Page 55 of Forged in Blood

Cadence shakes her head. “I don’t know them.”

Her admission floods me with relief. She isn’t Penelope’s friend. And more importantly, maybe she won’t hate me if she ever finds out I had anything to do with their deaths.

“Well, they were in one car, but the other one had two new pledges from Onyx Society.”

I swallow. That means Madison’s boyfriend and the guy I didn’t recognize were vampire pledges.

Cadence’s eyes widen. “Oh, interesting.”

If Cadence is a witch, she must know about vampires. I want to ask her, but I wouldn’t dare. Especially not with Jake here. “And th-they all died in the car accident?” My words stick in my throat as I recall the bloody mess of bodies left behind in that parking lot.

Jake nods. “That’s the official report. From the horse’s mouth.”

“Jake’s dad is the chief of police,” Cadence explains.

My stomach churns. The chief of police. I’m going to jail. My arrest, trial, and ensuing life sentence flash by in a montage of horrible images. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t kill those people, just like it didn’t matter that I didn’t burn down my high school. I was there. Axl, Xavier, or Malachi can’t be trusted to tell the truth about my part. And it’s not like I can tell anyone that vampires were responsible.

“You sure you don’t want to come to this party tonight?” Cadence asks me, and I force the blur of images that could be my potential future from my mind.

“It’s gonna be a rager.” Jake pumps his fist in the air.

Cadence swats his chest. “You’re such a caveman.”

He blows her a kiss, and she makes a retching sound like she’s disgusted by him, even though it’s clear she’s not.

I force a smile. “Thank you for the invite, really, but I’m gonna pass.”

“Then you should definitely stop by next week some time. Just ask for me, and I’ll show you around.” She takes me by surprise when she pulls me in for a hug, and I awkwardly return it before Jake is pulling her away, demanding she help him get a keg. He says a quick goodbye to me, and I watch the two of them head off in the direction of the Silver Vale house.

There’s still a smile on my face, but that bone-crushing sorrow is already snaking its way back into me, filling me up from my toes until it reaches the top of my head. Droplets of water splash on my face, and I tilt my head back to see dark clouds rolling overhead once more. At least the weather matches my mood.

Chapter

Thirty-Three

ALEXANDROS

Malachi’s anxiety and concern for his brother hits me before he even steps foot inside Zeus Hall. I am typically able to block him and his brothers out whenever I choose, but for the most part, I simply dull my connection to them. I prefer a little solace in my own head. It is a skill all vampires possess, but one not all can master.

However, such is the strength of Malachi’s worry today, it permeates my thoughts as strongly as if it were my own. Perhaps it is because I know why he has come here and I share his concern. I also know how to fix the problem he is bringing to my door. And that unsettles me even more.

His brow is etched with tension when he walks into my office. “It’s Axl,” he says, his voice pained.

I close my laptop and rest my hands on my chin. “I know.”

“He’s getting worse. He won’t feed. Can’t.” He shakes his head. “He’s burning up. I’ve never seen him like this. We don’t get sick. It doesn’t make sense. What’s wrong with him?”

The time has come to accept reality and fix this. I grab my jacket and shrug it on. Axl has been growing sicker with each passing day. We have all felt it, and I have wished more than anything that it would get better for him. The sickness took hold much more quickly than is usual, and a part of me hoped that it meant it was different, thatshewas different. That perhaps it would burn through him and I would be spared from having to do what must be done. His teeth never penetrated her flesh. It was such a small taste.

I stride past Malachi and gesture for him to follow me. “Let’s go.”

I cupAxl’s jaw in my hand. His bloodshot eyes are heavy, and his waxy skin is so pale he almost looks translucent. His fangs are bared, and he scents the air with a feral sniff.

Malachi’s distress is palpable. “What the hell is wrong with him, Professor?”

I snarl, frustrated and angry. If I had any doubt as to the kind of creature Ophelia Hart is, Axl’s reaction to her blood has removed every shred of it. Stupid, stupid boy! “He needs her blood.”

Xavier runs a hand through his hair. “But why? I know she smelled good, and he said something happened when he tasted her, but why the fuck is he like this? Has she made him sick? Is this some kind of spell?”

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