Page 62 of Quintus

“Gabriella. I will repeat it a million times. I’d never hurt you.” He reached for her hand, and brought her palm to his lips.

Her body sizzled in awareness, his warm breath on her skin. Mine, her beast whispered. She closed her eyes briefly, letting his energy flow through her. My vampire. Even three stories underground, in the midst of death, she craved him.

“Do it,” she said, her voice soft.

His fangs sent a rush of desire through her the second he pierced her wrist, but it was gone as fast as it came. She released an audible sigh, her body flushed with arousal.

“You okay?” he asked, still holding her arm.

“Yes.” Gabriella forced herself to concentrate on her surroundings, expelling desire and replacing it with a sense of purpose. The first witch.

“I’m not sure what to do, but I’m thinking your blood is the key.” Quintus released her.

“I am the Rudhirasāra. I am the witch. The legacy.” Gabriella pressed her fingers to her wound, and then swiped the blood across the markings. She closed her eyes, repeating a simple protection spell. Goddess and angels, keep me safe from all evil. Bring to us what we seek. Despite her effort, the hum beneath her fingertips never altered. While certain the bones were near, her words did nothing to conjure their location.

Gabriella blew out a breath and blinked open her eyes. Her lips tightened in frustration. “It’s not working. Something’s wrong.”

“It needs something else. I am the Rudhirapāyin. The blood drinker.” Quintus swiped a finger over his bloodied fang and pierced his own flesh. “This.”

As he smeared their mixed blood on the wall, Gabriella’s eyes flew open, a lightning bolt of supernatural light spearing from the fissure in the wall into her chest. The power of the first witch channeled through her, the high priestess’ soul reaching to her psyche. Unable to control her own movements, her mouth opened, light beaming from her lips.

Her body frozen, her focus went to Quintus and Hunter who attempted to reach her. Blinded by the field of bright white light surrounding her body, they also became immobilized. Oddly, she remained calm as the stream poured through her lips, its light searing the stone across the wall. Rumbling sounded throughout the small chamber, rocks and dust raining upon them.

Goddess no, she prayed as her body drained of its energy. The light extinguished in an instant, and she collapsed to the ground.

“Gabriella.” Quintus’ smooth voice wrapped around her as she roused. Exhausted, she rolled onto her side, embracing his touch.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Hmm…yeah. I’m just a little tired.”

“Can you sit up?” He knelt, taking her into his arms.

“I…I still feel…ah.” As she glanced up to Quintus, she blinked. A rainbow-colored aura surrounded him, and she struggled to regain clarity.

“Hey boys and girls,” Hunter called. “Lookie, lookie.”

“The first witch.” Gabriella’s eyes widened in excitement. She attempted to push up onto her feet, relying on Quintus to guide her upward.

“What is it?” Quintus asked, not leaving his mate.

“It looks like…I don’t know. It fuck…I can’t believe that of all the bones in a body, this is what we got.”

Gabriella glanced at Hunter who held up a knife-like object. “Is that it?”

She reached out to finger the cold rough item. Smooth on one side and rough on the other, the thin flat bone was nearly six inches long. Dark vibrations bristled on its surface, and she jerked her hand away. “This thing…this bone…it’s evil.”

“Gabriella, look at me,” Quintus told her, cupping her cheeks in his hands.

“But that bone…” Gabriella lost her words as her gaze caught Quintus’. Are you all right? she heard him ask, aware his lips hadn’t moved. Her body tingled from the light of her ancestors, but his energy began to overshadow the other. “I…yes. I’m okay.”

“Hunter,” Quintus said, all the while keeping his focus on Gabriella. “Can you wrap that in something and put it away?”

“You bet. This is some creepy ass bone.”

Gabriella startled as a quickening flipped her stomach. “They’re here.”

“Who’s here?” Hunter asked, stuffing the artifact in his coat pocket. He pushed to his feet and stilled as a flash of light swirled in the chamber. “What the fuck?”