Page 87 of The Curse of Redwood

“I’ll lose him anyway,” I said, as my heart squeezed in my chest. “Eventually.”

“Are you ready to begin?” he asked in a softer voice than before. “Once the ritual starts, I can’t stop it.”

“Can you tell me what exactly you’ll be doing?” I swallowed the lump in my throat as my stomach rolled with anxiety. My palms started to sweat. And fuck, it was getting even harder to hold my head up.

“Marking you with a defense sigil,” Callum said. “It will prevent the spirit from taking control. Think of it like a strong sedative. The mark will only last a week, though. That’s when we’ll need to perform the banishing ritual.”

“On Halloween?” I asked, after counting the days in my head.

“Yes. The veil is at its weakest on All Hallow’s Eve, which makes it especially dangerous given that the spirit will be at his most powerful. But it’s also in our favor as well, for I will be at my most powerful too.”

“Will it hurt when you put the sigil on me?”

“A bit,” he responded in a regretful tone. “I need to put it over your heart, so you’ll have to take your shirt off.”

“My, my.” I clicked my tongue. “If you wanted to see me naked, Mr. Gray, you could’ve just asked.”

His eyes fell shut as he took a deep breath. When they opened again, I saw nothing but irritation at first. But then his cheek twitched with a smile. “If I was going to ask anyone to strip for me, it certainly wouldn’t be you.”

“Would it be Taylor?”

Callum avoided my gaze as he cleared his throat. “Take off your shirt, Carter.”

His non-response was definitely telling. My friend might’ve had a chance after all.

I tugged off my hoodie and removed the shirt beneath it before settling back in the chair. Just that little bit of movement exhausted me. That nasty-ass green goo had zapped my energy.

“When I begin, the spirit will react,” Callum explained, as he grabbed the dagger. “He will sense the restraints being placed on him, and he’ll lash out. I had to weaken your body so he would be slowed somewhat. Please do not speak or get up from that chair. Do you understand?”

I nodded. My heart raced like crazy and my breaths shook.

Callum ran the blade over his palm before letting his blood drip into the bowl. He muttered an incantation, and my eyes widened when purple smoke puffed upward from the contents. He breathed in the smoke and tilted his head back, still speaking in a language I couldn’t understand.

That’s when I felt a tug inside me.

“Stop this,” a voice said.

My head lolled forward as my strength waned. With my eyes growing heavy, I watched as Callum dipped a finger into the bowl before rubbing it across my chest. The spot burned where he touched me, and then that burn turned to a searing pain.

I threw my head back and clenched my teeth together to keep from crying out. I felt Philip trying to take over. My arm jolted forward against my will to grab Callum, but it fell back to my side. The place over my heart stung and tears burned in my eyes.

Callum placed his hand over the spot. His eyes flashed purple as he spoke louder, repeating the same few phrases over and over. Just when the pain was beginning to be too much, it faded. My skin tingled, and that strange feeling of something moving inside my veins was nowhere to be found.

The chanting came to a sudden stop.

I gasped and jerked my head up, meeting his purple eyed gaze. The purple then faded as his eyes returned to their normal shade of blue.

“You did well,” he said in a shaky voice. He wobbled a little before bracing himself on the table. My strength was gradually returning, but now he was the one who looked as if he’d topple over any minute.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“I will be.” He grabbed a cloth and wrapped it around his bloody hand. “Blood magic isn’t to be taken lightly. I’m useless for a while after I use it.”

“Isn’t blood magic supposed to be evil?”

“Forgive my rudeness, Carter, but I haven’t the strength to answer your million questions right now.” He stepped to the side and started to fall.

I jumped off the chair and caught him before he hit the floor. He was a lot heavier than he looked. Or maybe I was just a weakling. His eyelids fluttered as he fought the exhaustion taking him over.