poisonde blades 19
Down to the End
Nightshade and Windfire smiled happily. They rose early and were still in bed three hours past sunrise. They had shared a wonderful dream and an even better morning. He knew that she was inclined to love the evil that he had encouraged and that could be traced back to him. She knew that he’d do anything to make his plan work—acting as enthusiasts for revolution in France was the perfect subtle cover for wanting to end a blood feud between the Gerard and Deverill covens, after all.
Luckily something had been on their side. Somehow their cousins and siblings had fallen for one another as easily as they had fallen for each other with a gesture of kindness and curiosity.
“I can’t help but wonder what exactly made everybody seem to find their perfect match,” Windfire whispered.
Nightshade considered her thought as well. “Well, we all understand one another. Somebody else knows what it is like to be us and that in itself really helps to fuel a romance.”
“Salem and Dewstone have the same powers, too?” Windfire asked.
“So do Midnight and Rainstone—even if they’re only seeing one another behind everybody’s back,” Nightshade grinned.
“So killing off both sets of nobles in the families will be easier with a stroke of luck,” she whispered into his ear.
“Indeed,” Nightshade agreed. “Our cousins and siblings have really pulled through for us. So have the commoners who are really enjoying the bloodshed.”
“Humans are predictable pawns,” Windfire sighed. “I mean, you’ve been able to think everything up this far and you knew how everybody would react…”
Nightshade blushed, “You’re the reason that I thought everything up…”
“I am?”
“Windfire,” Nightshade pulled her closer against his naked body, “I knew I was falling for you the day before we turned eighteen. When I saw you…I just thought up everything. I just didn’t think you felt the same…”
“Oh, Shade,” Windfire blushed. “You’re so romantic…”
“This is why I’m glad you’re a witch,” Nightshade said sheepishly. “Anything evil I do for you is a plus in your eyes,” he smiled before kissing her.
“If you were a human I would have used you as a sacrifice already,” Windfire said sheepishly.
“And evil is supposed to be avoided…” Nightshade said dryly. He remembered all of the powerful magic that he and Windfire had created. His father and her mother would envy how much power they possessed. Ever since they took a blood oath together in the crypt waters to kill all of their family’s nobles who did not want peace between the covens, they had improved their power tenfold, twentyfold and more.
“Evil is always more powerful than good,” Windfire whispered. “It is just harder to be evil than good.”
“That is true, my love,” Nightshade agreed. “Now let’s gather our families and prepare for the assassination.”
Windfire and Nightshade stood before their loyal bloodline. Everybody was paired off with their counterpart who was also the love of their life. “This is the day of the night that we finish what we started,” Windfire announced.
“We’re all to murder our family members so there is no question of treachery with the treaty,” Nightshade explained.
“Right, there is no rules with the treaty against us killing our own family members,” Windfire nodded.
“We’re to kill them all?” Snowgust asked.
“Every last one?” Flameshade asked.
“Every member of your family who is not present in this room,” Nightshade clarified. “Kill them with blades so it could look like an assassination attempt. Do not use magic unless it is needed.”
“If you’re not with us, we’re killing you now,” Windfire said evenly.
“Our own flesh and blood…” Lillybreeze muttered.
“If you want to marry my brother, you have to do this,” Nightshade explained.
“Yule is the only chance we’ll have. Everybody will be drunk and easier to kill, too,” Windfire muttered.
“We’re ready for this,” Aquashade announced. “We only have our father, our uncle, and his wife. The commoners who work won’t face us.”
“We’ll only have our mother, aunt, uncle and father,” Snowgust said quietly.
“This will be easy, though,” Dewstone said enthusiastically.
“She’s right,” Salem nodded.
“So we’re all in?” Nightshade asked.
“Indeed, until the end,” Midnight announced.
“That we are, Nightshade,” Rainstone agreed.
Nightshade and Windfire continued with their meeting, preparing the blood oath for their family members who were for the revolution.

poisoned blades 21