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Tessa and Yvette each kneel on the bench to face each other. My father holds the amulet between them as he hands Tessa the ceremonial dagger.

The tension in the room is thick as Tessa takes the dagger and cuts herself just below her collarbone. Pain knits her brows, but I can tell she’s trying hard not to show it. Then she unbuttons Yvette’s shirt enough to expose the same area of her chest and cuts her the same way. Her hand hesitates, but she does it.

Yvette’s face doesn’t change. She only looks into Tessa’s eyes with fierce intensity and affection.

Blood drips onto their white clothing.

My eyes dart to Ethan. I watch him while listening to my father guide Contessa and Yvette through the pledge of loyalty, hearing them repeat his words.

Ethan’s eyes are wide and his face is a bit pale, but his back is warm through his sweater. I pull him closer without a word.

The words to the ritual are in Italian. Neither my cousin nor her fiancée speaks Italian, but as preparation for the ritual I know they’ve both been practicing.

I look back at the ritual.

Both women wipe the blood from each other’s chests and bring it to the amulet, smearing it at the same time.

Finally, my father walks away. Tessa and Yvette move closer to each other on the bench, and Yvette leans down and licks the blood from Tessa’s chest. I can’t help but watch the way the blood drips down her chin.

Tessa does the same thing to Yvette, but she’s shakier. Yvette wraps her arms around her and pulls her closer, until finally they kiss with each other’s blood in their mouths.

There’s no applause, just a signal of the ritual ending by my father wiping the crest with a white handkerchief and then placing that piece of fabric in a wooden box alongside many others.

People begin to murmur to each other and leave the room, while others stay to watch my cousin and Yvette continue to kiss and console one another.

“What did they say to each other?” Ethan finally asks. I notice he’s not looking at the women now that things seem to be getting more intimate between them.

I look back toward them as a designated guard guides them from the bench to a room adjoining this one.

“Where are they going?” he asks before I can answer the first question.

They disappear into the room, but the guard doesn’t. He closes the door and stands in front of it.

“To fuck,” I say simply.

Ethan chokes. “Jesus Christ, you could have a little more tact,” he insists. “They’re your family.”

“And they’re most likely going to have sex after bandaging each other, is that better?” I smirk at him.

Ethan takes a breath and steps away from me. “I suppose. Fuck. I need some air.” He starts to turn around and leave the room.

“Ethan, wait,” I call after him.

“No, just give me a minute.” He puts a hand up.

I continue to follow him until my father steps in front of me.

“Your guest is causing a scene,” he tells me.

I roll my eyes. “Everyone’s first time seeing the blood ritual is a lot.”

“You can certainly tell if a man is worth the trouble by his reaction to it,” he replies.

I narrow my eyes at him. “Ethan is worth it.”

“Why haven’t I heard about him until he was nearly blown up by the Greivans, then?” he asks.

“I ain’t gotta tell you every single detail about my love life, plus…there was no ‘us’ until he was almost killed,” I nearly hiss at him. My shoulders tense and my hands ball into fists.