Page 154 of Broken Souls

HER

I dig my toes into the carpet of the living room and buzz with pure joy and excitement. At breakfast this morning, Varius told everyone he was going to swear Dayne into the Family. I didn’t know he was doing this. I thought my best friend was only visiting for a couple of days. To find out that he’s going to be here forever is making me giddy.

Standing in front of my best friend, Varius says, “Show me your power.”

Dayne holds up his hands. Electricity sparks between the fingers on his right hand. Red energy swirls between the fingers on his other as the runic tattoo on his left shoulder glows softly.

“Will you use your magic to protect the interests of the Shadow Domain?” Varius demands.

“I swear it.”

“Show me your weapons.”

Dropping his hands, Dayne removes a gun and a knife from their holster and sheath. He holds them up in front of him.

“Will you use your weapons to protect the interests of the Shadow Domain?”

“I swear it.” He puts them away as Varius asks, “Will you keep the secrets of the Shadow Domain?”

“I swear it.”

“Will you respect your brothers?”

“I swear it.”

“Then hold out your arm, and repeat after me.”

Dayne offers his right hand out, palm up.

“If I betray my vows to this Family.”

He carves a stylized S into my friend’s palm beneath his middle finger.

“If I betray the Boss before me.”

A second S connects to the first at an angle, sixty degrees off its base, pointed towards his thumb.

“If I betray my brothers and uncles.”

A third S connects the first two to make a triangle.

“Then I will die under the reaper’s blade.”

Varius draws a drop of blood from the side of his finger. Then he squeezes it over the carving on Dayne’s palm.

“You now live for the Family,” Varius says. “Until death.”

“I now live for the Family,” Dayne says. “Until death.”

“Oh my gods, yes!” I squeal as I throw myself at Dayne. He laughs as he catches me. Varius’ jealousy comes down our bond, and I narrow my eyes at him. If he even thinks bad thoughts about my friend, I will bite him.

Page 154 of Broken Souls

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