Page 161 of A House of Gold
"Or I die. I know. Isn’t that how it always goes?"
"Or worse." He turns those gold eyes on me. "There are things worse than death when it comes to broken magic."
"Then we won't break it."
He doesn't look convinced, but he opens the door.
The chamber beyond takes my breath away.
It's circular, maybe fifty feet across, with a domed ceiling which is carved to look like a night sky. But instead of stars, there are seven points of light, one for each house, I realize. Gold, platinum, iridescent, red, rose-gold, amber, and that pale, colorless light.
The floor is black marble inlaid with gold, not a random style, but a perfect seven-pointed star. At each point sits a cushion, and at the center, where all the lines meet, there's a space for me.
The six other angels are already here, each standing at their designated point.
Seraph in white and gold, wings folded against his back, looking like carved perfection. Kael wreathed in smoke, embers drifting from his scarred skin. Idris in black, their lips moving silently. Lysander lounging like a cat, purple eyes bright with interest. Dorian holding a wine glass despite the solemnity, his warm brown eyes sad. And Caspian in the shadows, leaning on his cane, looking more exhausted than the last time I saw him.
"She's here," Seraph announces unnecessarily. "Let's begin before I change my mind about this insanity."
Croesus leads me to the center of the star. The moment I step into the space, I feel it, power humming through the floor, through the air, through my very bones. The wards here are so strong, they're almost visible.
"Sit," Croesus says gently.
I do, cross-legged on the cold marble. He moves to his point on the star, the golden one, naturally, and sits facing me.
All seven angels are positioned around me now, creating a perfect circle. I'm at the center, and suddenly I feel very small. Very human. Very mortal.
"The ritual requires blood," Seraph says, all business now. "Yours and ours. The bonds are created through the mixing of essences, your angel blood recognizing ours, creating a bridge."
"How much blood?" My voice sounds thin in the vast chamber.
"Not much. A few drops each." Dorian pulls out a ceremonial knife, silver, etched with more of those painful symbols. "But the cutting is just the beginning. The bonds themselves..." He trails off.
"Will hurt," Kael adds bluntly. "A lot."
"Comforting."
"I'm honest, not comforting." But there's something almost like respect in his ember eyes. "You're about to let seven deadly sins into your head. Most humans would go insane. You might too."
"Then I guess we'll find out."
Brave or stupid, Idris comments in my mind.Still can't decide.
"Can we just get this over with?" Caspian asks tiredly. "Standing is exhausting."
Seraph shoots him an annoyed look, but nods. "Very well. Raven, hold out your hands."
I do. They're shaking slightly, but I force them steady.
Seraph approaches first, knife in hand. "This is the last chance to back out."
"I'm not backing out."
"Then let's begin." He takes my right hand, presses the blade to my palm. "This will sting."
It does more than sting. The knife cuts deep, and I gasp as blood wells up, red.
Seraph cuts his own palm without hesitation. His blood is different, platinum colored, shimmering like mercury. He presses our palms together, and the world TILTS.
