Blood Freed (Vampire-Cursed #4)

31. Chapter 31

Mia

I settle deeper into the couch beside Soren, still marveling at how natural it feels to be here with him in my family’s home. His hand rests on my knee, his thumb tracing small circles that send shivers through me. Even that simple touch feels electric through our enhanced bond. I lean into him slightly, drawing comfort from his solid presence. I can still feel his blood pulsing through my veins.

The blood that saved me.

Dad keeps glancing our way from his armchair, trying to be subtle about it but failing miserably. He keeps looking at me like I might disappear.

Mom flutters around with tea and cookies, refilling cups that don’t need refilling. I notice she’s careful not to offer me anything. I’m not sure any of us know what I can eat now.

Who cares? I’m alive.

“Are you sure you’re comfortable, sweetheart? I can get another pillow…”

“I’m fine, Mom.”

I catch Soren hiding a smile.

Across the room, Kara perches on the window seat, her eyes narrowed at Marcus, who leans against the wall nearby. Every time he shifts position, she tenses slightly.

“So,” Gran says from her favorite chair, her voice cutting through the awkward silence, “tell us exactly what happened at the church.”

I exchange a look with Soren. His grip tightens slightly on my arm as I begin. “Lucien was waiting. He’d set a trap using runes. Black magic…”

Gran’s breath hisses. “A vampire with access to such power.”

“It’s not surprising.” Darick leans back on the couch. Rowan is nestled beside him, her legs curled beneath her on the seat. “God knows how long he’s been interacting with witches.”

“You’re right,” says Dad. “He’s bound to have picked up a trick or two along the way, whether from those he abducted or the traitors who conspired with him.”

“Well, he pulled out all those tricks for me,” I grumble. Nothing had ever prepared me for what I faced in that church.

As I describe the battle, I notice the shadows in the room responding to my emotions, stretching and contracting with each word. A new awareness tingles under my skin – everything feels different somehow, sharper and more intense. I can hear heartbeats, smell the iron tang of blood beneath skin, sense the magical currents flowing through the house in ways I never could before.

“The sphere he used,” Gran looks at us, “it was designed to drain power?”

“Yes,” Soren confirms. “An ancient artifact twisted by blood magic.”

Gran nods slowly. “I have heard of such things. Receptacles of evil. Forbidden in all realms.”

“Clearly not in Lucien’s realm. That bastard thinks he’s a law unto himself. It’s time we set that right.” I still feel a surge of rage every time I think about the man. “He may be on the wind, but—”

“No!” Dad stands abruptly. “I will not have you running off and putting yourself in danger again. You could have died.” His voice cracks. “Both times now, I almost lost you.”

“But you didn’t.” I meet his eyes. “And I’m stronger now.”

To demonstrate, I lift my cup with magic while simultaneously using vampire speed to appear beside him, giving him a quick hug before returning to my seat and plucking the cup from the air. The display breaks some of the tension.

“Show off,” Rowan mutters, then winks at me. I grin back.

Gran smiles, then continues speaking, “The Conclave and the Blood Assembly are cooperating fully in the aftermath. They’re both quite eager to study this new…development.”

“Thank fuck for that,” I mutter. “I thought none of them would ever see sense.”

“Speaking of developments,” Mom brightens suddenly, “we should start planning the wedding!”

“Mom!” Rowan’s eyes are wide. “Getting a little ahead of yourself, aren’t you? Nobody’s even popped the big question yet.”

“This can be easily remedied,” says Soren, looking at me so intently it burns.

“Actually, I’ve been wondering when you’d ask me,” Darick butts in, looking at Rowan.

“You’ve been waiting for me to propose to you?” She stares at him.

“Of course.” He nods. “I might be a thousand years old, but that doesn’t mean I can’t keep up with the times. Women can propose if they want.” He raises an eyebrow. “So? Are you going to go down on bended knee?”

“Bended knee?” Rowan scoffs. “I’m not getting on my knees for you!”

“That’s not what you said this morning.”

“Darick!” Rowan’s cheeks are crimson. “My mom is sitting right there!” She points at our mother, who flaps a hand.

“Nothing to be embarrassed about, darling. It’s not like I don’t know about these things. Your Dad and I—”

“Stop!” Kara blurts. “There are some things I really don’t want in my head.”

Marcus snorts out a laugh, and Kara shoots a cold look at him.

Mom’s eyes are alight; she’s clearly caught up in it now. “Oh! We could do a joint ceremony! Think of it – both couples joined under the full moon…” She’s practically vibrating with excitement.

“Mom, breathe,” I say, but can’t help smiling. It feels good to see her like this after everything that’s happened. “Maybe we should start with the basics before planning double ceremonies?”

“Of course, of course.” She waves her hand dismissively. “But we’ll need to consider both traditions. The vampire blood binding ritual is quite beautiful, from what I’ve read. And we could incorporate the witch hand-fastening ceremony…”

I glance at Soren, realizing that this is all unfolding before he and I have even discussed the next step. As if sensing my thoughts – which, of course, he can – he glances at me.

“This feels right, my love.” His smile melts my heart. “This is our destiny. A future together.”

My breath catches in my throat as my heart swells with a happiness I never thought I’d feel. After all that we’ve been through… The chaos, the confusion, the doubt… This does feel right. It’s our destiny. And I’m not going to fight it. Because God knows we’ve had too many fights on our hands.

I presss into Soren and rest my head against his shoulder, soaking in his warm strength. Mom is still chattering cheerfully about traditions and romantic gestures. This is her “happy place,” and after all she’s been through, I’m not going to take it away from her. Hell, I think I’m going to join her.

“The blood binding is traditionally done in darkness,” Soren offers, getting into the swing of things too. “It would complement the moonlight elements of witch ceremonies nicely.”

Marcus pushes off from the wall. “The Assembly would expect certain joining protocols to be followed.”

“Oh, because we care so much what they think,” Kara mutters.

“Some of us still have to work with them,” Marcus replies sharply.

Rowan stands suddenly. “This celebration needs Poppy.”

“Oh, great.” I roll my eyes. “Because it’s not right without her snarky commentary.

“Precisely,” Rowan says. “I’ll go fetch her – she’s probably sulking in her favorite oak tree.”

“Good idea,” Gran says. “She’d never forgive us if we planned any festivities without her input.”

“Plus, she gives the best wedding gifts,” Rowan adds with a grin. “Remember that enchanted acorn she gave Cousin Sarah? It grew into the most beautiful wishing tree.”

For a moment, everything feels wonderfully normal. The happy banter continues around me, with Mom deep in discussion about flower arrangements while Marcus and Kara argue about proper vampire etiquette. Even Dad’s starting to look more relaxed, chuckling at Darick’s stories about ancient wedding disasters.

But then it all comes to a halt. The front door slams open. Rowan bursts in, her face white as chalk. “She’s gone! Poppy’s gone.”

“What do you mean, gone?” I sit up straighter, feeling Soren tense beside me.

“The oak tree…” Rowan’s hands shake as she holds out a folded sheet of paper. “This was pinned to it with a blackthorn. It’s addressed to Gran.”

Gran’s teacup crashes to the floor. I’ve never seen her move so fast, snatching the page from Rowan’s hands. As she unfolds it, the temperature in the room plummets. Frost creeps across the windows, and the protective crystals throughout the house begin to vibrate.

“No,” Gran whispers as she reads the note. Her face has gone gray. “No, no, no…”

“Mom?” Dad reaches for her, but she stumbles back.

“He knows.” Her voice cracks. “After all this time, he knows.”

The chandelier above us starts to swing, and books fly off their shelves as Gran’s magic spirals out of control. Pictures rattle on the walls, and a vase explodes on the mantle.

“Gran, please!” Kara tries to approach her. “She’s just a familiar. She’s nothing to him. He’ll bring her back and—”

“Just a familiar?” Gran’s laugh is hollow, hysterical. “You don’t understand. None of you understand!”

Mom grabs Gran’s arms. “Evelyn, you need to calm down. We’ll find Poppy—”

“You don’t know what he’ll do to her!” Gran’s magic lashes out, sending Mom stumbling backward. “I have to… I need to…”

She turns toward the door, but Dad blocks her path. “Mom, stop! You’re not thinking clearly.”

The windows rattle as Gran’s power surges again. I’ve never seen her lose control like this. Never seen her scared like this.

“Get the hell out of my way, Lake Blackwood!” Her eyes are wide, her voice strident. Dad steps aside, and Gran bursts from the room, her scarf trailing behind her, the note still clutched in her fist.

We all sit there in stunned silence for a moment.

“What the hell just happened?” Darick looks dumbstruck.

“I…I… I have no idea.” Dad is still staring after her.

“What did the note say?” I ask Rowan.

She shakes her head. “I never read it. It was meant for Gran.” She rubs her eyes. “Oh God, I should have read it!”

Dad shakes his head. “Not your fault, love.” He reaches for his phone. “I’ll get to the bottom of this.” His brow furrows as he holds the device to his ear. Seconds drag by while we wait. Finally, he drops his hand. “She’s not answering.”

My brow furrows. “I don’t understand. This isn’t like Gran at all.”

“I’ve never seen her freak out like that.” Kara looks as shocked as I feel.

Dad is trying the phone again. His face brightens for a moment. “Mom,” he says quickly. “Mom, what’s going on? Where are you?” His brows pull together. “Wait. You’re not making any sense…. Stop! Wait… Mom, no!”

“What’s she saying, love?” Mom’s voice is low and urgent. She’s at Dad’s side, a hand on his arm.

Dad barely acknowledges her. “You!” he barks the word suddenly. “You let her go or so help me—” His jaw tenses and his fist clenches around the phone. “No! Don’t you—!” He drops his hand to his side, the phone silent in his palm.

I’m barely breathing. Everyone in the room is rigid with shock as Dad turns to us, his face as white as a sheet.

“He has her. Lucien Marlowe has my mother,” he all but whispers the words.

“Dear God.” Mom lifts a hand to her mouth.

“Why? Why would he do that?” Rowan husks out. Although we all know the answer to that…me more than others.

“The source,” I say softly. My gut is churning. “He said he’d go to the source.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Dad snaps, then squeezes his eyes shut for a second. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Go on.”

“When I faced Lucien in the church, he said he was going to go to the source. I didn’t think about it at the time. Assumed it was just more of his bullshit. But now I’m thinking…”

“He meant Gran,” Kara breathes. “She’s always been the strongest of us. The matriarch.”

“Oh, my Lord,” Mom murmurs. Dad is scrubbing a hand over his face.

The shock in the room hangs heavy in the air. My heart races as I try to process what’s happening. Gran – captured by Lucien. It seems impossible. She’s always been our rock, our protector. Now…

“We need to…” I start, but I’m not even sure how to finish that sentence. What can we do? Where would he take her?

Beside me, Soren’s body is tense. I can feel his anger matching my own rising fury. But before either of us can speak, Kara suddenly leaps to her feet.

“He can’t do this! Not again!” She’s already running for the door, her rose-gold hair flying behind her.

“Kara, wait!” Dad lunges after her, but she’s too quick. “We need to think this through and—”

The front door slams shut, cutting off his words. We all stare at each other, frozen in disbelief at how quickly everything’s spiraling out of control.

Then Marcus straightens, his expression determined. “I’ll go after her.” His voice is calm, controlled. “Don’t worry.”

Before anyone can respond, he’s gone too, moving with vampire speed through the door Kara just exited.

The silence that follows is deafening.