Fated to My Vampire Lord novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: The Second Rite

"Keeley," I said. "Take the knife off him."

"Kneel in the circle."

"No."

The edge pressed into Otis's throat, and he stopped talking for the first time in his life.

I walked toward them with my hands open.

Every candle I passed leaned after me.

"You won't cut him," I said.

"You don't know that."

"I do. You wouldn't let me carry the heavy buckets when we were nine. You cried when the kitchen cat got hit."

"Don't," she said.

"You braided my hair the morning they Struck me."

Her face crumpled.

"You pinned it. You said Dad had promised you. And you stood on that dais and held my wrist while he read me off the roll, and you knew."

"Yes."

It came out as a whisper.

"How long?"

"Since I was ten." She was shaking so hard the blade shook.

"Dad told me in the Hearth hall, the night I asked why I could feel your hands."

"What did he say?"

"That the wolf was a gift to the family, and a gift can't be given back. He said you would be happy as an ordinary girl."

"Was I?"

"You were never ordinary. You were just numb."

I stopped an arm's length from her.

Behind me I heard Tiernan breathe, though he did not need to.

"I loved you," Keeley said. "I need you to hear it. I did, and I do."

Her voice cracked.

"I braided your hair because I wanted to touch you, and the wolf wanted to touch you. I couldn't tell which of us it was."

"I believe that."

"You do?"

"I believe all of it," I said. "That's the worst part."

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