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Ever’s exclamation stops me from walking ahead.
“Read it to me,” she whispers.
I know immediately what she means. “You haven’t looked yet?”
She shakes her head. “It was too much,” she admits, her voice cracking like thin ice. “I wanted to forget. But now I need to know.”
I reach out, lifting the hem of her shirt gently. My fingers graze the scabs etched into her skin, and I force my voice to be steady. “In Light.” The letters are raised and red but healing nicely.
“In Light,” she murmurs, but whatever is churning in her mind remains locked behind those striking eyes, a secret held tight.
Time ticks away, slipping into the night as we stand there, bound by more than just the scars on her back.
“Come on, we need to leave,” I say, my throat dry.
She nods, and the group falls into step behind us as I lead her to the cupboard under the stairs. Her soft moan of protest is ignored, as this is the only way we can get where we’re going.
Damien opens the hidden door, and we file down the tunnel, Ever’s hand clutching mine in a death grip, almost as if she is expecting to see the dead bodies and blood piled up where she last saw them.
They’re not. The chamber has been cleaned and bleached, and she whimpers in relief as we pass through it to the opposite side where a passageway leads into the meandering tunnels under the university. They twist and turn, leading us deeper into the heart of secrets.
“Welcome,” a voice slices through the silence as we emerge into a large cavern under the university library. We halt, and the Elder steps from the shadows, his face shrouded by the hood of his cloak.
I give him a regal nod, which he returns. The Elder is my uncle, my dad’s brother. His presence brings up memories, I’d rather forget, so I focus on Ever. It seems we are all pushing shit aside tonight.
Ever’s hand trembles in mine, but her chin is high. I sense the steel in her spine—she won’t break, not under the weight of her name or the gaze of the unknown.
The Elder gestures for us to follow. “Tonight, you join a lineage that has shaped empires.” We move forward, the rest of the group close behind. His words directed at Ever, are a song meant to seduce, rich with the promise of power and unity.
“Your marks will symbolise the KnightsGate shield and cross, the essence of your bond and purpose.”
I catch Ever’s eye. There’s a question, a flicker of uncertainty, but she masks it quickly, her expression unreadable as she closes off.
“Commitment,” I say softly, only for her, and for a heartbeat, I see something like boldness flash across her features. Then it’s gone, buried deep, as we step into the circle of the ancient gathering.
Ever’s gaze flickers to the branding iron, glowing red in the dim light. Her eyes are wide pools of confusion and fear.
The Elder in the centre of the circle clears his throat, drawing our attention back to him. “Let us begin,” he says, his tone commanding yet laced with reverence. It’s as if every word is a piece of history, echoing through the ages.
One by one, the men step forward. There’s no hesitation in their movements, just a grim acceptance of what’s to come. Theheat from the branding iron wafts over us, reminding me of hellfire—a purging, a consecration.
Charlie’s the first, rolling up his sleeve with a grin only he would give in the face of upcoming pain. As the brand presses against his skin, his jaw tightens, but no sound escapes his lips.
“Fuck,” Ever hisses beside me. “What the fuck is this?”
“Rites.”
She gives me a furious glare for not warning her, but she doesn’t run, making me even more proud of her.
Ben is next as he nods at the man holding the iron. There’s a quiet strength in him, a steadfastness that tells the world he’s been ready for this moment all his life.
Damien holds his wrist out, and when the sizzle of flesh hits our ears, he smiles slowly, relishing in it as his demons get the pain they seek.
I’m next. The heat from the branding iron is a promise of pain as it nears my skin. I don’t flinch; it’s not even an option. The acrid smell of seared flesh hits my nostrils, and it’s like a baptism of sorts.
The burn is deep, a symbol of the oath I’ve taken, carving its way into my legacy. I see the worry and abject fear flicker in Ever’s eyes, but I nod at her, reassuring without words.
The silence around us is a living thing as we wait for Ever to step up, every breath held, every eye on her slender form. She’s pale, lips pressed into a line, but she is the strongest person in this ancient, shadow-draped room.
