81

81
ELLA
“They probably have to take extra care with their pets so they don’t have to make the trip often or rely on what’s available—stairs or the elevator,” he replied.
“It would be terrible if they were in the elevator when it stopped working. An anxious animal isn’t easy to deal with,” I said as we got closer to the receptionist’s desk.
He nodded and turned to the receptionist, who suddenly wore a bright smile—a far cry from the bored expression she had when we arrived. He told her where we were headed and asked if the vet was available.
When she responded in the affirmative, he thanked her, and we were on our way. A few minutes later, we were standing in the hallway, and I was out of breath.
“I didn’t add exercise to the itinerary this morning. This better be worth it,” I said, standing still for a few minutes to steady my breathing.
Quincy counted four doors and pointed to the fifth one. “This is as far as I can go. Good luck,” he replied, shoving his hands into his pockets.
I wanted to ask why he didn’t want to come in but decided against it. This was better. I’d have some time to myself, and it would be easier to ask questions without him there. “Thank you. Are you going to wait out here? This might take a while.”
“Oh no, I’ll be gone once you’ve walked through that door. I have a few errands to run. Eve will come pick you up in an hour.”
“Alright,” I said, walking up to the door he pointed to and ringing the bell. A few seconds later, a voice invited me to come in, and I pushed the door open.
I had just stepped into the room when I realized I hadn’t said goodbye to Quincy. But it was too late to go back—I was already locking gazes with a dark-haired woman sitting behind a desk.
“Hello, good morning. I’m—”
“Ella Harper. I know who you are. Welcome, have a seat. I’ve been expecting you,” she interrupted, and I blinked in confusion.
“You have?” I asked, moving to the empty chair opposite her. “I didn’t think Quincy called to book an appointment earlier. He must have done it while we were at the bonfire.”
“He didn’t. He didn’t have to. I knew you were coming long before you made up your mind to start the trip with Quincy. You sure took your time getting here,” she answered with a smile.
I glanced around the room in confusion. The pale blue paint matched the building’s exterior, but the office looked like it had been freshly painted. Her words surprised me, and I wanted to ask what she meant.
But instead, I decided to play along. If there was anything else I needed to know, it would come up during the conversation.
She was a seer, after all—it was in her job description to know things, or at least to figure them out. And the fact that she was receptive so far was a huge relief—much better than my last experience.
“I didn’t think I’d have to come all the way here when Quincy got back. I also struggled with the decision to come, but it needed to be done,” I replied, and she nodded slowly.
“I understand, and I assure you, you’re on the right path. You’re here to ask me some questions and figure out what to do next. I’ve been preparing for this moment for weeks. But we can’t get anything done unless you tell me what’s on your mind—so, ask away.”
I exhaled deeply and began by telling her about the twins’ rejection, how I trained and became stronger, the contest where I was robbed of my prize, and everything else in between.
As I spoke, her brown eyes seemed to both draw me in and pierce through me. It felt like standing in front of a mirror. The more I spoke about my experience, the more comfortable I became expressing myself.
When I reached the part where I expressed my desire to cut ties with the twins, she seemed to sit up straighter and listen more attentively.
“You’ve seen something about this connection you have with the Blackthorn twins—something that indicated it was written in the sands of time,” she said once I’d finished, and I nodded.
The memory of the meeting between my ancestors and the Blackthorns replayed in my mind, and I shivered. The room suddenly felt colder, and I folded my arms to keep warm.
“I saw something. I didn’t completely understand it, but it was pretty clear that a pact had been made between the two families.”
“That pact was created to protect your ancestors from their enemies, and to grant the Blackthorns knowledge. But a few years later, someone betrayed the agreement. That’s why things are the way they are now. There is a way to permanently undo the bond, but it’s a long and excruciating process. It would also upset the balance of things—and you would need an alpha’s blood to heal.”
The idea that I could permanently sever ties with the twins was wonderful news. At this point, I didn’t care how painful the process would be.
“An alpha’s blood,” I repeated, thinking it over.
I could ask Quincy. He was an alpha, and he’d probably be willing to help. He’d told me how he felt about me, and I assumed he’d lend a hand. But that complicated things.
I wanted to be free of the twins, but I didn’t want to become instantly attached to someone else. I still had a lot to consider before accepting Quincy’s offer for a relationship. I’d prefer to go into that with a clear head.
I was willing to endure the pain to be free, but not if it meant binding myself to someone else again.
“If I can get an alpha to willingly give a few pints for the process, what does that mean for me? Would I be permanently bonded to them too?” I asked.
She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
“A bond between you and the alpha who donates blood can only happen if both of you desire it during the process. If you begin the procedure while holding the thought that you’d like to be with that person afterward, your bloodline is strong enough to pick up on that intention and manifest it. Who’s this alpha you believe would be willing to give their blood?”