Page 59 of Promised in Blood

“Yes sir,” she whispers.

“Why do you think someone from the Order is interested in Ophelia?” Malachi asks, cutting through the uncomfortable silence. “Do you think this Nazeel knows what she is too?”

Alexandros sighs. “I cannot be sure. There are far too many unanswered questions, but we cannot discount the possibility that there are others who are aware of Ophelia’s powers. At least some of them.”

My frustration mirrors his. Unlike Malachi and Ophelia, I’m not naturally curious by nature. I have lived the last two hundred plus years operating on instinct. Taking what I wanted and following my sire’s lead without hesitation. But now I find myself plagued by questions that have no easy answers. One thing I am sure of, however, is that my pink-haired princess is at the center of it all.

She inhales a shaky breath. “Do you think what happened to Meg might?—”

“I will never allow anyone to hurt you,” Alexandros says. He rests his forehead against hers. “We would all die to protect you.”

Xavier, Malachi, and I voice our agreement. She sniffs, and a fat tear rolls down her cheek. “I don’t want any of you to be hurt because of me. For anyone to be hurt because of me. Meg was…” She chokes on a sob.

“You are not responsible for any actions other than your own, Ophelia Hart,” Alexandros says, his tone so authoritative that it leaves no space for challenge. “Promise me you will always remember that.”

She sniffs again, and he swipes a tear from her lip. “I promise.”

“I have to go speak with the faculty heads.” His voice is steeped with regret, and he glances between Xavier and Malachi. “You two will stay with Ophelia.” He checks his watch and looks at me. “You will accompany me.”

I’m torn between my sense of responsibility and my desire to stay with Ophelia and comfort her, but while Xavier, Malachi, and I are all commanders of Ruby Dragon, I am the unofficial leader, and I don’t underestimate the importance of what he’s about to do. There is a fine balance between curating allies while still keeping Ophelia’s identity a secret, and I’m honored that he trusts me enough to allow me to stand by his side.

But I feel Xavier’s acute frustration at not being chosen. He is no doubt as capable as I am, and it’s too bad his fiery temper all too often lets him down. His rage simmers beneath the surface, but he keeps a lid on it, his blue eyes fixed on Ophelia. “Come here, Cupcake.”

Alexandros releases his grip on her, allowing her to go to him, and Xavier wraps her in his arms. Seeing the way she nestles against his body makes me jealous that he gets to stay behind.

“We will update you with any pertinent information upon our return,” Alexandros says stiffly before striding from the room. I give my girl an all-too-brief kiss before I hurry out after him.

The tensionin Alexandros’s classroom is so thick, I could pierce it with my fangs. The various society leaders sit in the front two rows, their eyes focused on the front where Alexandros stands alongside Osiris and Enora. Anxiety and suspicion radiate from the faculty heads with an intensity that makes my mouth dry. What if they ask too many questions about Ophelia? What if they suspect?

Relax, Axl. Do you think I would ever allow them to learn of who she is before we are ready?

I know you wouldn’t. They just look so fucking suspicious of us.

As they should be. We called them to a clandestine meeting immediately after the president called a last-minute faculty meeting.

“What is this about?” Nicholas Ashe is the first to voice what everyone else is undoubtedly thinking. As the faculty head ofOnyx Dragon, our biggest rivals, he’s the last person I’d trust with any secrets. But Alexandros is right. If there is a threat to nonhumans on campus, they need to be given the information necessary to protect their students.

Enora motions for Alexandros to take the lead, and he steps forward. “Some time last night, a young Silver Vale witch was killed in her bed. She was found this morning with her heart torn from her chest.”

A chorus of gasps and curses ripples around the room. Professor Collins from Iridium Vale sobs loudly.

“I am aware of only one vampire known for tearing out the hearts of witches,” Nicholas says, his beady eyes twinkling with amusement. He’s such a fucking prick.

Alexandros levels him with an icy glare, and Nicholas heeds his warning and leans back in his seat, but the seed of suspicion has been planted, and now nine pairs of questioning eyes are focused on the professor.

“Nobody said it was a vampire who killed Meg,” I say, unable to resist leaping to his defense. Nicholas bares his teeth at me, and I would love nothing more than to tear his throat out. It might provide some welcome relief for all the pent-up emotions hurtling through my body. Too bad it would also earn me a reprimand from Alexandros and the other society heads, so I refrain, shoving my hands into my pockets.

You are here only to observe and learn, Axl, Alexandros reminds me through our bond, but his tone isn’t harsh. In fact, I think I hear his appreciation.

“There is no suggestion that Alexandros was involved, Nicholas,” Enora says, shooting him a withering look. “If you would allow him to continue, he will enlighten you all further.”

Nicholas grinds his jaw, but he doesn’t speak again, and the next voice to fill the room is Alexandros’s. “We know very little about the attack so far. We do not know what creature killed thegirl, or their reason for doing so, but we do know that it appeared to be an attempt to implicate me.”

There’s another round of grumbles and curses, but most of them are now in support of my sire, who despite his ruthless and cold reputation, is highly respected among his colleagues.

“Is there a reason why Silver Vale was targeted? Why Meg in particular?” the head of Gold Vale asks.

“Are all witches at risk?” her counterpart from Iridium chimes in, which is the catalyst for a barrage of questions.

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