Page 95 of Rafe

“Hmm. True. Well, I’ll fly so high they can’t see me. If they bother us, I’ll call all my friends to help us attack.”

“Sounds like you have a plan.”

“Indeed, Alpha.” Skylar yawned and snuggled into his embrace.

As she fell asleep in the safety of his arms, she imagined soaring high in the clouds while her wolf ran wild. There was no need for reality. Tomorrow would come and the bond would be broken. Under the darkness of the eclipse, she’d be forced to let him go forever.

Rafe held tight to her hand as they approached Ilsbeth. It had been the best dream she’d ever had in her life…until reality once again loomed over her. Today was the end of her dream, with no return to what they’d shared. Rafe’s vampire would be forever banished, their bond shattered into a million pieces. Rather than indulging in the impending onslaught of feelings over the end of their relations, she chose acceptance.

“The eclipse is nigh.” Ilsbeth turned to Henri, who awaited her next command. “You may leave us. Gather the servants and remain in the safe room until I call for you.”

“Of course, madam.” He nodded, gave a brief bow, and exited without saying another word.

“We have twenty-five minutes,” Ilsbeth explained and pointed to the purple cloth on her altar. She reached for her sage and lit it on fire, cleansing her space, waving the smoke over the pouch.

Skylar had always loved sage but wasn’t sure she believed there was enough power in the smoke to rid the evil that awaited them. She watched as Ilsbeth set down the burning plant and tugged on the ribbons on the pouch, revealing its contents.

Ilsbeth’s eyes lit up with delight and pointed to a small vial filled with a crimson powder, a black feather and a stone. “Hellfire ashes. Crow feather. Amulet.”

“That’s it?” Rafe asked.

“Hellfire is hard to come by. The Fae are prohibited from giving it away. And this hellfire? It contains the ashes from my sister’s hair.”

Skylar’s stomach clenched. Rafe squeezed her hand and she released the breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

Ilsbeth’s demeanor flattened as she reached for the vial and held it up into the air, inspecting it. “I never told anyone. When I went to Hell. I wasn’t the only one. I don’t know whether it was my personal torture to be in a cell with that nightmare. It was only for a few minutes. I almost didn’t recognize her. She’d gone mad, you know? The woman near the fire? Her hair had thinned, clumps missing. Then I watched as she ripped it out, tossing the hairs one by one into a small fire.” Ilsbeth blew out a breath and looked to Greyson. “This was in the early days of my stay, of course. I was nearly like her by the time I left. Mad. But alas in that moment before, I’d collected the ashes. The crow had been a gift, or so I thought. In actuality it was used to torture me. And this stone? It’s infused with the memory of my spell.”

“How do you know this will work?” Skylar asked. Greyson rolled his eyes in response. “No, really? I think we all have a right to know. That thing in the nightclub, she’d infected those vampires. Or humans. Zombies? Whatever they were? We haven’t even seen her yet.”

“It will work. I rarely make mistakes, but when I do, I certainly don’t ever make them again. And besides, sweet child, I’m the High Priestess and I’m a good witch.”

Greyson burst out laughing and held up a finger, attempting to curb his laughter.

“You’d better be a good witch.”

“But of course. I saved you, didn’t I?”

“We get it. You’re on the karma train,” Dominique commented. “You know who isn’t? Xavier. He’s out there busting his ass in Vegas with your nightmare sister, and this prophecy better be real, or I’ll drag you back to hell myself.”

“What’s next?” Skylar asked.

“A sacrifice of course. Nothing in life is free.” Ilsbeth reached underneath the altar, pulled out a razor-sharp athame and smiled. “Who’s first?”

Skylar winced as the witch sliced her palm with the knife, blood trickling into her caldron. Rafe reached for her wrist and tugged it from Ilsbeth. Skylar locked eyes with him as he gently brought her hand to his lips. His tongue brushed over her skin, instantly healing her, her pain shifting, her heart aching in anticipation of losing him. I love you.

Rafe kissed her hand. “Hey, it’s gonna be all right.”

“Yes, yes,” she nodded.

“Time?” Ilsbeth called to Thorn.

“Two minutes,” he replied.

“We shall go to work under the darkness of the eclipse, harnessing its energy. It will be quick, but Zyaire is ever searching for a weakness. You must be ready to go after her.” Ilsbeth snatched the purple pouch off the altar. “Rafe. You must carry the sacrifice.”

“I feel like I’ve sacrificed enough for eternity.”

Skylar tugged her hand free and pressed her palm to his cheek. Within minutes it would all be over. Rafe would wake up from the spell, the bond broken between them, his wolf running free.