AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sin.” I step between them, pushing on Sindri’s solid chest. “Don’t. Now is not the time.”
“He started it.”
“For a fae grand prince,” I say, “you sound like a two-year-old sometimes.”
“Ha.” Ashton sticks his tongue out at Sindri.
I whirl on him. “And so do you, Ash. Can we please focus on the matter at hand?”
His expression closes off, and I’m already regretting what I said. The tension must be killing him, and I stopped the little distraction Sindri had offered. I hadn’t realized.
“I’m sorry, Ash—” I start.
“No, you’re right.” He shakes his head. “I was acting like a child and if Sindri wants retribution, then he’ll get his chance after we come back.”
“Tomorrow at dusk,” Sindri says, his eyes narrowing. “Just you and me.”
“What, a duel?” I stare at them, horrified. “Are you guys serious? This is the twenty-first century!”
But Ashton nods as if it’s settled—they haven’t even talked yet!—and takes a deep breath. “Let’s do this. Sin, can you sense the locking spell?”
Sindri lifts his hand and bites into his thumb lightly. A bead of blood wells up. Guess those sharp teeth come in handy. “Obviously. Let’s start.”
I don’t think I have any such magic—and that’s after coming to grips with me having elemental magic, or any magic at all. I feel it, though, as Ashton bites his thumb, too, lets the drop of blood drip to the ground and starts speaking a spell in a mix of languages. I recognize Latin, Ancient Greek (thanks, Father, for teaching me dead languages I never thought I’d need), and some sibilant words I can’t place.
The magic jerks, and I hiss in surprise and pain. The boys’ faces are impassive and I wonder if it doesn’t hurt them as it does me, or if they got used to it from working this sort of magic from a young age.
Closing my eyes, I focus, let the sounds of the night fall away, and I can sense something now—a knot, or a closed door that seems strangely to be all around us, hemming us in from every side. More of a wall, but a wall that can be opened all at once, taken down, and then put back up again.
“Sin—” Ashton whispers.
“The spell is too strong, too complex.” Sindri is panting softly. “I don’t have many reserves. Damn it, man, I’m sorry.”
Ashton says, “Let’s try some more.”
Sindri grunts in reply, and I open my eyes only to gasp in horror. They’ve both bitten into their wrists and are bleeding onto the ground, a steady river of crimson. Ashton looks pale and Sindri looks like a ghost, weaving on his feet.
That’s how demonblood magic works, I recall. You give blood and weave spells, and this spell is taking everything out of them to break and it’s not even working.
“You need to stop.” I rush to Sindri, put my hand over his wrist. “You’ll die. There has to be another way. Ash, stop!”
“There is no other way,” he grinds out. “Our blood is depleted of the demonic element, that’s why so much is needed.”
I’m shaking my head. “You’ll bleed out. You have to stop—”
The invisible wall around us wavers, then snaps back into place. Sindri groans softly. Ashton curses under his breath. This isn’t good at all, they won’t stop, the blood keeps flowing, they’re so stubborn and won’t listen to me, what can I do, I—
“Going somewhere without us?” a familiar male voice says and I turn to find Emrys and Jason approaching us. “Ah, I thought I smelled blood. A bit late to the party but—”
“—better late than never,” Emrys says darkly and lifts his wrist to his mouth while baring sharp teeth. “Shall we?”
6
ASHTON
My vision goes blurry as the blood flows from my veins, dripping to the ground. I can’t fail this, can’t fail Toby again. I fully plan on standing here—or sitting, depending on when my body gives up—and offering all my blood to open this fucking gate and get to my brother’s side. A small price to pay.
With or without help.
