Page 38 of Forged in Blood

“Do any of them stand out?”

Axl’s throat works as he swallows. “Why? Are you going to turn one yourself this year?”

Unease rolls off the three of them, and I have no need to read their minds to know what they are thinking. For decades, pressure has been applied from House Drakos for me to turn some of our pledges for my own, but I have no desire to have any more beings dependent on me than the three men sitting in this room. I leave the turning of new vampires to my cousins, and very occasionally, if one pledge shows exceptional promise, my brother. And on the rare occurrence they show the kind of unparalleled cruelty that runs in the veins of House Drakos, my father. Many of my kind turn as many as possible, desiring an army of sireds to protect their own immortality. But the truth of it is, I would be happy to die tomorrow. Only these boys stop me from breaking an oath that would bring about that end. And when they are gone, so shall I be.

I shake my head. “You three give me more than enough trouble without adding more to our unit.”

Relief washes over them, and I am grateful that they, too, are content with the status quo. Perhaps I have been cruel in not allowing them a bigger family unit, but I barely have room in my head for these boys, and far too little in my heart. There was once a time… I bring a wall of granite crashing down on those memories, ones that lurk far too close to the surface these days for my liking.

I clear my throat. “Are you still keeping a close eye on the girl?”

Malachi answers first, his delight palpable. “Yeah. We’re still watching her.”

Her effect on them is not unnoticed, and I wish there was more I could do to prevent it, but the risk of them getting too close to her is far outweighed by the risk of another discovering what or who she might be. “And Ronan is keeping his distance?”

Xavier nods, but Axl speaks. “This Penelope chick is trouble though.”

I am aware there were issues between the two of them in high school, but I would not have expected that to have followed them here. Rarely do students, even those who blossomed under the glory days of homecoming and prom, carry such trivial matters with them to college. I motion for him to continue.

“She hates Ophelia. Like really hates her. And she’s up to something. I can feel the rage inside her.”

Mere high school rivalry, or is it something more? My mind races with possibilities. “You bit her?”

Axl nods. “So I could keep closer tabs on her. Something’s definitely off with her.”

I arch an eyebrow. “Then perhaps you need to do more than bite her.”

Xavier holds up his cell phone. “We’re tracking her phone too. If she goes to Ophelia’s dorm, the Onyx House, or anywhere suspicious, we’ll know.”

“If she becomes more of a problem, you know how to deal with her.” I catch the way their eyes light up at the prospect. “Onlyif she becomes a problem that cannot be dealt with another way.” The last thing I need to be dealing with is smoothing over a human death or drawing attention to Montridge for any negative reasons. The university frowns upon the killing of their kind, and with good reason. Whilst they are often chosen because they are considered easy prey, the university ensures that they graduate alive and without any lasting damage. Thereby ensuring a healthy and constant supply of fresh food for the vampire food chain.

“How long do we have to keep doing this?” Xavier asks. “Babysitting this girl and not being able to bite her? Because if we could just?—”

“You will not be biting her,” I snap. “Ever.”

He slumps back in his seat with a frustrated grunt.

“You will continue to monitor her for as long as I tell you to.” The truth is, I have no idea what my next step is or how long I can expect them to keep this girl out of trouble when she is so intent on finding it for herself. Nor why I am so desperate to.

Except that—in my heart—I know exactly what she is.

I close my eyes and concentrate, searching for the one man I can talk this through with. It takes me only five seconds to find him.

I need to talk to you.

His reply comes swiftly.Of course, brother. I shall be there as soon as I can.

This place has changed nota bit. Still smells of ink and parchment.Giorgios’s voice resounds in my head, and I look up to see him weaving his way through the shelves of the old library, the one deep in the bowels of Zeus Hall.

“Why would an ancient library need to change, brother?” I give him a brief hug before pulling out a chair for him.

He glances around and takes a seat. “It need not change. It was not a complaint. I find it nice to have some familiarity in a world intent on changing.”

“Well, it is nice of you to visit. How long has it been?” I tilt my head as I take a seat across from him. “Seventeen years?”

He arches an eyebrow. “Sixteen, and you know it.”

“Close enough.”

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