Page 20 of A Trial By Blood

“They won’t know we’re here.”

“What? H-how?”

“They won’t see us,” he said.

Then I felt it, his power, the buzz of it surrounding us. “What kind of…power do you have?”

“It’s similar to my sister’s,” he said. “But also different.”

Luna could block herself and others. She was incredibly strong. “What can you do, Ronan?”

“I have concealed houses, entire streets and the beings on it. Concealing us both is no effort on my part.” Then he strode into the wood and headed toward the clearing where the mother would be waiting for me.

The cold had settled deep in my bones despite the layers of clothing Ronan had put on me, and it was only going to get worse. The sounds of wind whistled through the trees, while the strange calls and roars of demons and other creatures exploded into the night every now and then. Ronan didn’t pause or flinch, he strode quickly toward our destination.

All too soon, we reached the clearing, and Ronan strode right out to the middle. “What should I do now?” he asked.

There was a circle of rocks near us. “I need to light a fire there.” I pointed to the rocks. “And I need to…undress.”

His brows snapped down. “You can’t. It’s freezing out here.”

“It’s part of the ritual, and I’ll need something sharp. Do you have a knife?” We’d been in such a rush, and it’d been so long since I’d been strong enough to practice magic, I hadn’t even thought to bring my own.

“This doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

I touched his arm. “It’s how it has to be.”

Ronan held me against him with one strong arm and slipped his jacket off, then tossed it on the snowy ground before he carefully sat me down. “I have nothing to start a fire.”

I wasn’t sure I could do it. “It’s okay. Can you help me undress?”

His jaw worked before he kneeled down beside me and helped me remove my clothes. Once my sweater, shirt, and thermal were off, he dropped the coat over me, then slid off my pants, socks, and underwear. He placed a small pocketknife in my hand. Humiliated, I couldn’t meet his eyes.

All that was left was starting the fire. I stared into the circle and drew on the tiny embers of magic I still felt inside me. They were faint, barely there, but it stirred as I called on it, as I willed the fire to ignite.

A spark flashed in the center, then small flames licked up, racing around the edge. I collapsed back, the effort of performing such a simple spell too much for me. I looked up at Ronan. “You need to go. As soon as I say the words, she’ll come to me.”

He shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here beside you. She won’t see me.”

The look on his face brooked no argument. I felt his power leave me, and as soon as it did, Ronan was no longer there, though I knew he was, just blocked from my sight.

Gripping the knife in a shaky hand, I pressed it to my arm and sliced, unable to hold in my hiss of pain. “Guide me…old ones. I am your s-servant, the Keeper’s sister chosen to…f-fulfill the rite of Coven Thornheart.” The wind immediately picked up speed, frigid air flying around me so fast it hurt. “I’m here to accept…m-my task. Whatever you ask, I…I will undertake.” The coat was ripped from me, and shards of fine ice and snowflakes battered my naked, emaciated body. The icy wind stole my breath, and I hugged myself, my hair plastered to my face, my teeth clenched against the agonizing cold.

Then it came, the rattle both Willow and Iris had talked about. The mother was coming.

I searched the shadows, then slammed my eyes closed, remembering that I wasn’t to look at her until I was told I could, but I felt her presence. It was heavy, suffocating, dark and light, violent and joyous all at once. I’d never experienced anything like it in my life.

There was a hiss and a tickle against my arm. The serpent tasting my blood, making sure I was the witch she’d summoned.

Open your eyes, witch.

I did as she asked and gasped at the awesome sight of her. Nothing my sisters had told me could have ever prepared me for this. Her shiny, obsidian eyes were on me, moving over my nakedness.

You didn’t come alone. Her voice was hard, full of fury.

She knew Ronan was there. “I’m sorry, Mother. But I am unwell. I couldn’t journey here on my own.”

One moment Ronan was hidden behind his block, and the next, he stood there. His face was blank, but his fingers were curled into fists at his sides.