“‘The binding shall be sealed, and the Chalice shall bear it within.’” Cally finished. “Do you have something we can use? Any goblets around here?”
“Ma chérie, you are speaking to a vampire,” he said slowly.
“It’s not like I’ve forgotten.”
“No?” He raised an amused eyebrow. “Read it again.”
Cally gave him a strange look, then focused back on the screen, biting her lip. It didn’t take her long. “You’rethe Chalice! But that means we drink each other’s blood!” That didn’t appeal at all—not for her, at least.
“Exactement.”He pushed himself up, shoulders tense, stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans, and strode a few paces away. Radiating awkwardness.
“That’s another of the six French words I know,” she said, trying to lighten the mood. He didn’t react. “What is it, Antoine?”
He turned then. “Do you know how a thrall is made?”
“Uh, no?”
“I feed them some of my blood. It doesn’t take long, and it’s quite painful, but afterwards, they are mine to command.”
“Oh,” she said quietly.
“Oh indeed.” He pressed his lips together. “We can’t do this. Not if it would enthrall you.”
She considered it, frowning, then lifted her chin and met his gaze. “Why not?”
“Were you not listening? This spell willenthrallyou.”
“Yeah, I got that bit. I spoke to Noah. He said he still has free will.”
“Yes, but—” His head fell, and he stuffed his hand back in his pocket. “That’s not the point. You would become athrall.”
“Would you love me less?”
His head came up and he blinked in surprise. “No, never.”
“Then so what?IfI became your thrall—and given that I’m a witch, there’s no guarantee, right?—then you could control me the way the bond…” She shook her head, then finished her sentence. “The way the bond will let me compel you.” She laughed bitterly. “Maybe they’ll cancel each other out.” She rose, walking to him, and placed her hand on his chest. “There are advantages.”
“I don’t see any,” he said stubbornly.
“You can talk to your thralls from any distance, right?”
“Yes,” he admitted with reluctance.
“And you could have me bend over the sofa whenever you wanted.”
His lips twitched, like the thought appealed, and she made a mental note to try that again, sometime soon.
“The way I see it, there are only benefits,” she continued. “What did you say when I told you I had this power over you?” She feigned thoughtful recollection, then answered her own question. “‘There is no one else I would trust with such power over me. And I do trust you,mon amour.’” She went up on her toes to kiss him. “I love you, with all my heart. If you end up making me your thrall, then… good.”
Forty-Eight
“All right, I’m ready,” Cally said.
Antoine looked up from where he sat on the bed. “I still have my doubts about this, but I will go through with it if you are certain.” He paused. “Areyou certain,ma chérie?”
“Absolutely,” she said without hesitation, trying to convey all her confidence and none of her doubts.
He inclined his head like he expected nothing less. “And can you stop the spell if it draws too much power?”
