Page 91 of Mate
“Someone’s gotta take care of her,” Caelum grinned.
“I’d like one of you to take care of our bill,” Silas muttered.
“You’ll get paid, Silas. Don’t worry that furry head,” Caelum sighed.
“Clean… crisp…” Silas began.
“American dollars. We know,” Ry finished for him.
“What does this whole ritual entail?” I asked, quickly changing the subject and rolling my eyes away from the money-hungry goblin in the cat suit.
“A little bit of dis and dat,cher. A whole vial of dragon blood, your blood, sage, bay leaves, a circle of salt and a few other things,” Wendy mused, and I jerked my head to hers.
“My blood?”
“I’ve been doin’ some research about dis Silvermane, and I think I can harness it for your pack, along with the power of the dragons,” Wendy continued.
Samael stiffened beside her, and he glared straight at Caelum, or at least I assumed he was through his blacked-out sunglasses.
“How much time do you need to prepare?” Ry asked, glancing at Samael and back at Wendy.
“A few hours. I’ll start getting ready as soon as we’re done eating,cher. We can use the ballroom,ouais?” she answered.
“Whatever you need,” Caelum said quickly. He glanced at Samael, and I could have sworn I saw a hint of nervousness in his gaze.
What was going on?
The idea of using my blood coupled with dragon’s blood and various mystical elements to enhance our power was both intriguing and slightly daunting. The mention of Silvermane blood and harnessing its potential only added to the complexity of the situation.
Samael’s pointed glare at Caelum hadn’t gone unnoticed, and it made me wonder if there were underlying tensions and concerns among them that I hadn’t been privy to. The stakes were clearly higher than I had initially thought, and it left me with a growing sense of unease.
For some reason, I had a feeling it was all going to come to a head tonight.
As I stepped into the ballroom, I held my breath and looked around.
It was a pretty grand space, adorned with ornate chandeliers that cast a soft, amber glow across the room. Rich velvet curtains framed tall windows, allowing just a hint of the shimmeringmoonlight to filter in. The air was heavy with the scent of incense, and flickering candles in wrought-iron holders added an eerie, yet comforting ambiance.
In the center of the room, a circular pattern of salt had been meticulously drawn on the polished wooden floor. Within the circle, various items were arranged, including a vial of dragon’s blood, bundles of sage and bay leaves, intricate talismans, and a silver goblet. As I moved closer, I swallowed heavily, a bit nervous about what was to come.
Wendy had tried to protect the pack somewhat by slicking dragon’s blood around their throats. Nobody was happy about it except myself, and that was because I saw what it could do. Still, the boys didn’t like the unusual, saccharine smell of it, and the cat yowled endlessly about the free protection attempt.
Now Wendy was waiting in the center of the circle, dressed in vibrant colors. Around her neck were several beaded necklaces. I recognized one that looked similar to the one dipped in dragon’s blood that she’d given me.
She turned to me with a warm smile and nodded towards the circle. “We’re ready to begin,cher.”
Ry and Caelum entered behind me, striding through the room until they reached me. Samael, Ombre, and Silas were perched at a table in the corner of the room, their watchful eyes fixed on us as if ready to intervene at a moment’s notice. Everyone appeared to be a little on edge.
Wendy approached me with a silver goblet, its intricate design glinting in the soft candlelight of the room. She held it out, and I extended my hand tentatively, knowing the next part was going to sting.
“Hold dis beneath your hand,” she dictated.
She gave no warning as she quickly brandished a bone knife from a sheath on her belt and drew it across my palm, right next to the mostly healed mark from Madame Juana. Quickly, she angled my hand so that my blood dripped into the silver goblet. When she’d collected enough, she placed the cup aside and gently wrapped my hand in a clean white cloth.
I sucked in a breath, taken aback by the sharp sting.
“Dis should heal rather quickly now dat you’re claimed and fully bonded,” she explained.
Wendy’s expression was solemn, and there was a deep reverence in her eyes as she carefully took the vessel and held it. With a gentle nod, she stepped back, the goblet cradled in her hand as she moved carefully into the center of the salt circle.