All Chapters of A CONTRACT SIGNED IN BLOOD AND DESIRE : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Lina looked at the empty doorway.Noah was gone.Again.Her grandfather was gone, too.The only thing left behind was the message on the floor.THE GUARDIAN HAS CHOSEN. NOW THE REAL WAR BEGINS.Fames picked up the message.His eyes scanned over the words before he crushed the paper in his hand."They planned this."Lina looked at him."Of course they did."Her voice was tired.She had reached the point where every answer only created another question.Her brother had disappeared.Her grandfather had taken him.Her mother knew more than she had admitted.And Fames had just made a choice that could put all of them in danger.Adrian walked towards the place where Noah had been standing."He didn't leave willingly."Lina turned to him."How do you know?""Because Noah would never leave without warning us."Fames looked around the room."There must be another passage."Adrian nodded."The old mansion has several.""Then find it."They searched the walls.Lucas ran his hands over the floor

Lina could not stop thinking about the last thing her mother had said.Your father is alive.The words followed her through the dark passage.Fames walked beside her, holding a small flashlight while Lucas and Elena followed behind them.Nobody spoke for several minutes.Finally, Lina stopped.“I need to know something.”Fames turned.“What?”“If we find my father, will you stay with me?”Fames looked at her as if the question surprised him.“Of course.”“What if he is dangerous?”“I'll still stay.”“What if he knows things about me that I don't know?”“Then we'll find out together.”Lina looked at him.“And if he tells me something you don't like?”Fames gave a small smile.“Then we'll deal with it.”She nodded.For the first time since they had entered the underground passages, she felt slightly calmer.They continued walking.The passage eventually opened into a large stone room.There was an old wooden table in the center and several empty chairs around it.Lucas looked around.“T

The words stayed on Lina's mind.Tell the Architect they have found the original contract.Lina stood with Fames, watching the road ahead.Her father had disappeared behind them again.This time she didn't know if he was alive.Fames put a hand on her shoulder."We'll go back."Lina looked up at him."My father could be hurt.""I know.""Then why are we leaving?""Because going back now could get us all caught."Lina looked out the road behind them.She hated that he was right.Lucas walked up."We need somewhere safe."Elena nodded."And we need to figure out what the message meant."Lina looked at her."The Architect.""Yes."Fames was silent.Lina noticed."What are you thinking?"He looked at her."My father.""Why?""Because Daniel said my father was betrayed by Victor but now we're being told to contact the Architect."Lina frowned."You think they're connected?""I think everything is connected."Adrian's disappearance.Noah's kidnapping.Her grandfather.The first contract.Th

The ground shook beneath their feet.Lina grabbed Fames's arm."What's happening?"Another powerful tremor rippled through the chamber.A shower of dust cascaded down from the ceiling of the chamber.Her mother pulled Lina back from the stone table."We have to get out of here!"Grandfather stood near the entrance to the chamber, studying the black book.His face had changed.For the first time, Lina saw true fear in her grandfather's eyes."No," he whispered.Fames looked at her grandfather."What did you do?"Grandfather shook his head.“You don't understand.”You said you controlled everything.""I did.""Not anymore."A deafening crack echoed through the chamber.A section of the ceiling crashed down.The others rushed back, away from the falling rocks.Daniel yelled, "The chamber is collapsing!"Lina looked at the black book.It was still glowing.The new words etched across its pages were growing brighter.THE KEY SHALL NOT BE OWNED.THE GUARDIAN SHALL NOT COMMAND.THE HEIR SHALL

Lina could not move.Her grandfather’s words rang in her head.“The new Architect.”She turned to Noah, then to her mother, then to Fames.“Noah is not going to be the new Architect.”Her grandfather smiled.“It is not your decision to make.”Lina stepped forward.“Watch me.”“No,” said her grandfather, gesturing towards the black book.“The contract has already chosen you.”Lina looked at the black book. Her grandfather gestured toward it again.“What does it say?” asked Lina.“What it says is that you have the final choice,” said her grandfather.“Noah,” said Lina.“It was your idea to bring him here,” said her grandfather.“It was not,” said Noah.Her grandfather looked at Noah.“You know what happens if she refuses.”Noah’s jaw tightened.Lina turned to him.“What happens if I refuse?”Noah did not answer her.“Noah!” said Lina.“They will kill everyone connected to the bloodlines,” said Noah.Lina’s heart skipped a beat.“Everyone?”“Yes,” said Noah.“Who?”“Your mother, your fat