Alethea

My eyes open in shock as my hands tremble. My heart pounds wildly, so hard it feels like it might explode right out of my chest. I can’t breathe right. I can’t think straight. What I just found out, it’s too much.

It’s one thing to be marked by someone who isn’t my mate. That’s already hard to accept. But needing my blood? For what? For some twisted ritual? For some unknown purpose only the goddess knows?

This is madness.

I stumble back from her, still clutching the knife tightly in my hand. My knuckles turn white from how hard I’m gripping it. Then, out of nowhere, a high-pitched...