Page 101 of Promised in Blood

Not too much anyway, Axl replies.

They’ve got your back, Cupcake.

But not as much as we do, sweet girl.

I inhale the scent of her, letting it flood my senses.Never as much as we do, little one. Never forget that.

Whilst I take some comfort in knowing that the people in this room have sworn an oath to protect her identity, and I have no doubt they will stop at nothing to protect her as well when the time comes, the events of this day continue to feed my unease.

Lucian was here at Montridge. He used dark magic to control the two Onyx recruits and, for reasons I still cannot fathom, to target a young wolf girl. Does he know Ophelia is an elementai? Does he know of how truly powerful she is? Or is this all one big coincidence?

I hold her tighter, sure of only one thing. My son or not… I would end him and every other soul in existence to protect her.

Chapter

Thirty-Five

ALEXANDROS

The faculty meeting has devolved into a catastrophe of muttered accusations, murmured anxieties, and suspicious looks.

Osiris addressed the room first, briefly outlining the circumstances of Esme’s death earlier this evening—a version of events as akin to the truth as we can allow that was agreed upon before we left Silver Vale. Under the watchful eye of my boys, Ophelia stayed behind with her friends. I am grateful for the two young women who have shown Ophelia unwavering loyalty even in the face of their own fears.

“So it was two vampires from Onyx who killed the girl?” Professor Yakon rubs a weary hand over his face. The werewolf is nearing retirement, and he tends to lack patience for anything outside of the biochemistry curriculum he pioneered at Montridge. “And where are they now?”

More mutters and glares are directed at Nicholas Ashe. As much as I enjoy seeing my counterpart as the object of our colleagues’ disdain, I feel obliged to speak up on behalf of the Onyx pledges. “They were physically responsible for committing the act, yes, but they cannot be held responsible.”

“What?” Yakon barks, and many other faculty members voice their own disapproval.

Eugene Jackson casts me an anxious look from where he sits a few feet in front of me. Perhaps I should have alerted him as to what was going on before this meeting, but despite our kinship and his role as sire to many of the Ruby Dragon pledges, he has never been a man I particularly trust or admire. “What the hell is this, Alexandros?” he mutters.

My attention remains fixed on the crowd of professors that grows more agitated by the moment. There is no reason to respond. I do not have an answer that would be satisfactory in any case. Everything he needs to know will be revealed to everyone in this room before we all leave.

Arrogant asshole.Eugene’s voice is as clear as if he spoke those words aloud, but I know he did not. He would not dare. He remains staring directly ahead, lips pressed tightly together and his jaw ticking.

His insolence makes me want to teach him a lesson, but this is not the time. I have never bitten Eugene, and we are distant cousins at best; therefore we have no connection that would allow me to so easily read his mind.

“Professor Drakos!” Jerome shouts, and I realize they are awaiting an answer from me.

I roll my neck and suppress a growl. Keeping my frustration in check is becoming increasingly tiresome.

Don’t mind me. I’m just the president of this entire goddamn university, Jerome says, but his lips do not move.Any time today would be good.His tone drips with sarcasm, but outwardly he simply repeats my name again. I can read his mind; I can read all their minds. When did that happen?

I work my way through the minds in the room, picking out the pertinent points. Most of them are simply waiting for me to explain the statement I just made about the Onyx pledges. Some of them are wondering why I would cover for House Onyx, and the humanities professor is wishing this meeting would end so he can go back to the young witch currently keeping his bed warm.

Aware I currently lack the time necessary to unravel this curious new development, I set it aside and return to the conversation. “The Onyx Dragon pledges were acting under someone else’s orders.”

“But they still killed that girl, even if someone else told them to do it,” someone yells.

I shake my head. “They were under the spell of dark magic.”

A round of gasps and accusations rumbles throughout the room. I hear Nicholas Ashe’s silent words of relief.

“You’re just protecting Onyx,” a witch accuses me.

“Do not be ridiculous,” Nicholas shouts. “Why would he do that?”

“Because if your kind is going around murdering students, it doesn’t look good for any of you, does it?” the witch retorts.

---