I wiped the tears from my face that seemed to drip without my noticing from breaking the spell on the bracelet. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank us yet,” Contessa said, pointing to my wrist. “Not until you can destroy that bracelet.”
My brows shot up. “I can destroy it?”
“Of course.” Regalia rolled her eyes. “How many times do I have to tell you that you’re powerful?”
“But the only magic that counteracts blood magic is—”
“Blood magic,” Beatrice answered. “Precisely.”
“I can’t do blood magic!” I took a step back. “Not only do I not know the first thing about wielding it, but it’s forbidden magic.”
“Not forbidden for you, my dear.” Regalia stepped forward, keeping one hand on her crystal ball as the other outstretched to my cheek until her incorporeal palm rested against it. “You can use blood magic because you’re the exception to the rules of the universe, but more than that, your blood magic is unmatched and when you use it, it can’t be neutralized.”
“But the balance—”
“Does she seriously not get it now?” Beatrice asked her gecko who shook its head.
“You are the epitome of balance,” Contessa explained. “You can use forbidden magic without consequences.”
Regalia nodded. “Without tipping the scales. Your power is priceless.”
My heart battered my breastbone, and I took a few deep breaths in hope of settling it.
“There isn’t much time,” Regalia said as she glanced down at the ball. “Your lovers are in danger. They’ve been spotted in Heaven, and Mystia is panicking.”
“Tell me how to destroy this fucking bracelet.” I held my arm up. “I don’t know what makes blood magic different, but if it’ll work, I’m all for it.”
She nodded, not taking her eyes off the ball. “Beatrice, teach her.”
Beatrice patted her gecko on the head before turning her focus on me. “Blood magic differs from any other magic because it’s magic derived from blood not what’s inside you, but rather what’s inside the blood you are using for your spell.”
“Okay, so how do I get this off me? Pour blood on it?”
“You’re smarter than you look.”
Irritation swept over me at the seer with her pet gecko. “Are you fucking serious? That’s all I’ve had to do?”
Contessa pushed her sister back a bit as she stepped in front of her. “No. You do need to pour your blood over it, but you need to have a clear will in mind or the spell can go wrong.”
“Hurry up,” Regalia said. “Mystia is almost here.”
My eyes widened as panic flitted through me. Dragging my palm against my fang, I created a deep gash and ignored the stinging. I held my palm over the bracelet embedded into my wrist and visualized it breaking and falling off. Pushing my will into the blood itself, it sparked to life.
My blood encased the bracelet like a second coating before the bracelet loosened then fell apart, clanging to the floor.
I sucked in a sharp breath before a huge smile spread across my lips. My flesh that had been burrowed into by the metal contraption had healed instantly, and my soul and body alike brimmed with power.
“Blood magic is fucking scary.” The nerves were skittering as my fingertips brushed against my newly freed wrist. “Easier than any magic I’ve seen. How did I not know about this?”
“It’s forbidden, remember?” Contessa winked. “But you are deserving of its power along with your other powers. Blood magic is kept a secret because anyone could do it. Humans could even do it. It’s dangerous, and the realms would cease to exist if blood magic was exerted too much.”
“But surely someone has tried it? It’s too simple for someone not to try.”
“Which is why any time someone does attempt it, balance tips and we are alerted to the threat,” Beatrice supplies.
“And we have them eliminated,” Contessa added.
“It’s time,” Regalia stated, lifting her head up and meeting my gaze. “Do not trust Zelek or Astral. Best of luck, Lilith. I hope you live up to stopping the prophecy.”
The seers faded into thin air, and I held a hand out toward the broken metal fragments of what was left of the bracelet. Hellfire raged from my palm, reducing the pieces into a liquid copper that merged with the resin floor.
My lips quirked into a sinister smile.
Watch out, Mystia. I’m at full power, and I’m going to beat you using your own magic.