Page 19 of Promised in Blood

Despite what Alexandros told me about the witches’ role in the elementai genocide, I trust Cadence. And although I won’t share my secrets, I don’t want to lose her as a friend.

“You have time for a burrito?” I ask hopefully.

She links her arm through mine. “Yeah, but you gotta tell me why the hell Professor Drakos dragged you out of the library the way he did.”

“Yeah. As soon as we grab some food.” I press my lips together. I should have come up with a story. Stupid Ophelia! But Alexandros will know what to do. I’m not entirely sure how our bond works, but I assume it must be similar to the one I have with the guys.

Alexandros, can you hear me?

There’s no reply. This overwhelming sense of rejection is ridiculous, yet I can’t help what I feel when I realize that he’s blocking me.

I try the boys instead, calling out to each of them while half listening to Cadence tell me about how Professor Green was acting all mysterious when she told her what happened with Professor Drakos.

What is it, sweet girl?Malachi answers me instantly.

Cadence is asking me what happened after I left the library. She wants to know why Alexandros was so mad. We should have come up with a story.

Hang on, baby. Give me two minutes, okay?

Okay.

I swallow my anxiety and force a smile while I give Cadence my full attention. A short time later, Malachi is back.Alexandrossays to tell her that you were supposed to be having a private tutoring session with him.

You spoke to him?

Yeah, just now.

A lump forms in my throat. Why wouldn’t he speak to me?

Ophelia?Malachi’s concerned tone fills my head.

I have to pay more attention to Cadence or she’s going to realize I’m lying. Or that I’m having a conversation with a vampire in my head.You think she’ll buy that?

You can sell it. I believe in you.

His praise fills me with confidence.Thank you, Kai.

Any time.

And then he’s gone, and I give Cadence my undivided attention once more. This is the first true friendship I’ve ever had, and I’m not going to let Alexandros’s refusal to speak to me distract me from being a good friend.

After we grab food, Cadence and I choose a quiet spot at the back of the dining hall, and my butt has barely touched the seat when she asks again what happened to make Alexandros so mad.

“I mean, he was kind of hot all riled up like that.” She blows out a breath and fans herself. “But I was so worried about you, girl. I went straight to Enora, but she said I shouldn’t worry about you. I was so relieved to see you today.”

I take a bite of my burrito to buy myself a few seconds to get my story straight. It would be so much easier if I could at least tell her about the professor and me. He said we didn’t have to keep us a secret, but then he told Malachi to tell Cadence I had a private tutoring session.

Cadence stares at me, her eyes wide in expectation.

I lick a spot of sauce from my lips and hum like this is the most delicious burrito I’ve ever tasted.

She huffs, but her warm laughter quickly follows. “Spill, girl.”

I shrug, wiping my mouth. “It wasn’t all that exciting, really. He agreed to give me some private tutoring, and I completely forgot about our session.”

She leans back and folds her arms. “Private tutoring?”

I nod. “Yeah. Ancient history fascinates me, and we don’t cover nearly enough of it in class. I wanted to delve a little deeper, you know?”

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