Promised in Blood: Chapter 7

Alexandros stares out the kitchen window, his white shirt straining against the muscles in his broad shoulders and his battered briefcase sitting on the counter beside him.

I chew on my bottom lip, wanting to speak to him, but I’m not sure where we stand. Last night, he was so open with me. So tender and sweet. He appears much more like his usual self this morning though.

“What is it, Ophelia?”

I roll my eyes. Of course he knows I’m standing here. I pluck at a stray thread on the hem of my tank top. “I-I have Greek history today.”

He doesn’t turn around. “I am well aware.”

I don’t know what I expected him to say, but I want him to say more than that. “So I guess I’ll see you there?”

“If you are continuing with your studies, then yes, you will.”

I hoist my backpack onto my shoulder.

“Your lessons will begin immediately after your last class of the day is over.”

“With you?” I blink away a tear. How can he treat me so coldly when only a few hours ago I was sleeping in his bed? In his arms!

“We shall see.” He drains the remains of his coffee. “You are going to be late for class.”

I should ask him what’s crawled up his ass this morning, but he’s right—I will be late if I don’t get moving. And despite everything I’ve learned in the last twenty-four hours, I wasn’t kidding about wanting to finish my degree. We can figure it out. I’ve hidden my powers, albeit unconsciously, for the last nineteen years. What’s another four?

So I leave him to his sour mood and walk out of the kitchen, shouting a goodbye to the boys as I reach the door. The three of them come running down the stairs and shower me with hugs and kisses and offer to walk me to class.

I’m unable to hold back my laugh, and I forget all about Alexandros’s coldness as I squirm in Malachi’s embrace and tell them I’ll be fine walking alone.

I arch an eyebrow when they protest. “I’m the most powerful being on campus, remember?”

“You brought all of us to our knees, sweet girl.” Malachi winks and gives me a kiss on the lips.

Xavier and Axl do the same, and then Xavier swats my ass. “Get to class, Cupcake.”

“Hey, Ophelia. You want to grab some lunch?” I sling my backpack over my shoulder and search my memory for her name but come up empty. We’ve been in the same class all semester, but this is the first time she’s spoken to me. “We’re going to Henley’s.”

I blink at her. She’s surrounded by a small group, three girls and a guy, and they all wait expectantly for my reply. Henley’s is the most popular hangout for students in Havenwood, and I’ve never been invited there by anyone other than the guys. “Me?”

She laughs. “Yeah. We’re headed there now if you want to join?”

She’s being serious, and I’m not sure how I know that, but I do. They’re all giving off the same friendly, nonthreatening vibe. I’m tempted to say yes, but I need to find Cadence. I haven’t spoken to her since Alexandros dragged me out of the library last night, and I’ve been kicking myself for not getting her number any of the times we’ve hung out. “Thanks, but I have to find my friend. Maybe next time?”

“Sure. We go most afternoons. It would be cool if you could hang some time.”

I nod, shrugging on my backpack. “Yeah.”

The door to the classroom bursts open, and I look up to see Cadence running through it. She stops when she sees me and closes her eyes, appearing to sigh with relief. I say goodbye to the group and head over to her. “I’m so happy to see you,” I say, grabbing her hand.

“Girl. What the hell happened last night? I wanted to come over and check on you, but Enora forbade me. Are you okay?”

Her worry is palpable, and I offer her a reassuring smile. “I’m okay. No, I’m good. Really good.” Apart from being vampire catnip, anyway. But I don’t add that last part.

Despite what Alexandros told me about the witches’ role in the elementai genocide, I trust Cadence. And although I won’t share my secrets, I don’t want to lose her as a friend.

“You have time for a burrito?” I ask hopefully.

She links her arm through mine. “Yeah, but you gotta tell me why the hell Professor Drakos dragged you out of the library the way he did.”

“Yeah. As soon as we grab some food.” I press my lips together. I should have come up with a story. Stupid Ophelia! But Alexandros will know what to do. I’m not entirely sure how our bond works, but I assume it must be similar to the one I have with the guys.

Alexandros, can you hear me?

There’s no reply. This overwhelming sense of rejection is ridiculous, yet I can’t help what I feel when I realize that he’s blocking me.

I try the boys instead, calling out to each of them while half listening to Cadence tell me about how Professor Green was acting all mysterious when she told her what happened with Professor Drakos.

What is it, sweet girl? Malachi answers me instantly.

Cadence is asking me what happened after I left the library. She wants to know why Alexandros was so mad. We should have come up with a story.

Hang on, baby. Give me two minutes, okay?

Okay.

I swallow my anxiety and force a smile while I give Cadence my full attention. A short time later, Malachi is back. Alexandros says to tell her that you were supposed to be having a private tutoring session with him.

You spoke to him?

Yeah, just now.

A lump forms in my throat. Why wouldn’t he speak to me?

Ophelia? Malachi’s concerned tone fills my head.

I have to pay more attention to Cadence or she’s going to realize I’m lying. Or that I’m having a conversation with a vampire in my head. You think she’ll buy that?

You can sell it. I believe in you.

His praise fills me with confidence. Thank you, Kai.

Any time.

And then he’s gone, and I give Cadence my undivided attention once more. This is the first true friendship I’ve ever had, and I’m not going to let Alexandros’s refusal to speak to me distract me from being a good friend.

After we grab food, Cadence and I choose a quiet spot at the back of the dining hall, and my butt has barely touched the seat when she asks again what happened to make Alexandros so mad.

“I mean, he was kind of hot all riled up like that.” She blows out a breath and fans herself. “But I was so worried about you, girl. I went straight to Enora, but she said I shouldn’t worry about you. I was so relieved to see you today.”

I take a bite of my burrito to buy myself a few seconds to get my story straight. It would be so much easier if I could at least tell her about the professor and me. He said we didn’t have to keep us a secret, but then he told Malachi to tell Cadence I had a private tutoring session.

Cadence stares at me, her eyes wide in expectation.

I lick a spot of sauce from my lips and hum like this is the most delicious burrito I’ve ever tasted.

She huffs, but her warm laughter quickly follows. “Spill, girl.”

I shrug, wiping my mouth. “It wasn’t all that exciting, really. He agreed to give me some private tutoring, and I completely forgot about our session.”

She leans back and folds her arms. “Private tutoring?”

I nod. “Yeah. Ancient history fascinates me, and we don’t cover nearly enough of it in class. I wanted to delve a little deeper, you know?”

She waggles her eyebrows at me. “I bet he wanted to delve a little deeper.” She snorts a laugh. “Maybe that’s why he was so pissed.”

My cheeks heat, but I can’t help but laugh along with her. “Cadence! He did not.”

“You never know. I mean, his vampire offspring sure seem super into you.” She presses her lips together like she’s revealed something she shouldn’t have.

“Yeah. I know that. But he wouldn’t be into me. He’s my professor.”

She lowers her voice. “Lots of the professors fool around with the students here. It’s not like a normal college. Especially wolves and vampires. They’re all very sexually charged creatures if you know what I mean.” She grins. “And you, Ophelia, are hot. Even Sienna has a thing for you, and in all the time I’ve known her, she’s only ever been attracted to other wolves.”

“She does not.” The heat from my cheeks races down my neck, and I have to shake my head to clear it of the mesmerizing werewolf I met in the library yesterday.

“Anyway.” I clear my throat. “You know how he is about not giving private lessons. I guess he agreed because of my friendship with the guys. And then when I forgot …” I wince, faking embarrassment and hoping she buys my flimsy story.

Cadence pops a fry into her mouth. “Well, I for sure would never forget a private session with that man. He is perfect. And I bet he knows exactly what to do with a woman.” She finishes chewing with her eyes closed and lets out a dreamy sigh.

Unexpected jealousy washes over me, but I shove it aside. “Well, I’m not sure he’ll offer again after last night.”

She eats another french fry and licks her lips. “So did you do it?”

My heart stops beating. “Do what?”

She laughs. “The lesson. Did he calm down enough to give you your private tutoring? Or was he so mad he spanked you over his desk instead?” Another sigh escapes her, and she stares off into the distance. Is she imagining him doing that to her? Oh my word. I have to tell her about us.

Sienna approaches our table before I can find the right words. “Hey, girls,” she says. “Can I sit?”

Cadence beams at her. “Sure.”

Sienna sits beside me, her thigh lightly resting against mine. Recalling what Cadence told me a few moments ago has nerves fluttering in my abdomen. She tosses her long dark braids over her shoulder and beckons us to lean closer. “Did you hear someone burned down Professor Drakos’s office last night?”

Oh dear god. I’m going to die of shame right here at this table.

Cadence gasps. “What? Who? Was he in it? Is he hurt?”

Sienna shakes her head. “Dunno. I heard President Ollenshaw is pissed, and nobody knows what happened.”

My eyes dart between the two of them as they speculate about what could have happened, each new theory wilder than the last. And not a single one remotely close to the truth.

“I wonder if he burned it down in a fit of rage after Ophelia missed his tutoring session,” Cadence says with a giggle.

I finally snap. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Sienna bumps her arm against mine. “Okay, fire starter.”

Tears burn behind my eyes, and my throat closes over. “Please don’t call me that.”

She blinks in surprise. “Okay, I’m sorry.”

Despite my inability to make friends, my instincts about people have always been pretty good. And since that day in the kitchen when Professor Drakos told me I was something other than human, I have wondered if maybe whatever powers I had were responsible for that.

Those instincts are telling me now that I should trust these two girls. That I will regret it if I don’t. “When I was in high school, there was a huge fire, and people accused me of starting it.” I know that I technically did start it. The professor told me as much that day in the faculty library, but he also assured me it wasn’t my fault. “And it kind of ruined my life. The only good foster parents I ever had kicked me out, and I had to move into a group home and finish high school online.” I’ve been staring down at my half-eaten burrito the whole time I was talking, and I finally look up at Cadence and Sienna. My stomach twists while I wait for their reaction, and I fervently hope they don’t get up and walk away.

I have to swallow a sob when Sienna wraps her arm around my shoulder and gives me a quick but warm sideways hug. “I had no idea that happened to you. I’m so fucking sorry, O.”

Cadence reaches across the table and squeezes my hand in hers. “Yeah, girl. It sucks you had to go through that.”

“We know you didn’t burn down the professor’s office,” Sienna adds, her lips gently curving at the corners.

I close my eyes and try to melt into my seat. They’re the first real friends I’ve ever had, and I hate keeping things from them

“Probably someone he pissed off at some point.” Sienna snags a french fry from Cadence’s plate. “You know he’s like two thousand years old or something? My dad told me.”

“I bet you can upset a lot of people in two thousand years.” Cadence lets out a low whistle. “Vampires are the best at pissing people off too.”

I bristle at that insult. Cadence may be under the false illusion that vampires killed the elementai, and I can’t tell her otherwise, but I’m still not going to listen to her talk crap about them. “They’re not,” I insist.

Sienna nods her agreement. “I think they get a bad rap from the witches. There are good vampires and bad vampires, but that’s the same as any other species.”

If Cadence takes any offense at Sienna’s comment she doesn’t let it show. Instead, she regards my new friend with curiosity. “But you do know that vampires are the only beings who kill humans for food, right?”

I’m about to leap to their defense, but Sienna beats me to it. “They don’t, actually. They feed on them, but there’s no evidence it causes any lasting harm. Vampires haven’t gone around hunting humans for centuries. Not since long before the genocide.”

Searing pain blooms deep inside my chest, and I struggle to catch my breath.

Cadence frowns. “The genocide they were responsible for?”

Before I can stop myself, I blurt, “No they weren’t!”

Cadence’s frown deepens, and Sienna speaks up again. “She’s right.”

“B-but …” She looks at Sienna, then me, then back at Sienna. “It’s fact. Historical fact.”

Sienna tilts her head to the side. “History as recorded by the winning side. Vampires lost the war. They didn’t get to write the history of what happened. They were so decimated by the loss of the elementai that they were too busy seeking revenge or licking their wounds to argue with the story that our ancestors wove.”

Cadence shakes her head. “That makes no sense.”

“It makes all the sense, C. Why would vampires wipe out their other halves? The only species capable of bearing their children? Yes, a handful of vampires did play a part, but it was the witches and the wolves who drove the campaign.”

I stare at Sienna with open admiration. “How do you know all this?”

“My father. He used to have private tutoring with Professor Drakos too.” She arches an eyebrow, her lips quirked at the corner.

Oh god. She knows.

“But all witches are taught something different,” Cadence says, eyes still narrowed with suspicion. “Are you telling me my parents and all my teachers have been lying to me?”

“No.” Sienna shakes her head. “They have simply given you their acceptable version of the truth. It doesn’t mean it’s the right one.”

Cadence sits back in her chair. “Well, I’m not—I don’t buy that. But I do know that vampires are misogynistic and⁠—”

Sienna snorts, cutting our friend off. “Vampires do not hate women. They revered the elementai.”

Hearing her say that makes me think about my four vampires—all of whom are bonded to me and incapable of harming me. All of whom I realize I could never live without.

Cadence has fallen silent, arms crossed over her chest and her face lined with concentration. I can’t imagine the inner turmoil she must be feeling right now. I wish I knew what to say to make her feel better, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around all of this myself.

“You dated that vampire sophomore year, remember?” Sienna nudges Cadence’s arm playfully. “And I know he loved women. He couldn’t get enough of you if I recall. And you told me he had a tongue that could make you hear choirs of angels.”

Cadence presses her lips together as though she’s stifling a laugh. And then a second later, a giggle bubbles from her lips.

Their laughter washes over me in a warm, comforting wave, making me realize that there is power in every connection. There’s something special about the friendship I’m forming with these two incredible women who are powerful in their own right.

And that’s a type of magic too.