Promised in Blood: Chapter 19

Xavier runs his fingers down the back of my neck, causing goosebumps to scatter along my forearms. What the fuck is wrong with him lately? He’s almost nice. I shudder at the very word and throw him a look. “You want to stop that?”

His lips twitch in amusement. “But I like the way it makes your heart beat that little bit faster when I touch you.”

I jerk away from him and scowl. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

He leans back against the sofa, crosses his arms, and sighs contentedly. “Don’t have a fucking clue.” I follow his gaze to the other side of the room. Underneath a lighted garland, Malachi and Ophelia sit side by side on the sofa, each of them with their heads buried in a book. Malachi always used to love studying and reading anything he could get his hands on. But over the decades, he lost the joy of it somewhere along the way. Having been given the responsibility to teach Ophelia all about her magical side has reignited his unquenchable thirst for knowledge.

And then there’s the professor. He has also joined us in the den on this dreary Sunday morning, which was previously a rare occurrence. I glance sideways at Xavier, who now has that goofy but fucking adorable grin on his face. And yeah, I guess I know exactly how he feels.

Alexandros looks up from his book, his eyes fixed on the window and a scowl darkening his features. Before I can voice the question on my lips, there’s a heavy banging on the front door. He places his book on the coffee table and stands immediately, his scowl now replaced with a puzzled expression. “Osiris.”

Malachi’s eyes widen. “Brackenwolf?”

Alexandros nods. “Something is wrong.” He screws his eyes closed and announces, “Enora is with him.”

The most powerful wolf and witch on campus are outside our house on a gloomy Sunday morning. Yeah, something’s wrong. What the fuck is going on? Ophelia opens and closes her mouth, but she doesn’t ask a question. Malachi slips a protective arm around her shoulder.

Without another word, Alexandros heads for the front door, and muffled voices precede the three professors into the room. Enora’s heart rate is elevated, her breathing shallower than normal. If I had to guess, her body is reacting in fear, but I have no idea what she could be afraid of.

Osiris is calmer, his pulse solid and steady. He glances around as he always does when he enters a room, his keen wolf eyes scanning the space quickly for any sign of threat. The only threat he’s likely to find in here is Malachi’s anger, but I can’t feel any bubbling beneath my brother’s skin the way it usually does when he’s in the wolf’s presence.

Enora steps up beside Alexandros. “Perhaps we should talk in private?”

He shakes his head. “Anything you say to me can be said in front of everyone here.”

Her eyes skip over the people in the room. The creamy skin of her slender throat turning a fraction of a shade darker is the only outward sign of her annoyance. She’s incredibly skilled in the art of masking her emotions from vampires, but blood never lies, and it continues racing through her veins.

“Is everything okay?” Ophelia breaks the silent tension in the room.

At the sound of my girl’s voice, Enora’s eyes fill with tears. She shakes her head.

“What has happened?” Alexandros asks in a gruff, commanding tone.

Osiris places a hand on Enora’s forearm, and she offers him a nod like she’s giving him permission to speak. “A young witch was killed last night. One of Silver Vale’s.”

Ophelia’s hand flies to her mouth, and her next breath gets caught in her throat. “Who?”

“Meg,” Enora says solemnly.

My gaze remains fixed on Ophelia, whose eyes now swim with tears. Did you know her, princess?

“Yes. I met her at the activity fair before school started,” she answers aloud on a sob.

Osiris growls loudly, his annoyance palpable.

Alexandros shoots me a look of warning. “Do not talk through your bond when we have company.”

I nod my head, signaling my compliance even as I ask, Since when?

He directs his outward attention to Enora, guiding her to sit. They are both guarded this morning. That means they are suspicious.

So you mean just don’t make it obvious we’re talking through our bond? Got it, Xavier says.

Once Enora is seated, Alexandros speaks again. “What happened to your witch?”

Enora clears her throat. “She had her heart torn out.”

Ophelia presses her lips together, and I feel another sharp stab of pain in her chest. Our girl has so much fucking empathy for other people.

Xavier rubs his chest. It would be adorable if it didn’t give me constant fucking indigestion.

Stop! Ophelia internally admonishes us, her wide eyes still fixed on Enora.

“Torn out?” Alexandros asks.

Enora sniffs and then rolls back her shoulders. “Yes.”

Alexandros’s jaw tightens with the telltale sign that he’s pissed, but his voice remains eerily calm and controlled. “Are you here to accuse me⁠—”

“No, old friend,” Osiris says. “Nobody is accusing you.”

Ophelia shakes her head, her eyes darting between the three professors. “What? Why would you think that? Why would they …?”

Alexandros twists his neck until it cracks. “Tearing out a witch’s heart was my …” He pauses like he’s searching for the appropriate word.

“Calling card?” Enora offers.

Your what now? I can’t help myself from asking.

He offers a low growl in response, and I’m not sure if his ire is directed at me or Enora. Perhaps both. “It was much less than they deserved.”

A tear rolls down Enora’s face, and she brushes it away and turns her face from him.

Alexandros lets out a weary sigh. “What happened with the girl? Where did you find her?”

Enora gives him her attention once more, her jaw set and her shoulders rolled back. “She was found in her bed this morning.”

Alexandros frown of confusion mirrors my own. “This happened inside the Silver Vale house?”

She nods. “It was made to appear like a vampire attack. There was a bite on her neck, and her body was almost completely drained of blood.”

“Vampires cannot enter Silver Vale unless invited by you, Enora.”

I thought that was all a myth—vampires not being able to enter buildings? Ophelia asks through our bond.

The Vales are all protected by magic that prevents demons and vampires from entering, I explain.

But not wolves?

No, Malachi says, his eyes boring into Osiris. Nobody ever suspects the wolves.

“I know this, Alexandros.” Enora’s voice is slightly raised. “The only vampire I have ever invited into Silver Vale was you.”

Ophelia’s eyes blow wide as Professor Enora’s accusation ripples around the room. “He would never!”

Enora directs her fierce glare toward my girl, and my hackles rise. “Yes, child, he would. You have no idea of the things he is capable of.”

Both Xavier and I growl a warning, poised to act if anyone so much as looks at her wrong or throws out any more wild accusations about Alexandros ripping out some witch’s heart. While Enora is right that he is capable of such a thing, he wouldn’t disrespect House Drakos and Ruby Dragon by breaching university policy and vampire law that way. All society members are protected. Untouchable unless they have broken an oath or a rule.

Relax. Alexandros’s calm, commanding voice fills my head. If she actually believed I had done this, she would not be sitting here.

I sit back with a grunt. Ophelia sits back too, leaning against Malachi as he wraps an arm around her.

“What else is it, Enora? What have you not told me?”

“When I found her—” The curve of her throat thickens as she swallows. “She looked like all the others, Alexandros. I admit that I suspected you.”

If he’s bothered by that, he doesn’t show it. But all the others? What the fuck is she talking about? She pauses like she’s waiting for him to react, but he goes on staring at her, his expression still unreadable. “So I called Osiris to see if he could determine whether it was your scent.” She looks to the wolf.

Osiris rubs his right temple and frowns.

“And?” Alexandros asks, his tone so cold and calm that it sends a shudder down my spine. If Enora and Osiris aren’t careful, they’re going to end up with their throats torn out, and they won’t even see it coming.

“It was your scent, and also not your scent,” Osiris says.

“What does that mean?” Malachi asks. “How can it be him and not him?”

“It wasn’t him!” Ophelia insists.

Alexandros holds up a hand, silencing them both. “Explain to me how that is possible, Osiris.”

The wolf blows out a breath. “It was as though someone used your scent to mask their own. I don’t know, old friend. It was just off.”

Alexandros begins to pace the room, his brow furrowed, not in anger but in concentration. “So how was a vampire able to get through the spell that protects Silver Vale and somehow have my scent?”

Enora’s face grows paler, and she sucks in a deep breath. “I do not think it was a vampire.”

Well, this just got way more interesting.

Alexandros stops pacing and stares at her. “Then who or what do you think is responsible for the witch’s demise?”

“Well, not merely a vampire in any case. When Osiris told me about the scent, I …” She swallows. “It is forbidden, Alexandros.”

He crouches before her and takes her hand in his. His tenderness shocks me to my core, and I grab Xavier’s thigh, my fingers digging into his taut muscle. I guess he’s equally as shocked because he doesn’t move my hand or call me a dickface.

“I promise you can trust everyone in this room, fili mou.”

My friend? You two are friends? In all our time here at Montridge, I have only ever seen him and Professor Green treat each other with a modicum of civility.

Our acquaintance is a complicated one, he replies, keeping his eyes fixed on Enora.

How complicated? Ophelia asks.

Jealous, Cupcake? Xavier teases.

Enough. Alexandros’s warning comes at the same time he speaks to the woman before him. “Enora. You are amongst friends here.”

She nods. “I cast a spell from the Book of Skoteiní Xórkia.”

What the fuck is the Book of Skoteiní Xórkia?

It’s a book of dark magic, Malachi says. Witches are forbidden from using it.

Well, fuck me. This day keeps getting more interesting, and it’s not yet noon.

“And?” Alexandros probes, seemingly unperturbed by her admission.

“Whoever killed Meg used the same magic. She was killed with dark magic, Alexandros.”

Our sire is adept at masking his emotions and even better at blocking himself from us, but the spike of fear that hits him like a bolt of lightning makes it difficult for me to breathe. As quick as a flash, he composes himself, but it’s too late. One look at Malachi and Ophelia opposite me and the sound of Xavier’s heart beating double-time beside me tells me we all felt it. Yet his voice is cool when he speaks. “The Skotádi?”

Enora nods, and Osiris growls in agreement.

Alexandros stands and begins to pace the room once more. “The Skotádi were here. Are here? On campus?”

“I believe so,” Enora says solemnly, her head dipped so I can no longer see the tears in her eyes.

“Who else knows about this?” he asks.

“Nobody but us.”

Osiris runs a hand through his beard. “We should alert the heads of the other societies.”

“What if I am wrong?” Enora asks.

Alexandros’s dark eyes narrow. “Are you?”

She presses her lips together and shakes her head.

The Skotádi are here? Malachi asks.

Is this because of me? Because of what I am? Ophelia asks in a quiet, sad voice.

Alexandros sucks on his top lip, his brow furrowed the way it does when he’s thinking, but he still takes the time to reassure her. This is not your fault, little one.

Is Ophelia in danger? I ask.

His jaw tenses. “Perhaps we should keep your findings between us for the time being, Enora. There is no sense causing panic when we have no way of knowing for sure who or what is behind this. It could be a rogue Skotádi attack or something more sinister.”

Osiris folds his arms across his chest. “We need to also consider why they tried to frame you for this crime.”

Enora dabs at her cheeks with the back of her hand. “And why they targeted Meg. She was such a sweet girl. Not overly powerful, but a promising young witch.”

“Who found the girl?” Alexandros asks.

Enora looks to Ophelia, sorrow clouding her features. “Her roommate. Cadence,” she says softly.

Ophelia’s sob fills the room before she covers her mouth with her hand. Malachi pulls her closer and murmurs words of comfort in her ear.

It was not your fault, Ophelia, Alexandros repeats, and she nods, letting him know she understands. But whether she believes him is another matter. I wish I could take all her anguish away, and I hate that I can’t. This feeling of powerlessness is unnatural and unwelcome.

Alexandros clears his throat. “Did she witness any of what happened?”

“She saw nothing that would help. She woke to find Meg dead and summoned me immediately. She is a bright young witch. She dealt with everything admirably, but she was understandably distraught. I gave her something to make her sleep. She will be out for a few hours.”

He sucks on his top lip, deep in thought. “She will need to forget what she saw.”

Enora nods her agreement. “That would probably be for the best.”

Ophelia looks between the two of them, her eyebrows pinched together in confusion. “And how will you make her forget?”

I already know she’s not going to like the answer.

Enora stares at the professor, blinking. “To make her forget such an event, one that leaves an indelible mark on a person … You are the only one powerful enough to do such a thing.”

He looks back at her for a few seconds before he gives a nod. “I will ensure it is done.”

Ophelia jumps up, her pretty cheeks pink. “Are you going to bite her?”

“It is the only way to ensure she recalls nothing of this morning. To ensure her safety.” And yours, Ophelia, he adds through our bond.

“No. You can’t bite her. She’s my friend,” she shouts, and while it’s clear her overriding emotion is compassion for her friend, she’s unable to mask the tiny flicker of jealousy sparking within her. And that has my dick twitching to life.

Enora’s brow furrows. “She will not come to any harm, Ophelia. A vampire’s bite can be very pleasurable.”

Despite the circumstances, I suppress a snort. Yeah, our girl knows that, Professor, which is part of the reason she’s acting out.

“Ophelia.” Her name leaves Alexandros’s lips on a heavy sigh. “This is simply to⁠—”

“What is she going to think happened to Meg?” She crosses her arms over her chest and taps her foot on the floor. “That she just upped and decided to leave?”

“I plan to tell all the girls that she had to go back to Vermont for personal reasons, which are to neither be discussed nor speculated over.” Enora straightens her spine, her tone brooking no argument. “None of them will question my word.”

“But I’ll know the truth. And every time Cadence wonders where Meg is and if she’s okay, I’ll know. I’ll have to lie, and I don’t want to have to do that.”

Enora tilts her head, regarding Ophelia intently. “The truth can be a burden to even those who are strong enough to carry it. We are doing Cadence a favor by removing such a painful memory. But the truth can also be a gift. Consider yourself privileged to be allowed into this circle.”

My girl lifts her chin. “Cadence is my friend. She can be trusted, Professor. And you know she can.”

Enora purses her lips as though she’s considering Ophelia’s words. She looks to Alexandros and shrugs. “I do believe Cadence has a balanced head on her shoulders. She quietly notified me this morning, whereas someone else likely would have immediately descended into hysteria and alerted the entire house. We could allow her to remember the truth of Meg’s demise and omit my theory about the Skotádi. It is your decision.”

I am fascinated by their exchange. Why is it his decision? And more importantly, is he going to give in to our little pink-haired dictator? “It is safer if she has no recollection of these events,” he says.

“If you bite her, I’ll …” Ophelia presses her lips into a thin line, her little hands balled into fists by her sides, and the entire room becomes hypercharged with tension. Alexandros trains his glare on our girl while everyone holds their breath, awaiting his response. Even Ophelia. She blinks at him, her mouth clamped firmly closed, probably so she doesn’t say anything else to incur his wrath.

After what feels like an eternity, he finally speaks. And while he directs his words elsewhere, he keeps his gaze fixed firmly on Ophelia. “Wake the girl, Enora, and tell her what you think she needs to know. Summon me at once if she refuses to keep quiet. Otherwise, I will be there soon to speak to you about our next move.” The menace in his voice has the hairs on the back of my neck standing to attention. Ophelia’s pulse races.

Enora voices her agreement and stands, eager to leave the room. The professor’s growing rage is so palpable that it begins to fill the den like a thick cloud of smoke.

“Xavier, please show our guests out,” Alexandros commands.

Xavier arches an eyebrow at me before doing as he was asked. Without pausing to see if Enora and Osiris have left the room, Alexandros grips Ophelia’s chin between his thumb and forefinger. “If I bite her, you will do what, little one?”

Her throat works as she swallows, drawing my attention to her fluttering pulse. “I don’t want you to bite her,” she says, her voice barely audible.

He doesn’t wait for any further explanation, moving so quickly that I hear her yelp before I see what he’s done. Her feet dangle a few inches from the floor, her blood trickling down her neck as he feeds on her. With a hand now palming the back of her head and his free arm around her waist, he crushes her to him and drinks from her.

She wraps her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, holding onto him as he takes what he wants. The sight of him doing that to her, while brutal and animalistic, is also fucking beautiful. Seeing him so feral and desperate … There is a submissiveness in his dominance over her that is spectacular to watch unfold. And despite the savageness with which he feeds on her, her satisfied moans and the way she clings to him for dear life tell me that she needs this as much as he does.