My jaw dropped, and my head reared back in shock. “What? How?”
Oliver shook his head. “I don’t know. It must’ve been . . . a combination of how many people were involved in the spell. All I know is that Elena heard us shouting and came to help, but the three of us had already vanished. For a week, she thought we . . .” He choked and cleared his throat. “She thought we were dead.”
I exhaled a huge breath. Thank Lilith. Elena’s alive. But then I thought of how tormented she must’ve been thinking we’d died. My chest burned with regret, and I closed my eyes as guilt slithered inside me. Poor Elena.
I opened my eyes, my brow furrowed with confusion. “But—I thought some powerful magic had to pull us in?” I glanced around at the mystical Santeros’ house.
“Alba has a few theories. She thinks the spell is volatile and not yet perfected. She also thinks it was only meant to transport one person. Because three of us traveled, and since I, the caster, did not possess a great amount of power to fuel our travel, we didn’t go very far. I’m not as powerful a Timecaster as you, Desi. My intent was to bring you somewhere you could be healed, and these Santeros had just completed an initiation ritual. The power from the ritual must’ve brought us here.”
I stared at him, openmouthed. I didn’t know what to say.
“It’s just a theory,” Oliver said quickly.
“And—and the war?” I asked.
“It’s over. The Spanish surrendered.”
Relief swept through me. Thank Lilith. I was fairly certain from my small understanding of U.S. History that the Spanish had not won this war, but it was still nice to know for sure.
It was also nice to know I hadn’t changed anything significant by being here.
I cleared my throat. “So you’ve talked to Alba?”
Oliver nodded. “She and Elena both stopped by.” He tilted his head to the left. “Alba left that for you.”
I glanced at the table next to him and found a necklace with a small vial attached. It was identical to the one Oliver had smashed.
A small smile formed across my lips, but I shook my head. “I don’t need it.”
“Alba said it was just in case you found the opportunity.”
I nodded and wrapped the necklace around my throat, uncertain if I would use it even if I did find the opportunity.
“Desi, I’m—I’m so sorry.”
I looked at Oliver. His eyes glistened with tears and his lips pressed together.
“The blood bond—” he started.
“Shh,” I interrupted, pressing my hand against his chest. “Kismet told me. I know you had no choice.”
Oliver shook his head. Tears ran down his cheeks. “I should’ve fought it, though,” he croaked. “I shouldn’t have made the bargain to begin with. I—I thought he would kill you if I didn’t. I thought he was somehow bound by his promise when we performed the ritual, that he had to stay away from you. I didn’t realize he could break his word so easily.”
I swallowed, my own eyes burning with tears at the sight of Oliver so torn up. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I whispered.
“He made me . . .” Oliver trailed off, grunting in pain as his arms tensed against some invisible vise. “I-I was forbidden,” he gasped. “Forced to . . . stay silent. To go about my duties with the coven, like everything was normal.” He broke off, panting. Pain stirred in his eyes. “And when we made the bargain, he told me he was my father. I didn’t believe him at first. But part of me knew. I knew it was the truth. He threatened to tell the coven if I didn’t agree to the bargain. I was stupid and selfish, and I didn’t think it through. I’m sorry.”
I grasped his hand and ran my thumb along his knuckles. “Does Alba know?”
Oliver nodded. A sheen of sweat glistened along his forehead. “She understands.”
I smiled. “Of course she does.”
Oliver stiffened, his fists tightening and his face reddening. Then his body convulsed, thrashing against the restraints.
I jumped and raised my hands, unsure of what to do. “What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”
Oliver clenched his teeth and released a strained moan. Then he suddenly relaxed and exhaled, long and slow.
“What the hell was that?” I demanded.
“The blood bond. El Diablo—he’s calling to me.”
“From where?” I searched the room again, my heart racing as fear pressed in on my chest.
Oliver closed his eyes, his eyebrows pulling together. In a strained voice, he said, “I don’t know. But it’s nowhere close. When he made the blood bond with me in the cave, I could feel his intentions and commands as if he spoke directly into my mind. Now it’s more of a faint whisper.” He paused and inhaled deeply. After a shaky exhale, he opened his eyes. “Alba cast a locater spell, and he isn’t on the island. I imagine if my restraints were loosed, I’d be compelled to board a ship and sail to wherever he is. But even with these ropes, I can’t ignore it. It’s excruciating.”
“So the solution is to just tie you up and leave you here?” I said incredulously.
“I can’t ask someone to perform blood magic with me,” Oliver said in a broken voice. “It means being tethered to me . . . basically for the rest of their lives. That’s a heavy burden to bear, especially since I’m the son of . . .” He trailed off and closed his eyes, his face crumpling in agony.
My mouth felt dry, but certainty raced through me. “I’ll do it.”
Oliver’s eyes widened. “What? Desi, you can’t!”
“I sacrificed my life for you, Oliver. I thought I would die. Making a blood oath with you is nothing.”
Oliver’s eyebrows pinched, and he shook his head again. “No.”
“How do we
