Page 4 of Winterfall Destiny

Earlier, Ash walked away the moment I told him about Andrei, and I heard his phone sound a couple of times somewhere close by. Then he left the house. Now, I don't even know if he's still on the estate.

Maeve's head snaps around to the kitchen. "I can hear its heartbeat."

She doesn't push her way past Jamie, in no rush as she steps after him. "Maeve," I say and try to touch her.

"Please don't," she says and glances back at me before she walks into the kitchen.

The loathing I have for the creature intensifies with every interaction between her and us. Yes, the First warned us about the risks, but she manipulated a guy drowning in emotions he couldn't comprehend or control. Something's behind this decision—why else would she stay and harm Andrei in this way?

Unless we're sport.

That hatred cements further when I see the First resting casually against the counter, dressed in simple black leggings and blue jumper swamping her figure.

Maeve's clothes.

"How was your trip, Maeve?" the First asks and sets down a glass of orange juice.

"What have you done to Andrei?" Maeve replies calmly.

"Oh? Questions already? You've only just arrived." The First pulls out a chair and sits. "I waited. I've noticed you all like meeting in the kitchen and discussing what to do—including plans for me."

The First wouldn't give me any answers earlier when I confronted the creature about the state of Andrei. Instead, the First sighed and insisted I wait because ‘she’ couldn't be bothered to repeat herself, as if it's a boring story not worth telling twice.

What could I do? Nothing but contain the tangled emotions that urged me to attack the First, knowing I'd die too if I lifted a hand against the creature.

"Did you force the blood on Andrei? He'd agreed to wait," says Maeve and rests against the wall.

"Why do you all think I'd force the boy? No. This was more of a 'now or never' situation for him. I’m leaving for a few days and can't guarantee I'll return before your time is up and Gabriella dies. I offered him the vial of my blood; he accepted and chose to drink."

I stiffen. Manipulated. Forced.

"Is Andrei dying?" asks Maeve.

As she speaks, Jamie drags a chair to the other side of the room and steadies himself as he sits. I move to stand beside him and place a hand on his shoulder, lending support and aid from the pneuma, although taking on others' distress isn't helping me cope with mine.

"I told you all that's a possibility. Andrei knew he had choices and accepted the risks, Maeve Winterfall."

"That isn't an answer."

When the First shrugs, the anger that pulses from Jamie almost sees me throw some of my own at the creature. "Andrei survived the purging. That's better than some hemia in the past."

"The blood he vomited?" I ask and a muscle twitches in Maeve's jaw.

"Yes, and evidently enough remains for his heart to beat. That's a positive." The First takes the juice and sips. "Right?"

"And does Andrei need more blood now?" asks Maeve. "Will that fix him?"

"Fix?" The First chuckles. "Not necessarily, but as he's hemia, Andrei might want blood if he survives."

I clench my teeth together. So fucking casual.

"What happens next? Because if Andrei is suffering as he dies, you stop that. Now," says Maeve, deadly serious.

"And if he's suffering but might not die?" the First asks.

Jamie sucks air through his teeth. "Fuck you," he snarls, and I grip his shoulder.

"Excuse me?" snaps the First.

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