The Soul Bond (Rite World: Blackthorn Hunters Academy Book 3)

by Juliana Haygert

  I weaved among shelves, until I noticed that what I believed was the back of the room was only the first half of it. The wall extended to almost the entire width of the library, but in the farthest corner was a small archway. I glanced back. It was impossible to see the archway from the door because of the shelves blocking it.

  Wary, I stepped through the archway into a wide room lined with glass shelves containing all sorts of weird objects. Amulets, scepters, bowls, feathers, and small vials with colorful liquids—were those potions?

  But what caught my attention was the bronze pedestal in the middle of the room, and the thick, open book on top of it.

  Holding my breath, I walked to the book. The open page was about a ritual to steal powers from a witch. What the …

  Rituals. This book was about rituals.

  I flipped through the book some more, but realized some of the pages were marked. I flipped to the first marker. The text on that page described a ritual to exorcise demons from humans, like Randall had done with Tanner and Orzon last semester. The next marker was a ritual to detect half-demons and demons nearby—was that how he had enchanted the amulets to find the half-demons?

  I shook my head and flipped to the next one.

  Bingo.

  The Bloodsbane ritual. It was a dark ritual where the user took a human sacrifice to a tainted place. He then brutally killed the human, a witch, and a demon in a bloody ceremony in order to harness their energy and power. It gave the user extraordinary magic and immortal life.

  My gut twisted in disgust as I read the details.

  This was it, though. This was how Randall was able to wield magic and live for so long.

  The chapter went on, explaining more technical parts of the ritual. It had to be performed every full moon, and the user’s magic drained off as the month went by. If not performed for a few full moons, the user lost all magic and would start to age.

  I was sure not many in the demon hunter community knew about this ritual, but I could bet my place at this academy, they would say this ritual was illegal and highly forbidden if they found out.

  If the other demon hunters found out Randall was performing this ritual, he would certainly lose his position as the headmaster of the academy, if not worse. Knowing some of the demon hunters in our society, I was sure they would call for Randall’s death.

  I pulled my phone from my pocket and snapped pictures of the book’s pages. When the time came, I could use these as evidence.

  I had done it. I would now be able to destroy Randall and finish my deal with Crimson.

  I flipped the pages until it was open to the same page as before I arrived, and I retreated from the back room and out the library. I locked the door with my magic and hurried downstairs.

  “What are you up to, Rey?”

  His voice sent a chill down my spine. I turned and found Randall standing to the side in the building’s foyer.

  “I was in my office, grading papers,” I lied, rolling my shoulders, as if I was too tired and sore from being hunched over my desk for so long. “I lost track of time.”

  Randall stalked to me, his dark eyes locked on mine. “Funny. I went by your office a little bit ago, but it was locked.”

  I frowned. “It must have been when I went out for a snack.” Fuck, this was getting worse. I had to turn this around fast. I checked my phone. It was just past eleven at night. “What are you doing here at this time of the night?”

  Randall flashed me a smile. “You know it’s forbidden to have cell phones on campus.”

  “And you know I carry it with me often,” I rebuked. “Are you going to take it away from me now?”

  He waved me off. “Of course not, just don’t let the students see it, or they will argue about it.”

  I nodded. “I won’t.” I slipped my phone back into my pocket. “I should get going.”

  “Right.” Randall showed me a fake grin. “You should go rest for the night.”

  The tone of his voice, the glint in his eyes, that fucking grin … he knew I was up to something.

  I wouldn’t cave in so easily. “Good night.”

  “Good night,” Randall said.

  I walked out of the building and turned right, to the Dahlia Villa. I wanted to go check on Erin before I retreated into my townhouse for the night, but I didn’t trust Randall not to be following me right now. I couldn’t show him I could shift into a raven, or that I cared that much about Erin.

  So I tucked my fucking tail between my legs and marched to my near-empty house.

  Once inside, I turned on the lights and let out a long breath.

  What the fuck? Where had he been while I was in his library? Had Randall seen me in there? Had he been waiting for me in the foyer to scare me shitless?

  I shook my head. He wouldn’t dare do something to me right now. It would be too suspicious, too sudden.

  Letting my thoughts simmer through all I had learned tonight, I took a warm shower, put on black pajama pants, and went to the kitchen to get something to eat.

  Because I spent most of my spare time in raven form watching out for Erin, I had been skipping many of my meals, which meant I was always starving at this time of the night.

  Not really in the mood to cook, I grabbed a dulce de leche ice cream tub from the freezer, sat down on the tall stool in front of the kitchen island, and dug in.

  A knock came from the door.

  I almost dropped my spoon.

  “What the fuck?” I muttered, resting the ice cream on top of the island.

  I dragged my bare feet to the door. These fucking townhouses didn’t have a peephole, and I surely didn’t want to use my magic to see who was outside. Channeling my power, just in case, I opened the door.

  My jaw hit the floor.

  “Hey,” Erin muttered. Her golden eyes ran the length of me before locking on my left pectoral, where the soul bond was imprinted on my skin. A red tint appeared over her cheeks.

  Fuck, I was shirtless.

  The fucking soul bond was apparent.

  That hadn’t been in my plans.

  Well, she wasn’t too bad either in jean shorts that showed off her lean legs, and a purple blouse with a wide neckline that fell over one of her shoulders. Her long hair was loose and a few strands moved when a gentle breeze flew by.

  Fighting the urge to cross my arms, I asked, “What are you doing here?” Realizing it was probably midnight and she had crossed campus alone, fury swirled in me. “Are you crazy? What if Tom or some of the other half-demon-hating motherfuckers found you?”

  “I know it was irresponsible, but I really wanted to tell you something.”

  I frowned. “Erin, whatever it is, it’s none of my business. You know I don’t want to get involved in whatever happens with you.”

  She flinched. “I just …” She shook her head. “It was stupid. You’re right. I just let the knowledge that you had helped me so many times before, that you knew what was going on with me when not even I knew, trick my mind and feelings. I thought you could help me this time too.” She took a step back. “Sorry to bother you.”

  She turned to leave.

  Fuck. Now I was curious about whatever the problem was. I mean, if it was a big problem, I definitely wanted to know and help, even if I would rather she didn’t know about my involvement.

  Moreover, I wouldn’t send her away by herself this late at night.

  “Erin, wait.” I took a step to the side, opening the door some more. “Come in.”

  She glanced at me, her eyes narrowed. Without a word, she came in. She followed me to the kitchen, where I offered her a clean spoon.

  She took it. “What’s this for?”

  I gestured to the ice cream tub. “So you can eat with me while you tell me what’s going on.”

  Her brows curled down and she set the spoon down. “I’m good. Thanks.”

  I took my place in the stool and fished a spoonful of ice cream. “So, what’s the problem?”

  The knot
between her brows deepened. “I’ve learned that King Brikan has children around the world.”

  Fuck. My appetite gone, I let go of the ice cream and pushed my fork aside. “When did you learn that?”

  “The other night.” She averted her eyes. “My mother told me about it a couple of nights ago.” From the way she was avoiding looking at me, I guessed it was during one of their hidden practices. Erin didn’t know I knew about those, so I wouldn’t question it.

  This time, I crossed my arms, puzzled. “Why are you coming to me?”

  “Because I think I need to find them,” she said, her voice wistful. “If I can convince them to join me, my chances—our chances—of defeating the supreme demon are much greater. But … my mother is against the idea. And Claire also expressed concern about looking for them. So, I’m on my own, and I don’t know where to start.”

  I saw where this was going. “You want my help locating them.”

  She nodded. “I thought about locating spells, but all the ones I could find need something from the person you’re trying to find, but since I don’t know them, I have nothing. I thought that maybe you knew another way.”

  “Why is your mother against it?”

  This clearly hit a sensitive spot as Erin’s jaw hardened for a moment before she spoke. “She says King Brikan’s children aren’t all children. Some will be old, some will be young. But most of all, she thinks most don’t know who they are and what they can do, and they won’t want to join me. She thinks it’s a waste of time.”

  I nodded. “I agree with most of that, but not the part where it’s a waste of time.”

  Her golden eyes bulged. “So you’ll help me?”

  Her excitement gutted me. Holy fuck, how I was dying to reach over, to pull her to me, and show her how much I could help her.

  I cleared my throat. “I can’t promise anything, but I’ll research another way of locating a person.”

  A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “Thank you.”

  I lowered my gaze, afraid of being pulled in by her charm, but something else made me stiffen. I stood from the stool and reached to her collarbone, where a thin chain rested against her skin with a small silver coin like pendant. I pulled it from underneath her blouse. “Randall’s amulet. You’re still wearing it.”

  She shrugged. “My contract with him is still valid, even if he hasn’t called on me for a while now. Better to wear it all the time than to risk taking it off and having him do something to you.”

  I stared into her pretty, enchanting eyes. She was still wearing that thing for me, because she made a deal with Randall for me, to save me. Why did we keep saving each other? Why were we linked like that?

  My hand traveled to the side, my fingertips pushing her blouse aside some more, until the soul bond was visible.

  This. This was what linked us. What practically made us one.

  A mirror of myself, Erin raised her hand and splayed her palm over the mark on my chest.

  “Don’t,” I hissed.

  She took a small step forward, practically erasing the distance between us. She lifted her chin, lining her mouth with me.

  “Then pull away,” she whispered.

  I was ensnared in her web and she knew it. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t say anything, because if I opened my mouth, it would be to confess my real feelings.

  Rising on her tiptoes, Erin snaked her other hand around my shoulders and tugged me toward her. Powerless, I leaned into her.

  She pressed her lips to mine and I let out a sigh—a relieved and satisfied sound I knew I couldn’t disguise.

  Lost in her, I cradled the nape of her neck and kissed her.

  13

  Erin

  I knew Rey wasn’t made of steel. I knew I could get to him. The problem was making him stay with me.

  When his lips crashed against mine, demanding more, I didn’t think of anything else. Even if he only kissed me for a second, then pushed me away, I would take whatever I could.

  Because I loved him and I needed him.

  Right now.

  I parted my lips, letting him in. Hm, his lips tasted of ice cream, and I wished I could eat him up.

  Then, Rey took control.

  One of his arms wound around my waist and he twirled us, lifting me a little and depositing me on top of the tall stool, my back against the kitchen island. He stepped between my legs, and I took advantage of that to wrap my legs around his hips, trapping him with me. He moved his hips against me and I let out a gasp, feeling how much he wanted this.

  How much he desired me.

  While he kissed me senseless, I glided my hands over his back, his shoulders, and his arms, taking in all the muscles in his hot, hot body. I had seen him without a shirt before, we had kissed before, but both had never happened at the same time. I wanted to imprint all the valleys and mounts of his body in my memory. I wished I could touch him like this all the freaking time.

  Suddenly, he broke the kiss, but before my desperation flowered, his lips moved to my jaw and down my neck. He licked, bit, and grazed his teeth along my skin, leaving a trail of fire that traveled deep inside me, heating my entire body.

  His hands slipped under my blouse, and this time he didn’t hesitate. His hand closed around one of my breasts, his fingertips dipping inside my bra.

  Holy shit … My back arched and I was sure I was close to dying in his hands.

  I lowered my hands around his back, and paused for a moment, afraid he would push me away again, but when I reached for the waist of his pants, he didn’t stop me. I lowered his pants an inch, so I could feel that thrilling V that lined his six pack, then slid my hand under his pants.

  Behind us, his phone rang with a new message, startling us.

  Rey jumped back several feet, his eyes wide.

  Cold seeped into my body instantly, not only from missing his body against mine, but because I knew what came next. I knew what he would do.

  Running a hand through his hair, Rey turned his back to me.

  Tears filled my eyes, but I wiped them, determined that he wouldn’t see them.

  “You should go,” he said, his voice low.

  I hopped off the stool, completely humiliated. “Why do you do this?”

  He turned to me, clearly confused. “Do what?”

  Was he going to act like he had amnesia? “Kiss me until I’m dazed, then push me away.”

  “This is my fault?” he asked, sounding shocked. “You’re the one provoking me!”

  I gasped. What the hell? I straightened my shirt. “You say you don’t want anything with me, then you press me against walls or floors or counters.” I gestured to the island behind me “Even if I provoke you, as you say I do, ignore me. Push me away from the start. Because the way it is right now, it seems you’re just using me then pushing me away.”

  “I’m using you?”

  I shook my head, a turmoil of emotions clouding my mind, clogging my veins. “I have one question for you, Rey, just one question. Do you like me?” He opened his mouth to answer, but I continued, “And don’t spout that crap that we can’t be together because of this or that. Even if we can’t be together, I just want to know, do you like me?”

  His nostrils flared. “No, Erin, I don’t.”

  It was a knife to my heart. “I see.” I nodded as tears burned behind my eyes. “So you have been using me, because you know I like you.” I inhaled deeply. “I shouldn’t have come here. I shouldn’t have asked for your help. I’m sorry for bothering you.”

  I walked past him.

  I half expected him to stop me, to call me back, to come after me and say he was joking.

  But he didn’t.

  He remained rooted to the same spot even when I paused at the front door and said, “I’m sorry about the soul bond. If there was a way of breaking it, I would do it.”

  I opened the door and left his townhouse.

  It was probably after one in the morning, and at this time of night, it was gett
ing chilly. Why had I worn damn shorts when it was starting to get a bit cooler? Oh, I knew, because I had wanted to seduce him. I had hoped he would see me, want me, and lose control.

  I had provoked him, like Rey had accused me of.

  But that was over. I was done with all of it. I wasn’t going to go looking for him anymore, asking for help, or even go to his classes. I didn’t care if I failed and couldn’t graduate. It wasn’t like I dreamed of being a full-fledged demon hunter.

  Right now, my dream for the future was to survive my doomed fate.

  Afraid of being out alone in the middle of the night, I ran to the Gardenia building on the other side of campus. When I got closer to the entrance, I saw a raven perched in the same spot as the other night. Was it the same one?

  Who cared?

  Shaking my head, I entered the building and rushed to my bedroom, where I fell in my bed and buried my face in my pillow.

  Surprisingly, I didn’t cry.

  “Erin, wake up.”

  A hand shook my shoulder. I slapped that hand away. “Let me sleep.”

  “I’m worried.” Claire sat on the bed, pushing me to the side. “Are you okay? It’s almost noon and you’re still in bed. That’s not normal.”

  It was freaking Saturday. I could sleep until whatever shitty time I wanted.

  I covered my head with my pillow. “Shh, it’s too loud in here.”

  “Are you drunk?”

  I chuckled, the sound muffled by the pillow. “I wish.”

  Claire pulled the pillow away from me. “What happened?”

  I shook my head. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”

  Claire’s eyebrows hiked up. “And you know I’ll bug you until you spill the beans.”

  Groaning, I rolled to my side and closed my eyes. “Last night, I was panicking. I had this sudden need to do something about King Brikan’s other children, but I didn’t know where to start. Shit, it was so freaking stupid of me.”

  “What did you do?” Worry laced her words.

  “I went to Rey.” I sat up. “Stupid, right? I wasn’t even aware it was so late. I just … had to do something. And he had helped so much before. Finding out about this mark.” I touched the mark on my wrist. “Training me with my magic, closing the portal.” Well, technically, I had helped him close the portal, but he had done it because of me. Or at least I thought that was case until last night. Now, I didn’t know anything anymore. “So many things. I thought that, even though he didn't want to be with me, you know, romantically, he was a good guy who wanted to help out and do what was right.”