Page 40 of Forged in Blood

“You were right to summon me here, Alexandros,” he finally says. “This girl of yours is most definitely worth keeping a closer eye on.”

“Do you think she could be a demon? She is no witch, and she’s certainly not a wolf. It is unusual for a demon’s powers to be suppressed in such a way but possible, no?”

His brow furrows. “Why would you think she is a demon? Does she smell like a demon?”

Because I am grasping for any other explanation. Because even as the thought of her being one of them lights a fire in my veins that I assumed had long been extinguished, I want nothing more than for it to be impossible. “No,” I admit. “But perhaps there is some witch in her blood somewhere and that is what’s behind her unique scent. The fire magic would be more consistent with demons.” Still grasping. Some of the most powerful elementai have possessed fire magic, but I am not ready to face that truth. Not yet.

“I do not think she’s a demon, Alexandros. I think you know exactly what she is or you would not be seeking my counsel. But I also understand why you are unwilling to face your true suspicions.” His blue eyes soften. “So I am willing to let you live under the illusion that she is not what you fear she is for a while longer. But she must be protected at all costs. If you bond with her?—”

I slam my fist onto the table. “I have no intention of bonding with her, or with anyone, Giorgios.” I snarl, my fangs bared.

He continues without flinching or any visible reaction whatsoever. “Our father must never learn of her existence.”

On that, we are in absolute agreement. Whatever her power, she is something different. Unique. And even if I will not allow myself to believe in the impossible, it has brought me a measure of comfort to have shared the burden of Ophelia Hart. The enigma who has burrowed her way under my skin like a splinter.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

OPHELIA

Iglance around the empty parking lot, certain this is where Dr. Underwood said for us to meet. A feeling of unease settles over me, but I breathe a sigh of relief when a lime-green Dodge Charger turns in and is followed by a second car. I shield my eyes from the glare of the headlights but still can’t make out the features of the person who climbs out of the passenger seat of the Charger until they get closer.

My stomach lurches. God, how could I have been so stupid?

“Hi, Opeelia.” Penelope says my name in her annoying singsong voice, and it’s like nails clawing down a chalkboard. I wince and take a step back, noting the guy standing beside her, preening in his football jersey and backward hat. Must be the driver of the flashy car and, if I had to guess, her latest boy toy.

“What do you want, Penelope?”

“I heard you were talking shit about me, Pee-pee. Telling people what a horrible bully I was to you back in high school.” She tilts her head and juts out her bottom lip, looking like one of those creepy sad clowns playing it up for an audience.

Dammit. I should have known this was a setup. “I just told people the truth.”

She lets out a shrieking laugh. “That you’re a freak and a loser who burned down our whole school?” The people from the other car come to stand beside her. I recognize Madison and her boyfriend—the quarterback who lost the fight in the woods—but not the other guy.

All five of them advance toward me, and I have nowhere to go but back toward the steep edge of the riverbank.

“What does it matter to you? Like you said, I’m a freak and a loser. Nobody ever listens to me anyway.”

She steps closer, her upper lip curled. “You fucking disgust me.”

“Why do you hate me?” I shout, my hands balled into fists. “What the hell did I ever do to you?”

“You came tomyschool and tookmyrole. And besides that, I just don’t like you, Opeelia. You’re weird and you’re a freak. Areject.”

It hurts me more to remember Xavier’s words than it does to hear hers now. “You’re such a bitch, you know that?”

She snort laughs, her tiny nose scrunched up like she smells something rancid.

“What the hell did you bring me here for?”

“To finally do the world a favor and get rid of you for good, Pee-pee.” She sings the insult that’s haunted me for the last two years.

“It was a part in a goddamn play.” I glance at the steep ravine behind me. “You’re going to kill me over a part in a stupid play?”

She continues to advance, her cheap, cloying perfume invading my nostrils. “You know my dad blamed me for what happened at school. He took away my credit card for a whole year and stopped me from going to parties. I missed out on junior prom with Pete Hill.” She stomps her foot. “Goddamn junior prom!”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t get to go to junior prom either. You know, on account of me being expelled from school after you made it look like I set an entire building on fire!”

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