Page 60 of Quintus

“Not yet. I’ll walk away.” Her wolf cringed, whining as she issued her threat.

“I’ve indulged you far too long, bella. We’re doing things my way now. We’ll discuss what you did later and the repercussions for leaving.” Quintus took two broad steps, closing in on her.

“You have another mate,” she accused.

“There will never be anyone else but you,” he promised.

“But I…” Her hands trembled as her traitorous wolf threatened to submit, but she stood firm.

“Not another word. This isn’t the place. Do you understand?”

“Fine,” she spat through gritted teeth. She’d run again the first chance she got. There was no way she’d stay with a man who cheated on her, who belonged to another woman.

Quintus reached over her shoulder, placing his palm onto the wall. Her body prickled in awareness of his touch, the heat of his body emanating onto hers. She sighed as his lips brushed her ear.

“This is far from over,” he warned.

She blinked, a rush of air to her lungs as a rustle sounded behind Quintus. Out of the shadows, Hunter pressed up onto his hands and knees, his glowing eyes set on hers. With Quintus surrounding her, she hadn’t noticed him in the darkness.

“You never run from your Alpha.” Hunter shoved to his feet, brushed off his hands on his pants, and looked to Quintus. “Fuck me, that was a hell of a ride.”

“Hell is exactly where we’re at,” Quintus said as he fingered the triangular design. “This is Lucifer’s mark. Whoever did this was powerful. If they were alive, they most certainly used black magick, but more than that…Goddess, can you feel it?”

“The limestone generates its own energy, but something is in here,” she said.

“Something evil.”

“I feel it but it’s not overwhelming me.”

“It’s because whoever created it is tied to you. You’re the legacy,” Quintus surmised. “These markings. Sanskrit. You see? Asrik. It means blood.” He removed his hands, and blew out a breath. “Whoever did this made a sacrifice. I can feel it in these walls.”

“A shit ton of bodies were dumped down here. Maybe it’s just some leftover bad juju,” Hunter suggested.

“No. This…this is really dark shit. Demons were summoned. Maybe Lucifer himself,” Quintus guessed.

“I can feel her bones. She’s here.” Gabriella scanned the room.

“Looks empty to me but ya know witches can hide their shit like nobody’s biz.” Hunter’s boots crunched over the graveled floor as he inspected the area.

“It’s in the message. Your blood,” Quintus said.

“I should have known the bitch would want my blood, but still, why me?” Gabriella pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead, attempting to figure out what kind of spell they’d need to find the bones.

“Very good question. If it were so easy to take down the high priestess, I’d assume others would have tried,” Quintus said, continuing to finger the words. “But this isn’t just blood. No, this says rudhirapāyin.”

“I’m not going to even ask how you know Sanskrit. But from the way you just said that, it doesn’t sound good,” Hunter said.

“Rudhirapāyin. That word…I don’t know. It sounds familiar. Like maybe…” Gabriella’s words trailed off as she closed her eyes, hearing the words of her mother play in her mind. “Rudhirapāyin. Blood drinking.”

“Or demon,” Quintus said, exhaling loudly. “This isn’t good.”

“So, let me get this straight,” Hunter began. “I’m just going to ballpark a guess at what’s going to happen. You need someone’s blood to find this thing.”

“Mine,” Gabriella said, placing her fingers onto the triangle.

“Yours?” Hunter asked.

“Rudhirasāra. Roughly translated means a person with blood. That’s Gabby,” Quintus said.