things you’d do for yours,” he says in that singsong way of his.

He downs his glass of blood, throat bobbing as he swallows. Then tosses it out the window to smash with little care.

“Well, I have done all those terrible things. And would again and again and—” Bran’s jaw ticks, a crack in his armour. Or sanity. Then he straightens with a bone-chilling grin. “I will not be denied what is mine.”

I share a glance with Vidar, Luc and Ramy—Bran cannot be trusted.

Bran sees this, and he doesn’t care. He claps once, shaking his shoulders in an excited little shimmy. “Now, I’m still hungry. I’m off out to find myself a better snack.”

“What are you going to do about the tome?” I ask.

“I could hide it under the floorboards. I did that once with a ruby brooch.” With that, Bran leaves without a care.

No one stops him. I’m not sure any of us know how.

“Well.” I cock an eyebrow. “Nice to know he’s still fucking terrifying.”

“Is that all you have to say?” Ramy argues. “He just admitted to…”

“And there is nothing we can do about it,” Vidar tells Ramy, stepping over to our youngest and stroking his hair behind his ear. “Apart from keeping quiet about it. Understood?”

After a beat, Ramy sighs, defeated, then walks away to join the mates. Luc looks at us, a wrinkle between his brow, before following Ramy.

“We’re going to kill Summer, correct?” I ask Vidar.

He folds his arms, staring after the others with a frown. “She’s the demon’s problem now.”

I raise an eyebrow.

“We can’t get into their realm even if I wanted us to. Which I do not.” He looks to me. “We’ve been through enough, Sen. It’s time to move on.”

“Away from the city? Teagan and Kai won’t like that.”

Vidar doesn’t say anything, but I feel the weight of our family on his shoulders. “We’ve been through enough,” he repeats, then leaves to follow the voice of his mate.

A part of me doesn’t want to give up so easily, and I know neither does Vidar. Or Luc, for that matter. But more than anything, I want to protect Teagan from further damage. And I know that’s where Luc and Vidar’s minds are.

I leave the kitchen, distracted by images of ripping Summer to shreds, when my phone rings as I walk up the stairs, towards Teagan’s raspy laughter.