Chapter Ninety Four - Ritual (Part 1)

Valkyrie Behati

The next morning arrived with a sudden, sharp knock on my door, pulling me from the comforting embrace of sleep.

I groggily pushed myself out of bed, my feet dragging across the floor as I made my way to answer it.

“Yes—” My words were cut off by the piercing voice of Shie, who barged into my room without waiting for an invitation.

“Why are you still sleeping?!” she nearly screeched, her tone high and urgent, causing me to flinch.

“What do you mean?” I mumbled through a yawn, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “It’s only ten in the morning.”

I was glad I’d taken the time to wash up the night before, especially after the intense intimacy I had shared. Even now, a faint afterglow lingered, but I pushed it aside, focusing on the present.

“That’s exactly the problem!” Shie exclaimed, her hands flailing in exasperation. “We only have eight, maybe nine hours to get you ready for your ritual!”

Her words hit me like a bolt of lightning, and my eyes widened as realization dawned.