Blood Oath (O/O CLOSED)

I pressed my forehead to his, kissing him with everything I had.

When I pulled away, I cradled his face in my hands. “Love? What happened?”

It broke me to see him like this.

I shook my head in desperation, finally looking at her properly. Her worried features, her kind eyes. In the nightmare, they were cold. In the nightmare, they were covered in blood.

“Let me hold you,” my voice cracked as I begged her. ”Please.”

I pressed myself into his arms. “Of course, Colton. Always, always, always. I—I just want you to be okay….”

I held her tightly, pulling her even closer if that was possible. I breathed her in, felt her heart beat against my chest, hers falling with every breath she took. She was alive. She was okay. She was safe.

That was all that I wanted.

“I’ll keep you safe,” I promised her in a raspy, scratchy voice. “I promise.”

I buried my face in his chest, wondering what on earth he could have seen to reduce him to this. My heart hurt for him… so much…

No, Colton. If it comes down to it… if it’s your life or mine… promise you’ll remember me when I’m gone.

“I trust you, love. Don’t worry.”

I fell asleep once again with my face buried in Elle’s shoulder, basking in her warmth. Enjoying myself against her body.

“I love you…” I murmured just before I drifted off to sleep. “More than you realize…”

I tightened my hold on his sleeping form, praying that only good dreams would come his way.

“I’m sorry, Colton…” I whispered one I was sure my voice wouldn’t wake him up. “If it comes down to it… I’ll gladly let her kill me if it means that’s you’ll live..”

[TIME SKIP: 1 Week]

Colton’s POV:

Elle and I were walking in the Academy halls, and though it killed me, she had to keep up her illusion as Isabella. At least her touches felt like my Elle.

We talked quietly, not going over a whisper for what the walls could hear when we passed by a room—and I heard a familiar voice.

“You’re so talented, Miss Ariadne!” My blood froze. “Are you going to be our musician forever?”

Vivan. Alone. With Ariadne, the witch.

Elle’s POV

I froze. Fear flooded my system, fear for Colton and his sister. My fingers tightened on his arm, and I pushed him back. “Go,” I whispered urgently. “Go. Far from here. Anywhere that’s far from her. I’ll get your sister.”

I shot Elle a look.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he shook his head. “Not without Vivian or you.”

There was no way I was going to run away while my girlfriend came face-to-face with that witch. Shaking my head, I pulled my arm from her grip and made my way into the room. There was no way I was going to have her anywhere near ny sister.

“No!” I whisper-cried, lunging forwards. But it was too late.

I rushed after my boyfriend, wrapping my fingers securely around his wrist just as he came face to face with the vile musician.

“Vivian,” I called my sister, masking the way my stomach lurched in my stomach. My sister turned her attention towards me, the smile still prominent on her features. The heavy feeling weighing me down intensified a tenfold at being so close to that monster, but I had a sister to protect. A girlfriend to look after.

“Cole,” Vivian hopped off of the desk she’d been on. “What brings you here, Brother?”

“I promised you a ride on Key,” I said to her, smiling tightly. Vivian immediately brightened up and walked over to me. “He’s ready if you want to do it right now.”

(@AnonymousAuthor what??)

I sent an anxious look towards Ariadne, who was moving to intercept Vivian. “Oh, but Vivian, didn’t you want to learn to play my violin?”

“That’s Princess Vivian to you, Musician,” I said coldly to the violinist, a glare on my features. “Watch your mouth.”

“Brother, you’re being rude,” Vivian bit on her lip, looking a bit irritated. I shot a glare towards her, silencing her immediately. She stiffened, turning towards Ariadne and giving her an apologetic smile. “Maybe next time, Miss Ariadne. My brother promised me something, and I’m excited for it.”

The musician looked genuinely sad and disappointed, and for a moment, I felt bad. Then I remembered everything, and has trned my stomach.

In the end, she nodded.

I grabbed Vivian's arm rather harshly before linking my fingers with Elle's, dragging both of them out. Vivian winced, trying to pry her arm out of my hold but I fixed my glare on her. She stopped trying to wriggle away.

When we were far from that witch, I finally let them both go. Vivian glared at me.

"What was that for?" she scowled, her face scrunching, mirroring mine whenever I was angry. It was alarming how closely identical we were.

"You are not allowed to be in here," I said to her flatly. "You have classes, for one. You skipped. Again."

Vivian looked at Elle with a sad expression, once she always feigned to get her way.

"Isabella, he's being unnecessarily mean!"

I threaded my fingers through Colton's and gave his hand a squeeze, before bending down until I was at eye-level to Vivian.

"Well, he has a point," I told her kindly, "Your classes are important."

“Of course you’ll agree with him,” Vivian grumbled. “You’re his girlfriend.”

I sighed, bending down and gently ruffling her hair.

“Vivi, I worry for you,” I said to her gently. “I know you’re a strong girl. You can take care of yourself, but I worry for you still. Because you’re my sister, and it’s my duty to care for you. You walk straight into danger without a second thought. Do you know you could get hurt? You are a princess. You need to learn who to trusf and who to not.”

Key, who had been hiding in my hair, sprang out, enlarging himself. He looked at the three of us, grinning.

”Okay, you weirdos,” he said in my mind, showing his teeth. ”Let me give you one hell of a ride.”

"What Colton means," I added quickly, "Is that we've noticed some strange behaviour from a few staff members. It might not mean anything, but for the time being, it's important to tread lightly, especially around the newer ones. Can you do that for me?"

Vivian looked at Elle, her scowl softening into a small smile. She nodded.

“For you,” she said to Elle before turning towards me. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re okay,” I said to her, coming closer so I could kiss her on the head. “Now, let’s go find a clearing. Key wishes to give us a ‘one hell of a ride.’”

I stood back, watching the two (three) with a fond smile. “Do I get a ride, after?” I asked teasingly, blinking innocently at Colton.

I nearly choked, clearing my throat as Vivian quirked an eyebrow at the way I was trying to keep myself from turning my back to Elle. Oh God. That girl. I loved her. She truly knew how to play me, but I knew how to play her, too.

So I gave her a smile, an invitation present on my features. “All you need to do is ask, my love,” I hummed. “And you’ll get a ride.”

Crimson exploded through my face, but I mustered my purest, most innocent smile, my heart pounding despite the fact that we were just joking around with no intention of actually doing so. “Good to know, Cole~”

I smirked at the blush on her cheeks before motioning them to follow, Key beside me. When we reached a clearing, he increased in size, letting out a deep roar that shook the ground. I grimaced. What a showoff.

“All right, go on,” I said to Vivian as Key knelt down, his paw out for her to climb on. When she was safely on his back, he did the same for Elle.

I winked down at Colton from my perch, admiring the view from up above. Scylla popped into existence, eager to join in.

I chuckled at the two before I jumped up on my bondmate, having done so many times. I sat beside Elle and wrapped my arms around her securely as hers were around my little sister. Key looked at Scylla and showed his teeth, happiness prominent on his features. Two bondmates, in love just as their partners were. It was beautiful.

”Scylla gets the best spot,” he said, looking at her adoringly. ”No apologies to anyone else.”

Traitor.

Scylla, who was now a nearly full-grown adolescent, churred happily and settled between Key’s ear. I chuckled, leaning back against Colton.

A thought occurred to me, and I watched Vivian, hoping she didn’t question the appearance of a ‘rabdom’ bondmate.

“That’s Elliot’s bondmate,” I informed Vivian. “They spend a lot of time together. Key’s fond of her.”

Vivian turned to look at them with awe in her eyes. “I never thought Key could act like this,” she murmured. “But it’s nice to know he has a friend.”

A mate, I wanted to correct her. I didn’t.

I intertwined my fingers with Colton’s, wrapping his arms a little tighter around my waist. My back was pressed to his chest, with little to no room between us at all.

Key flapped his wings, wind blowing heavily and I leaned into whisper in Elle’s ears just as he took off.

“Hold on tight,” I whispered, my hold on her tightening as Key soared into the sky, releasing a roar of flames, his wings flapping wildly. He screenched, whirling in the wind, taking us high into the sky. Though I’d been used to riding with him, my heart still dropped as he flew high, freedom exploding in both of us.