Page 73 of Blood Union (Dark Witch Chronicles 3)
Bronywyn
The world around us has faded away as the funeral pyre burns brightly, casting our group in shadows of red and orange. Faces grim, we watch as seventy-two supernaturals are burned, their souls released to whatever comes after this life.
Vampires, witches, shifters—they gave their lives so we would stand a chance in this war. And their sacrifices didn’t even bring about the end. Yes, the council is running scared, but all that means is now we have to hunt them down.
It doesn’t mean we can pack in the towel, start over. Because as long as they’re breathing, there will be supers who follow them. No, we won’t be safe until each and every one of them is burning, much like our allies are today.
Especially Odette.
Her face swims into my mind, and I clench my hands into fists. She’s at the center of all of it. Every shit thing that’s happened since Rainey was hauled into my clinic. A puppeteer pulling the strings while the rest of us dance happily unaware of the threads binding us to a picture far too big for us to have seen.
It’s despicable.
Rainey moves toward me. “We need to talk.”
I turn away, but Tarnley remains. He lost three of his friends today. Three vampires who’d been with him since he started his cleaning company. After casting one more glance his way, I follow Rainey toward where Delaney, Cole, Willa, Z, and Elijah stand waiting on the front porch.
Just before we reach them, Ridley appears, Fearghas beside him.
“This was a shit day,” Rainey comments as she plops down on the wooden porch swing.
“An understatement, I’d say,” Delaney adds, taking a seat beside her.
I jump up to sit on the railing, my back to the dead. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired. But okay.”
Cole leans down and presses a kiss to the top of her head.
“Thank you for showing up today,” Rainey tells Willa. “We wouldn’t have made it if you hadn’t.”
The alpha nods.
Walker steps out onto the porch, and we all glance over at him. Wincing with every movement, he makes his way to an Adirondack chair before sliding into it slowly. “How is it that every single part of my body feels as though it was run over by a truck?”
“Because you fought when you should have held down the fort,” Rainey retorts.
“I did some research for you.”
At Willa’s announcement, we shift our attention over to her. She gestures to Walker. “About the blood. Lauren informed me that vampire blood did not work to heal you, and I was curious.”
“What did you find out?”
“Psychics are immune to all supernatural tonics or toxins. You cannot be swayed with spell work, changed by vampire or werewolf venom, and you are immune to the magic of a succubus—something to do with your own, personal brand of magic. It’s why the blood did not work on you. Your body repels the healing magic, just as it repels the harmful kind.”
“Fantastic superpower to have.” Walker groans. “Thank you for looking into it.”
She offers him a curt nod. “My pack has been collecting knowledge since the beginning. We have a library available, and we got lucky that someone was curious about your kind and chose to record it.”
“Curious, just as you were?”
Willa glances at Rainey. “I like to know things. That way I’m not caught off-guard.”
The hunter studies her for another moment. “Thanks for letting us know.”
“Anytime.”
Z folds his arms. “Any idea what we’re going to do next?”