Page 63 of Blood Moon

My only want was to scream, to protest as they made a mockery of me. As they crucified me.

“Your mother will come running!” she yelled, and I recoiled, wondering if she was already on her way.

Could she be? Did she know? “When she receives the news that her bête noire has died. She’ll fall straight into our trap.

How do you think you got accepted into Lakeland University in the first place?

” Abba roared in laughter. “It was almost too easy. Making a deal with a Fullblood, the dean of students. Sending you an acceptance letter with a scholarship amount that was too good to be true, watching you arrive on campus with your worthless human father. Truly, I could do that in my sleep.”

At the mention of Bobby, I gritted my teeth, pulling, pulling, until something split. No one … nothing would hurt him.

Abba continued her monologue. “I am just thrilled we were able to get to you before the werewolves did. Noticeably, they have their own set of plans—sloppy, albeit—with some of their newborns losing control in the city. You’d think they’d know how to handle a full moon by now.

Amateurs, ” she said beneath her breath.

“But that’s a concern we’ll deal with on a different day, one you’ll no longer be around for. ”

Abba placed a hand on Julian’s back and took a step forward with him. It stilled me.

“This is the last time your kind will harm us. You will die, with the Blood Moon high in the night sky. Your blood will feed our children, and our children’s children until there is none of it left.”

“Please,” I said, trying my hand. “I’m sorry for what my mother did, but I am not her.

And I did not ask to be this. I didn’t know about the treaty or the betrayal.

It isn’t me that caused your pain and suffering, and I’m sorry it happened— I am —it was awful and merciless, but please let me go.

I am all —” My voice cracked as I fought back tears. “I’m all my father has left.”

Abba released a long breath, rolled her eyes. “It has been a pleasure knowing you, and it really is a shame Rena didn’t teach you about your heritage, but as all things do, this is coming to an end. Julian,” she said, pushing him ahead. “It’s your time. After this, you can heal.”

Julian approached me, the dagger still in his hands. He stood before me like a fallen angel with a stone face. I willed him to look me in the eyes, to remember. We didn’t need to shed blood for a past we couldn’t partake in.

And then his eyes were on mine, and I couldn’t breathe quite right.

It was strange how a single glance brought back every memory I’d ever had with Julian.

But this was the end of all the beginnings.

I knew it. Julian raised his arm high above me, dagger fixed in both hands, and I shut my eyes for the last time, praying Death would be easy on me.

Maybe, in it, I could finally find tranquility.

A loud clunk, and I felt no pain, only tears.

When I opened my eyes, Julian’s back was to me, arms spread out, shielding my body like armor.

Not a shuffle or a word from anyone. The silence was lethal. Abba cleared her throat, pointed to the space behind us. “Julian, honey. Why’d you throw that dagger?”

“She will not die by my hand.”

Growls now, from everywhere. He backed into me.

“Blood for blood, Julian,” Abba said calmly. “Did we forget why we’re going through this ritual in the first place? Please, stop with the dramatics, dear. Complete this task, or I’ll be very, very disappointed in you.”

Another person stepped forward, and I recognized him. It was Chase. “You’re a spineless coward, Julian!” he yelled. “Mother, this job should have been mine!”

Abba held up a hand. “Chase,” she gritted, hushing him, and she took a step closer to Julian. “Julian.” She clenched her teeth. “Kill her … now .”

“It’s against treaty rules.”

Her eyes grew wide, and she raised a brow. “Ha! Treaty rules. What do you know about the law of the land, boy?”

“I know it’s against the law to kill a fated mate.”

Abba hissed. “ What are you saying?”

“Mirabella and I are fated to each other.”

Whispers spread quickly, and Chase rushed forward. “Mom, he’s lying!”

Abba revealed her teeth. A hunch in her spine as she slunk toward the alter. “Julian, you have disobeyed us time and time again. Killing her is part of the treaty, so move now, or so help me, you will die right along with her!”

“I am telling the truth. It was confirmed in a vision when I drank her blood. If you kill her, you’ll have to kill me, too.”

She tightened her gaze, lips thin. “Her blood?” she questioned. “Her blood was off-limits before the ritual. Does no one listen to a single word I’ve said?!” She stomped a foot. But had Julian only told her that to keep them from killing me, or was it true?

“Ahh …” Abba began again, singing almost. “So, you fell in love with an enemy, and now you’re confused. I suppose history does repeat itself. You are worse than Aadan the First,” she hissed, and in a zip, she had the dagger in her hands.

“Abba, what are you doing? I’m not confused, and I’m not lying. I saw it. I felt it. It’s against treaty rules. You can’t kill her.”

My breathing hiked. He was telling the truth. Julian had imprinted on me. We were fated mates. Oh, my god …

Abba inched closer. “If you continue to stand in the way, then you are turning your back on your family, and this dagger will go through you and straight to her.”

“You’d kill me? ” His voice broke.

Abba moved forward.

“You said you loved me like I was your own. You called me your son!”

She blinked once before she rushed us. Julian did a swift kick, pushing her back, the dagger flying across the room.

Abba flew into someone, and then a fight broke loose.

They charged for Julian. Punches thrown, kicks landing.

Roaring. Bodies flung into walls, through the air.

War, dread, no sight of the end. I tried to kick loose, and in my charge, a deviation took place.

Not every Blood Lycan fought Julian; some of them fought beside him, allowing him to break away.

“I’m sorry,” he said in a quick breath as he ripped the bands from my arms and feet. “I told you I’d come back for you, that I wouldn’t let them hurt you, and I’m sorry it took this long.”

When I was released, Julian grabbed my hand, and he pushed us past the crowd, protecting me while we fled.

Down the hallway, we raced further away from the chaos. At the sight of stairs, I felt a tug, head suddenly jerking backward. Abba had me by my curls, dragging me against the cement floor, and I screamed so loud, my skin burned.

The sound that hailed from me shattered the lights above us. At once, Julian was on his knees in pain, covering his ears.

Abba released her grasp as she thrashed in anguish, curling into a ball on the ground. When I stopped screaming, I rose to my feet, sparks in the tips of my fingers, zapping as I rubbed them together. A ball of light, a ring of fire.

Abba lunged for me again, flickers scorching her cheeks. Only, Julian got to her, snapping her wrist in a quick move, and she howled.

“Why are you doing this?!” Julian yelled. “You can’t kill her!”

“I can and I will!” she screamed. “She will pay for what her mother did! No one will be happy until I have my sister back!”

A breath, and Julian backed his body against me. “And you think killing her will bring my mother back?” he asked, sadness in his voice. Pain. I felt him break. I sensed the water building in his eyes. “It doesn’t work that way! She’s gone. She’s not coming back!”

“Blood for blood,” Abba bellowed, lurching in our path. There was no end for her.

“It’s an old ritual! It hasn’t worked for us. Living like this, hunting after the vampires that turned their backs on us, it hasn’t helped us heal. We need to change. We need to live. We can’t keep doing this!”

Abba leaped, and Julian caught her, but she escaped, the dagger against my throat. A move, and it sliced at my neck, drawing fresh blood. She leered.

Julian grabbed her by the cloak, threw her down the hall. When she was up again, he caught her, yelling like thunder until she was pinned against the wall with his hand at her throat. “I will end you. Right now. ”

Face bloated and red, feet kicking. “Your own family?” she croaked out.

“As if that matters! All you care about is your own revenge!” He said, and Abba lost color as he squeezed tighter and tighter.

“Stop!” I yelled. But he wouldn’t stop, he kept going until her legs stilled and her arms fell limp beside her. I ran to Julian, pulled at him. “Stop! Please!”

Julian dropped Abba, and she fell to the ground, coughing and spitting out blood. She hissed, her voice crooked. “You don’t know what you’ve done. War is coming, boy, and this is only the beginning.”

Julian backed away from her in guarded steps, and I stayed close beside him.

In a flicker, she was gone, and Julian held my hand as we ran out.