Page 35

SAY THE WORD

GRACE

O n the night of the full moon, Sebastian and I walk to the auditorium, side by side. I’m a nervous, fidgeting mess. My fingers bounce against my thighs and I keep wetting my lips, only for them to immediately turn to dust. My mouth is so dry it hurts to swallow.

Sebastian wears a carefully blank expression.

We spent the entire day, isolated in his bedroom.

He’d wanted to spend the time practicing my magic, but he didn’t protest when I turned him down.

He laid in bed beside me, toying with my hair, while I binge-watched my favorite movies and he memorized every line of Cora’s planned ritual.

I’d done my best to block out tonight, but now, it’s impossible to ignore. After this, the curse will either be broken or it won’t. I will either be free or…

Sebastian stops just beyond the auditorium.

The doors are open, exposing the layout we saw days ago.

I can spot a few members of the inner circle, and Cora flits between the different artifacts, adjusting them on their stands.

In less than an hour, the moon will be at its highest, and I’ll be placing my literal life in Sebastian’s hands.

Somehow, I know I can trust him with it.

“You don’t have to do this,” he says softly.

I startle, turning to look at him. His green eyes are already on me, and an undeniable panic swims within them.

“What?” I ask. My stomach lurches at the words I was sure I’d never hear. The words I’ve been desperate to hear since arriving. No matter how hard I look, I can’t find anything but pure sincerity in his gaze.

“Say the word, Grace,” he says. “We won’t do it. I’ll buy us more time. I’ll find another way?—”

“There isn’t another way,” I say. It’s true. He knows it’s true.

“Even if there’s not,” he says quietly. “Say the word, Grace. I’ll get you out of here. I promise.”

I swallow. It’s everything I hoped he would say, and yet, it’s no longer what I want.

I’ve spent months training, learning. And while there are many things I would change about my time in this manor, there are certain things I wouldn’t.

I am stronger now than I used to be, and despite everything else, I know I can do this.

I can break this curse—not just for Sebastian, but for every vampire in this strange world.

“When I break the curse,” I say. Ignoring his surprised expression, I take his hand in mine. “I want you to turn me. I like who I am here, Sebastian. I’m important. Smart. Capable.”

“You have always been those things, Grace. You always will be,” he says. “You don’t need to be here for that to be true.”

“I mean it,” I say, shaking my head. “If you’ll have me, I want to stay. ”

“I have never wanted anything quite like I want you, Grace Renolds,” he whispers.

“Is that a yes?” I ask. “You’ll bite me? Make me one of your own?”

“We turn people with venom. Make them ingest it,” he says, swallowing. His eyes flicker to my lips, pupils expanding. “I’ll feed you my venom, if that’s what you want, Grace. I’ll turn you. I’ll do whatever you want.”

I kiss him, knowing his inner circle can see us. Knowing they’re judging us and not caring that they are.

“Let’s end this,” I say, finally pulling back. I even manage a teasing smile. “You can give me everything I want after it’s over.”

Sebastian kisses me again, and together, we enter the auditorium.

Through the auditorium windows, the full moon shines between wispy clouds.

I stare at the glowing orb, bright as any sun, while Sebastian and Cora go over the ritual once more.

The inner circle left shortly after we arrived, and now, they stand outside, beneath the windows, surrounded by multiple unfamiliar vampires.

They’re all watching, all serving as a reminder.

This ritual doesn’t just affect me or Sebastian or his favored followers. It affects an entire species.

They’re all desperate for change, and I’m the only one who can give it. Once I do, my life will officially be my own again. Now, I just have to survive the ritual, break the curse, and find my new beginning.

“I’m ready,” I say. My voice shakes, but I’m more confident than I’ve felt in weeks .

I am strong, I remind myself. I can do this.

“Then let’s begin,” Cora says. She gestures for Sebastian to join her outside of the circle, but he doesn’t move. His hand tightens over my shirt, as if anchoring himself to me.

“If she says to stop, you do,” he says, looking at Cora. “Immediately. Do you understand?”

Cora lifts an unimpressed eyebrow.

“Fine,” she agrees. Her dark eyes shift to mine.

I bite down, grating my teeth together. I can feel my heartbeat everywhere, radiating through my organs and veins and bones.

I will keep you safe.

I let myself believe the words.

I nod at Sebastian and step out of his hold. He takes the dagger from the podium, holding it for me like an offering. I take it wordlessly. My pale face is reflected in the blade, and I have to look away before my nerves consume me whole.

“Say the word,” he reminds me. Then, he’s gone in a flash too fast for me to follow. He stands at Cora’s side with an unreadable expression, eyes locked on me.

“Focus on your magic,” Cora says. “Once I signal you, cut your wrist, but keep casting. I should be able to channel your power as long as you’re conscious.”

“Got it,” I say. My head is dizzy, riddled with nerves, but I force myself to look at the watching vampires again. I know all too well what it is to be trapped in this manor. If I succeed, I won’t be the only one finding freedom.

“And you,” she says, glaring at Sebastian. “Stay out of my way and out of this circle.”

A solemn nod. He’s still looking at me.

Cora lifts her hands. She’s always made magic look effortless, so I’m surprised by the way her fingers tremble. Her eyes glaze as she speaks a string of unfamiliar words. They’re of another language, I realize, one I don’t recognize.

The air pulses as if electrified. I waver on my feet, gripping the table as magic presses over me. It surges from Cora’s hands and surrounds my skin, choking my every breath. The surrounding artifacts twitch on their stands, as if coming to life.

Cora’s voice grows louder and louder, until it’s all I can hear. My brain feels heavy and foggy, the magic seeping into me, overflowing through my pores. There’s no pain, but the pressure is all-encompassing, making it impossible to move.

She pauses, and the magic pulses around us. For the briefest of moments, my head clears enough to look at Sebastian. He stands at Cora’s side, his hand lifted as if reaching for me.

I’m okay, I want to tell him. I don’t. My mind may be clear, but the magic has done something strange to my voice. I’m not sure I remember how to speak, whether I could if I tried.

“Now, Grace,” Cora says.

Her voice is stale, detached. Beneath it, however, her breath is ragged, as if she’s clawing each inhalation from the bottom of her lungs.

“Now!” she repeats, louder.

I clench my jaw until it hurts. I’m hoping it’s enough to distract the pain of slicing through my own skin. It’s not.

In one swift motion, I slice my wrist, and blood pours from my veins.

I stare in shock as dark red pools from my skin and into the glass bowl.

Pain erupts across my palm. I drop the dagger, letting the blood-stained metal clatter across the floor.

My attention remains on the bowl, watching as it fills unnaturally fast.

As soon as Cora resumes chanting, the pressure of magic is back, like it never left. Only now, it brings with it a scalding heat. I scream, knees buckling as pain scours through me, devouring me from the inside out. I don’t know how I remain upright, if it’s magic or my own stubborn will.

I look at Cora. There’s nothing human about the way she looks now. Her eyes have rolled back, until there’s only hazy white. The foreign words stream from her lips, voice lowering as if powered by something demonic.

Almost done , I tell myself. Keep going. You’re almost there.

I don’t know if it’s the truth.

I’m desperate enough to believe the lie.

In the back of my mind, I wonder if this is a vampire’s death. Is this how they felt after the witches’ curse? Did they feel like they were being boiled alive? Like someone was shredding their insides and reducing them to ash?

I try to find Sebastian, but there is only this violent light, devouring me whole.

Until I’m dizzy.

Sick.

Dying.

I finally find him. Staring at me. Blank. Emotionless. Uncaring. His mouth moves, but I’m too gone to hear it. Or, maybe, the only voice I can hear now is Cora’s.

She’s staring at me too. Her eyes are black, hands still lifted.

“It’s working!” she screams. “We’ve got it!”

My knees buckle again, just as my hands burst with inexplicable heat. I loll my head to the side, searching for them, as if they’re not attached to me. They are, but they don’t look right. They’re coated in something red or orange or?—

Fire , I realize. I’m on fire .

It’s my last thought before everything goes dark.