Brash and the Schrodinger Snare Ch. 03

Alex pouted.

I coughed. "S-Should I take off the ring?" I asked, grabbing onto the ring. I squirmed, tugging at it. It was fastened taut to my skin. I blinked, then started to shove at it. I strained and groaned, gritting my teeth as my muscles bulged. The ring remained affixed to my finger, like it was part of me. I shuddered, then gasped and then finally groaned and sagged against the wall. "Whoa, this is a tight fit."

King Lioncourt was looking at me with undisguised horror. "You didn't use the real ring, did you?" he asked.

Alex shrugged. "Whoopse!"

I blinked slowly, then looked at the ring.

It flared with magic, and as I watched, runes started to scrawl across it. I cocked my head, craning my entire body around to read the runes. My eyes narrowed as they were translated from vampireish into common.

Bound in blood, united for eternity, the bearer of this ring shall forever be chained to the House of Lions and the Clan Tremere.

I blinked. "Uh..."

"That ring..." Count Orlock snarled. "Is only getting off your hand if you die."

I blinked again. "Uhhhhhh..."

And, in a single flash, every single vampire save for King Lioncourt had drawn a sword and was angling it at me.

"Oh boy," I whispered.

TO BE CONTINUED