16
Charlie frowned. “But why didn’t he try that out on me last night?”
“It would appear the skill was very recently acquired,” Maddock guessed. “You were to be his last victim in blood only.”
“But why me?” Charlie persisted.
Tristan leaned back and furrowed his brow. “Maddock, the rune that was stolen grants a great power to the one who wields it, does it not.”
Maddock nodded. “Yes, but the wielder has yet to learn that the secret lies in-” He froze and his eyes widened. “By all the gods! The blood!”
Tristan nodded. “The blood.”
My mouth hit the floor as realization came to me. “They wanted Charlie’s blood for the rune!”
“I’m not following,” Charlie spoke up. “What’s this about a rune?”
“A rune was recently discovered near the school that granted the wielder an enormous a
