Page 158 of Wicked Bonds

The nets sank into her skin like razor wire, cutting through the fiber of her being, but Balthazar mattered more.

Love is worth the sacrifice, she thought, the words an echo of something she’d said to Dian long ago. He’d asked her to choose her memories over Balthazar’s life.

She’d sacrificed her mind for him.

Leela strove to capture the scene in whole, to remember how she’d been brought to that point, but the manufactured walls in her head blocked her entry.

She clawed at them, trying to dismantle them brick by brick.

And failed.

Too much.

Too hard.

Bite me, Leela,Balthazar echoed into her mind.

She followed his desire, searching for the purpose, and realized the reason less than a second later, having discovered the cause via her own logic.

To hasten the bond, she thought. Her original bite had happened over three thousand years ago. He’d finally returned the sentiment, sealing their bond, but time had deteriorated her initial bite.

Blood bonds never died.

But they could be constantly reinforced through the sharing of blood.

Because everything in her world revolved around the seraphic essence—the soul—and the soul was connected to the corporeal form byblood.

The realization sent a fresh surge of determination through her, forcing her to fight through the pain of the net to finish opening her mouth. Tears stung her eyes, the sharp sensation of blades cutting into her skin almost enough to send her spiraling into the land of unconsciousness.

I’m stronger than this,she told herself.I can defeat this. Them. This fate.

I choose my own destiny.

I choose Balthazar.

Her teeth met his skin, the net digging into her gums now, slicing her apart inside.

You.She started to clamp down.

Will.The skin began to give beneath her incision.

Not.Balthazar’s fingers dug into her neck, lending her his strength to finish it.

Defeat.Agony ripped through her mouth, her face, her entire being, as she finally broke through his skin and the net around her jaw.

Me.Blood touched her tongue, shooting euphoria through her veins and chasing away the sharp pangs around her mouth.

Mine,she thought, sighing as she swallowed.Balthazar is mine.

Chapter30

Issac

Several Minutes Earlier

“Balthazar should have checkedin by now,” Lucian said, his feet carrying him swiftly over the black sand beach to Issac. “Something’s wrong.”

Issac glanced at the setting sun and up to where Aya flew around with Gabriel and Vera above. That sense of dread had continued to darken, her mind shifting through thoughts of concern and preparation all at once.