Bloodline Alchemy: A Young Adult Urban Fantasy Academy Novel (Bloodline Academy Book 6) Lan Chan (uplifting novels .TXT) 📖

and how the Sisterhood used it to sever a human’s soul from their body. When I panned closer using the sight, I saw with clarity the reason why there were darker threads. Like the death of a nerve, as each strand of my soul was broken, it too died and discoloured. If I lost my soul, I would die. Simple as that.

Wracking my brain, I tried to come up with each instance in which my soul had been compromised. Last night it had been when I’d stabbed Durin in order to steal his essence. The time before it had been stealing the souls of the rats. One by one, I recounted each instance. All of them involved taking essence without consent.

I was a blood witch of the earth dimension. Everything that I was and that I did had consequences. For stealing life blood, part of my soul was also forfeited. So how was it that my great-grandfather was able to steal so many essences, to be able to perform all those atrocities? Why hadn’t he lost his soul and died?

The Book of Beasts was not specific about my great-grandfather’s crimes. It couldn’t be. He was a taboo subject in the Zambian compound. My parents never spoke about him either. As I lay there contemplating the alternatives, I realised that I was avoiding the one thing I knew was a sure bet. I had access to somebody who was a witness to the crimes. Noah was not happy with my line of questioning when I tracked him down on perimeter patrol. He didn’t even bother to evade the question.

“No,” he said. “Do you have any idea what you’re asking?”

“Of course I do.”

A scowl as he scanned the area for any signs of something out of place. Ever since the attack on the Reserve by Jacob Buchanan, the shifters had gotten even more paranoid. Rightly so. They now set all kinds of booby-traps that meant their sentries had to be more alert than ever. My presence was a distraction, but the thought of my soul eroding before I even had a chance to fulfil Lex’s last wish was anathema to me.

“Why would you even think to ask me that?” he said, crouching down to check tracks left behind by a cloven animal.

That was the difficulty. If I told him what was really happening, he would report it to Max and that would be the end of me using magic at all. Lying to him made me green for some reason. The guilt of what my great-grandfather had done picked at me constantly in his presence. As it no doubt picked at him when I was around. That we had come to an unsteady truce was a miracle in and of itself.

Without any other options, I chose to go with the explanation that they would believe the most. “I feel ill after using my blood alchemy like that,” I said. “So ill I haven’t been able to do much since. I don’t want that to happen again. What if I had been too drained to help Lizzie?” Letting my gaze lower to the ground, I tried to go for professional vulnerability. When all was said and done, my great-grandfather was one of the world’s most powerful low-magic users. That I constantly fell short of him had always been a relief. Until now.

He straightened, his expression hooded. “Did you ever think that there’s a reason for that? Evil should have safeguards.”

“What I do isn’t–”

He stared me down, daring me to challenge his assertion. “You haven’t given in to the evil. But if you keep going down this path...”

Frustrated that everyone seemed to think they knew what was best for me, I said, “Maybe I should get to decide my own path for once!”

His laugh was humourless. “You would think so, but you could have been anything, and you’re somehow still a blood witch trying to justify the dangerous alchemy that you possess. The stink of necromantic magic continues to cling to you despite how much time you’ve spent in the Reserve. Our races are incompatible. Who do you want to be, Sophie?” He grunted in disgust. “I have to go. I’m on duty.”

With that he turned in the direction of the savannah and disappeared too quickly for me to catch up.

Both of us were sullen when he arrived to escort me back to Bloodline a few days later. I’d spent a tense time worrying about how I would explain to Max that the kiss was a mistake, and my nerves were frayed. Thank goodness pack business seemed to be keeping him busy.

Seeing my distraction, Charles had snickered. “We had a major security breach and the alphas’ conditions have been exposed to an outsider,” he’d said. “He’ll be tied up for a while. You can stop jumping at shadows.”

The shadow that had descended on me was not that easily dispelled. That was nothing compared to the dark, thunder-laced clouds that literally gathered around Agatha when I informed her that I would no longer be able to attend her classes.

“What are you talking about?” she hissed. “You’re finally making progress.”

I’d made the decision this morning. My soul was too high a price to pay. How would I help Lex if I was dead? “I’m not willing to compromise myself for the sake of power.”

The infuriated look on her face made Noah step out in front of me. “We’re looking at a war that is about to tear this dimension apart and you’re worried about your integrity?” she seethed.

Behind her, Hugh was quiet. He sat on the lip of a desk, watching the interaction with mild interest. “Irrespective of my intentions, the stealing of blood and essence takes something from me.”

Agatha halted her slow advance towards me. “I’m not a high-magic user,” I said. “My reserve of energy is limited. I don’t want to hurt people just to be strong.” After what happened with Durin, I saw now that even if I was being coerced, it would