und by Blood,

a's

oor. Sleep was a stranger to me last night. My mind swirled with the weight of Elder Varion's words, Lysandra's sacrifi

oat where the blood bond had been sealed. The mark pulsed softly, like a s

uly bound to

hair catching the morning light. His crimson eyes were unreadable as always, b

leep," he sai

How could I? I'm trying to

must do. Because the blood bond is more than ritual i

cold demeanor. "Why me, Lucien? Why not another? If thi

sandra's magic. The very magic that the curse was meant to silence. Your ancestors hid i

"But I'm no sorceress. I'm just a girl who gre

l' carries power you don't yet unde

trying to hold bac

cking me away here forever? By

isn't about control. It's about surv

ing. "I don't want to be your priso

t the bond and learn to harness your power, or reject i

ll into ten

ions: fear, anger, and a flicker of something darke

becoming?

agile. He unrolled them carefully, revealing faded symbols and diagrams

ion said gravely. "To fight the

wined with vampire lore in ways I never imagined ancient pacts sealed in blood

mbol resembling a crescent

ifies her magic, bound by the curse to the Virelith li

feeling a faint warmth p

awaken it?

ual where your magic will be tested, your bond with Lucie

ent a shiver

od Moon

l becomin

ing gently. Memories of Lysandra's sacrifice played like a silent film behind my close

such a burden

my mind: "Together, we mi

ho held me captive? Who claimed t

n, and with it came

lding a small, int

t on the table. "It contains relics of her magic her s

ger etched with runes, a vial of shimmering blue li

xplained. "It's a symbol of your le

y hand. For the first time, the reality of my pow

," I admitt

"I know. But fear can be

tirrings of magic within me, to focus the energy that burned beneath my skin. It was

ld sit beside me quietly, no com

rose red and full in the sky, V

tonight," he said.

grounds a clearing bathed in moonlight, ancient

regal and calm despite

together," h

ers invoking the old magic. The Blood Moon cast eerie shadows as I

n my throat blazed like fire. A voice whispere

eep inside, calling forth the

e a storm. The bond with Lucien pulsed stronger, his p

attles, broken promises,

est from the curse its

but refus

n response. Together, we wove magic and strength, push

ubsided, the eld

forward, noddin

the trial, Aria.

t the weight of what

met mine, fier

tep," he said. "But our

he dawn, I knew this was no long

destiny, and a bond for

ready to