Page 40 of Tethered Fates

Sen tugs me into his chest, engulfing me in a protective embrace. “So if we kill Summer, then Teagan dies.”

“And if I die, Summer dies…” I whisper, fisting his shirt.

“Yep,” Elio says, popping the p. “Shitty luck, right?”

“And you could tell all that by his blood?” Kai asks, sounding desperate. He reaches for his braids on the left side of his face and pulls.

“Not all of it.” Elio clears his throat. “I also know the spell Summer used.”

“You’re hiding something,” Vidar bites out, cold and threatening as he gently strokes Kai’s jaw. “Explain. Now, blood mage. My patience is thin. And the same goes for you, Maker.”

For the first time since he came in, Elio shifts nervously, and Bran—who’s been watching us so quietly I nearly forgot he was in the room—breaks into the biggest grin.

“The spell was in the First Blood Mage Tome, which used to belong to the Blood Mage leader—the Sovereign…” Elio trails off, glancing at Bran as if for support, but when Elio is given nothing but a cocky smirk, his voice hardens as he continues alone, “Before he was killed, he ordered me to give the tome to Emma because…”

The only sound that follows is the windows rattling in the wind.

“Well, because she’s my mother.”

Chapter Fifteen - Sen

Vidar’s fist darts out to wrap around Elio’s throat. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t snap your neck.” He leans closer to Elio. “And make it quick.”

Elio gasps, swiping at Vidar.

I push in front of Teagan, and he allows it. Maybe he’s starting to trust me. Or he’s so tired of all this bullshit, it’s the easier path. I don’t blame him.

I’m tired of this smell, too.

More importantly, I get to feel the heat of him against me.

My thirst for Teagan’s closeness is an ache far greater than I’ve ever had from a sharp sip of sake, a luxurious sangria, or the burn of pure vodka. Or even the unfiltered seduction of blood. I could blame the soulmate bond, brush this aside as an odd interlude in my marvellous life and be on my way.

But when Teagan’s fists tug at my t-shirt as if looking for security that I’m here and real, and his beautiful scent coats my lungs with every inhale, I know I’ll never be able to walk away.

I suppress a conceding sigh, inwardly tipping my chin to Fate for winning this round. I can just imagine the know-it-all smirk she must be wearing.

“Vidar.” Kai throws his hands up. “The kid can’t speak if you’re choking him out.”

“And we can still kill him if he says something we don’t like,” I add, smirking at Elio.

Vidar grunts.

Silence.

Elio sucks in a sharp breath as Vidar frees our scentless blood mage.

“Fucking hell!” Elio coughs, shoving away from Vidar. “I didn’t have a fucking say in giving her the tome, alright? I fucking hate the lot of them. Emma included! I’ll prove it, just don’t try to kill me again when I show you my belly button.”

Teagan snorts a little laugh. I want to capture that sound and listen to it on repeat. “I wasn’t expecting the word ‘belly button’ to be used,” he remarks.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up.” Elio slides up his skin-tight thermal to show us the belly button in question, ringed in dark red symbols.

I let loose a sigh. “Well, that has complicated matters.”

Vidar moves back to Kai’s side with arms crossed, half his attention going back to Bran, who lounges with his elbows up against a dresser.

“What does that even prove?” Kai snipes. “Emma was a liar; he could still be lying.”