The Ink and the Blood
344 Words
Chapter 12: The Ink and the Blood
I snapped back to the present, gasping for air. Mateo caught me before I hit the floor, his arms like iron bands around me.
"They died to buy me time," I choked out, looking at Leo. Tears were streaming down his face.
"We spent ten years trying to find a way to kill him," Levi said, his voice cracking. "That’s why we put you in those classes. That’s why we tracked down every lead on supernatural weapons. We weren't just being overprotective, Loyal. We were training you for a war against a God."
Jax stepped toward the table, his amber-blue eyes scanning the translucent scroll. "It’s a Soul-Lease," he muttered, his nerd-brain working at lightning speed. "Mathematically, it’s a closed loop. But Dimitri... look at the sigil at the bottom."
Dimitri leaned in, his soldier's gaze narrowing. "That’s not a Council seal. That’s the mark of the First Void. He doesn't want her for a slave. He wants her as a bridge to pull the rest of his kind into this realm."
I picked up my mother’s journal, flipping to the last page. In her elegant, hurried handwriting, there was one final note:
The wolf is the key, but the Trinity is the lock. To break the Void, she must not only shift—she must Merge. Three souls, one heart, and the blood of the brothers who stayed Loyal.
I looked at my three brothers, then at my three mates. The fire in my blood wasn't just a shift anymore; it was a weapon.
"He’s coming back at dawn," I said, my eyes turning a hard, brilliant silver. "He thinks he’s coming to collect a debt. But he’s actually coming to find out what happens when you mess with a family like mine."
I looked at Jax. "You said you’re a genius. Find the ritual for the 'Merge.' Dimitri, Mateo... get the MC ready. Leo, get the heavy hitters from the basement. We aren't hiding anymore.
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