Page 91 of Promised in Blood

“I dunno. Maybe.” She chews on her lip.

Sienna bumps her arm against Cadence’s. “I heard Jake will be there.”

Cadence’s cheeks flush pink, obscuring her smattering of freckles. I remember Jake, the son of the chief of police. He and Cadence invited me to a party a couple months ago, and she seemed to like him.

Cadence checks her watch. “I really do have to study for my test though.”

“How about I help you study? I was just gonna go to the library for an hour before I head home.” A reminder that I’m supposed to meet Malachi and study with him makes me groan inwardly. He’s not going to be happy about me canceling on him. Plus, I did just promise the professor I’d do my lessons before the party. But Cadence is my friend, and she needs me right now.

“I can help too,” Sienna adds. “Three heads are better than one, right? My classes are done, and I have an hour free. Besides, algebra is my jam.”

Cadence’s eyes fill with tears. “You’d both do that for me?”

I link my arm through hers. “Of course we would.”

Hey, I’m going to go to Silver Vale to help Cadence study for an hour, I tell Axl.

No. You’re coming home with me, and then you have to meet Malachi.

I glance back at him. He’s no longer leaning against the tree, but he remains at a distance. Watching. Always watching.If I help her study now, we can all go to a party later.

Don’t care much for partiescomes his gruff reply.

It could be fun. I’ve never been to a party. Please!

He grunts.As long as I get to feel you up in a dark corner.

Sienna stands on Cadence’s other side and links her arm through hers, and we

begin to head in the direction of Silver Vale.So I can go study?

I can think of better things to do than hang around Silver Vale while you study with your girlfriends. Let me check with the professor.

I listen in on him asking the professor if I’ll be safe at Silver Vale. After some grumbling, Alexandros reluctantly agrees that Enora’s new protection spellswill be sufficient protection, provided Axl drops me off and picks me up after.

I’ll walk you there, and then I’ll come back to pick you up in sixty minutes. No arguments.

Thank you, Axl. I’ll make it up to you.

Damn right you will.

Cadence sniffs, wiping a tear from her cheek and redirecting all my focus back to her. “I really appreciate this, you guys.”

“Sure, girl. It’s just a little studying. No big deal, right?” Sienna shoots me a look over the top of our friend’s head that is equal parts concern and empathy. A look that tells me she’s aware that this is about so much more than studying, but she doesn’t press for details, and I admire her so much for that.

Sienna’s right. This is about so much more than studying. It’s about the fierce kind of friendships that I only ever dreamed about. And although I barely know Sienna and have only known Cadence a little while, I have an instinctive feeling about both of them. It comes from deep inside me, perhaps the same placewhere I find my light. And it tells me that I can trust these girls with my secrets and my life. It tells me something more too, but that is something I don’t want to think about right now. I consciously ignore the gnawing in my gut telling me that one day I won’t have a choice.

Chapter

Thirty-Two

ALEXANDROS

Alexandros.The concern inOphelia’s voice sets every nerve in my body on edge.

I pause in the middle of my lecture, leaving the hundred or so students sitting in front of me waiting with anticipation for me to finish my sentence.

What is it, little one?

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