Page 37 of Forged in Blood

If only so they will stop talking to me about Penelope Nugent and let me get back to Cathy and her tortured soulmate, I agree with a nod and a polite smile.

The three of them laugh but don’t say anything more to me. Grateful to be done with the conversation, I return to my book and barely suppress a groan when the girl next to me nudges my arm again. “Of course, I also heard that she was actually kinda cool and it was really this freak who made everyone think she was a bitch when she wasn’t.”

Icy fingers of dread curl around my heart, and when I look up again, the friendly smile has disappeared and she’s glaring at me like I’m her mortal enemy.

“This freak peed herself on stage in front of the entire school, and then she tried to say that poor Penelope threw the pee on her. Can you imagine that, freak?”

Shame and anger wash over me, threatening to take me under with the force of their fury, and I fight back the urge to release all my pent-up rage and punch her in the mouth. I glance at the door, ready to bolt, but as I go to gather my things, Professor Drakos walks in.

I close my eyes and remind myself that I can’t afford to keep skipping this class. I’ve already missed over a week because I couldn’t bear to face him and be reminded of anything to do with those three Ruby jackasses. Sure, I have a trust fund paying my tuition, but Montridge still has GPA requirements. If I flunk out of here, I have no future. When I reopen my eyes, his dark gaze is locked on my face. A spark of warmth flares in my chest.

A sudden boldness infuses me and sweeps away my insecurities. These girls have nothing better to do with their time, and they want to make me feel like a loser? I roll back my shoulders and turn to the girl beside me. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing that I don’t give a single sliver of a fuck what your little group of gutter rats thinks of me.”

Without waiting for her to respond with whatever vitriol she intends to spew next, I turn back to the front of the class and watch the professor roll up his shirt sleeves. Taking several deep breaths, I tell myself that I’m okay. As long as he’s here, I’m okay.

I have no idea why I believe that and zero evidence to base it on, but somewhere inside the deepest part of me, I know without a doubt that it’s true.

After my lastclass of the day, I head straight for my dorm, unable to stand the thought of being around people for a moment longer. When my phone dings, I consider leaving it for tomorrow but remember that I’m expecting an email about the psychology paper due next week.

But the message in my inbox is from Dr. Underwood, my geology professor, and my heart sinks.I didn’t even know field trips were a thing in college.I scan the body of the message for the details. Apparently, we’re visiting the crystal caves a few miles down the river from campus tomorrow evening, and it’s mandatory. The only bright spot of the whole email is the bus route information he provided, so at least I won’t have to throw myself at any of my classmates’ mercy.

Who plans a field trip on a Thursday night? Maybe I could tell the professor I already have plans that I can’t cancel. I’m pretty sure sitting in my dorm alone eating Cheetos and watching superhero movies is vital to my college education. With a loud groan, I flip over and bury my face in my pillow.

Chapter

Twenty-Five

ALEXANDROS

As soon as I step foot inside the house, the sound of the boys arguing in the den rings in my ears. I close my eyes and draw in a deep breath, trying to ease the tension that feels like it is solidifying my muscles. Their noise may not be responsible for said tension, but it has not helped.

No, this started earlier while I was teaching class. The class during which I felt Ophelia Hart’s eyes on me the entire time, and even now my skin prickles at the mere memory of the heat of her gaze. The girls sitting next to her looked at her with such disdain, and it took all my resolve not to tear all three of them to pieces after feeling the anguish radiating from Ophelia when I stepped into the lecture hall. She drew my attention immediately, as she always does. And then, as keenly as I felt her hurt, I experienced her calm when her eyes locked with mine.

I swallow down my unease and step into the chaos of my three deviant offspring bickering about the Trials. Sensing my presence, they fall quiet.

Axl releases Xavier from a headlock and sits down on the sofa while the latter brushes his thick dark hair back from his face. He’s just as captivating as he was the day we found him stealing from a bakery, practically starved. As skinny as he was, his high cheekbones and turbulent blue eyes stopped me in my tracks.

“Hey, Professor,” Malachi says with his usual smile.

I only nod in greeting. “How are the pledges faring in the Trials?”

“Last night went well. We won.”

I shrug off my jacket and remove my cufflinks. “Unsurprising. We always win the Maze. How many fell?”

Malachi leans forward. Hands clasped between his thighs. “Two of ours. Four from Onyx, and another three across Lapis and Opal.”

I slip my cufflinks into my pocket before rolling up my shirt sleeves. We have so few pledges across all four societies, we cannot afford to lose so many. Whilst the honor of House Drakos and the Ruby Dragon Society is paramount, it does not fare well for all of vampirekind when so many from the other societies fall. I pinch the spot between my brows. “So how many pledges do we have left?”

“Twenty-six,” Xavier answers.

“And how many do you expect to make it to the end of the Hunt and be suitable for recruitment?”

Axl tucks a cushion behind his head and leans back against the arm of the sofa. “I’m guessing about nine.”

I frown. That is a higher percentage than normal, which is at least some good news. “More than a quarter?”

Xavier nods. “We had fewer pledges this year, but the standard was up.”

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