Chapter 22 Aurora #2
“No.” Gia squeezed her hand, expression hardening into something more determined than Aurora had ever seen. “You are not back where you started. I’m here with you. I’ll break you free.”
Aurora’s heart skipped. “You don’t know the right spells. You said you’ve never had to counter anything. Breaking a binding like this isn’t easy.”
“It doesn’t have to be easy. Tell me what to do. What spells to cast. We’ll break it right now.”
A tear fell down Aurora’s cheek. “Some spells need more than words and access to power. We need my uncle’s blood to undo the binding because blood is how he created it. I can’t break free without facing him, and even then, it’s not as simple as reciting a known spell.”
“Okay, so we’ll face him. And if it’s more complicated than having me repeat a spell, channel me. Isn’t there a way for you to control my magic, like we did before?”
“I can’t use you.” Not after everything Franco had done.
“Why not?” Gia closed the remaining distance between them. “I’m giving you permission. I have unrestricted power, and you have the knowledge to undo the binding. We can do this together.”
Satandammit, Gia was serious. She’d pulled Aurora out of her grave, and as if it weren’t enough, she offered up her essence like it was the most natural thing.
Aurora’s knees went weak, and her heart swelled, the sturdy beat giving her strength.
“Witches can channel each other, but it’s blood magic that most people never mess with. ”
“Why not?”
“Channeling gives another witch access to all your power. It’s the riskiest kind of blood magic. You could easily drain someone to death.” The only saving grace was that, unlike other practices, like leeching, it was impossible to channel against someone’s will.
Gia didn’t seem deterred by the warning. “What’s the alternative? Leave you here until we can get the Lockwoods to come and fight for you? Will they know how to unbind you?”
“I’m not sure.”
The Lockwoods didn’t know how the binding was created. And even if they did, how many people could she ask to fight for her? Especially those who weren’t fighters. There was a whole host of reasons she’d never planned to ask the Lockwoods to rescue her by force.
“Then tell me what to do. Channel me.” Gia squeezed Aurora’s clammy fingers once more. “I trust you with my magic.”
Aurora’s heart clenched. “We have to exchange blood with the intention to share power. You’re super powerful, by the way.
Did I tell you? Way more powerful than me, so you should have no trouble casting spells while I channel you, as long as you don’t start to feel strained. If you do, you have to stop.”
Gia nodded. “Okay. I know what you mean. Sometimes, after Franco…I’d feel spent, my magic almost thin.”
The bastard had pushed Gia to her limits? Aurora fumed. She could not wait to get her hands on the damned mobster, but she needed to focus.
“Good. You’ll know when to stop, and so will I. But this won’t be like when I channeled you before. You won’t move as I do, or say the words I say. It will look like the magic is coming from me, while you sense me taking your power.”
“Perfect.” Gia grinned, a feral glint in her eye. “They won’t see it coming.”
A thrill shot through Aurora. No, they wouldn’t. How long had she wanted to strike back? And here Gia was, giving her that gift.
But one last thread of caution nagged at her. There was no getting around how risky this plan was. Could Aurora take on her uncle? She wasn’t sure of the depth of his power. He’d no doubt become complacent, too used to oppressing his enemies, but would it be enough of an advantage?
Viv had crept closer as they’d talked and stepped through the magic door, saying, “In case it wasn’t clear, I’m in.”
Damnation, this was really happening. Aurora swore she could taste freedom, and it shared all the same sweet notes as Gia’s lips.
“I appreciate it, Viv. What did you see when you went spying earlier?”
She waved a hand. “Not much. A few witches and a human in the yard, movement in the big house—”
“A human?” Aurora interrupted.
Viv nodded. “He was talking with a younger witch.”
But the Thornfields didn’t work with humans. “Maybe the Nightingales are here after all, and they brought someone.” Although Aurora would have sworn they were as anti-human as her uncle.
“Whatever.” Viv rolled her eyes. “Humans don’t matter. How are we getting to your uncle? Any guesses where he might be?”
“He could be anywhere on the compound.”
“Wait.” Gia tugged on Aurora. “You weren’t in the crypt. Does that mean your family believes you died or not? If we find your uncle without being detected, maybe we can take him by surprise before he has a chance to fight.”
Aurora led Gia and Viv toward the main buildings as she considered. “They could have put me in the ground outside the cemetery for disgracing them by killing myself, rather than doing my duty. Meaning yeah, they believed I died.”
Gia made a savage growling sound. “They’re fucking horrible. No compassion, even when they thought you took your own life.”
“I know, babe. But the other option is worse.”
Gia’s steps faltered. “What do you mean?”
Aurora clutched Gia tight. “They might have buried me, knowing my soul would reenter my body, and I’d die trapped underground, unable to get out.”
The color drained from Gia’s dirt-smeared face.
“Either way, they aren’t expecting you,” Viv said, all business and no emotion.
Aurora nodded to the vampire, glad to brush past the horror of what might have happened. Dwelling wouldn’t do any good right now.
“I’ll stay out of sight. Silent backup.” Viv zipped into the trees and disappeared.
“Ready?” Aurora asked.
“Let’s do this.” Gia gripped both Aurora’s hands in hers and sank her teeth into her lower lip, worrying at the flesh until it bloomed red with blood.
Aurora leaned in on reflex and licked the drops from Gia’s plush lip, dipping her tongue inside her mouth for good measure. Gia hummed, sucking Aurora’s lip into her mouth, then bit her hard, tantalizingly sucking her flesh. Aurora’s stomach tightened.
Gia pulled away, breathless. “You can have all my power. Let me do this for you. There’s nothing I want more.”
Aurora kissed her, putting all her feelings into each brush of their lips. “Together then.”