Page 51 of Promised in Blood

“And?” Alexandros asks, his tone so cold and calm that it sends a shudder down my spine. If Enora and Osiris aren’t careful, they’re going to end up with their throats torn out, and they won’t even see it coming.

“It was your scent, and also not your scent,” Osiris says.

“What does that mean?” Malachi asks. “How can it be him and not him?”

“It wasn’t him!” Ophelia insists.

Alexandros holds up a hand, silencing them both. “Explain to me how that is possible, Osiris.”

The wolf blows out a breath. “It was as though someone used your scent to mask their own. I don’t know, old friend. It was just off.”

Alexandros begins to pace the room, his brow furrowed, not in anger but in concentration. “So how was a vampire able to get through the spell that protects Silver Vale and somehow have my scent?”

Enora’s face grows paler, and she sucks in a deep breath. “I do not think it was a vampire.”

Well, this just got way more interesting.

Alexandros stops pacing and stares at her. “Then who or what do you think is responsible for the witch’s demise?”

“Well, not merely a vampire in any case. When Osiris told me about the scent, I…” She swallows. “It is forbidden, Alexandros.”

He crouches before her and takes her hand in his. His tenderness shocks me to my core, and I grab Xavier’s thigh, my fingers digging into his taut muscle. I guess he’s equally as shocked because he doesn’t move my hand or call me a dickface.

“I promise you can trust everyone in this room,fili mou.”

My friend? You two are friends?In all our time here at Montridge, I have only ever seen him and Professor Green treat each other with a modicum of civility.

Our acquaintance is a complicated one,he replies, keeping his eyes fixed on Enora.

How complicated?Ophelia asks.

Jealous, Cupcake?Xavier teases.

Enough.Alexandros’s warning comes at the same time he speaks to the woman before him. “Enora. You are amongst friends here.”

She nods. “I cast a spell from theBook of Skoteiní Xórkia.”

What the fuck is theBook of Skoteiní Xórkia?

It’s a book of dark magic,Malachi says.Witches are forbidden from using it.

Well, fuck me. This day keeps getting more interesting, and it’s not yet noon.

“And?” Alexandros probes, seemingly unperturbed by her admission.

“Whoever killed Meg used the same magic. She was killed with dark magic, Alexandros.”

Our sire is adept at masking his emotions and even better at blocking himself from us, but the spike of fear that hits him like a bolt of lightning makes it difficult for me to breathe. As quick as a flash, he composes himself, but it’s too late. One look at Malachi and Ophelia opposite me and the sound of Xavier’s heart beating double-time beside me tells me we all felt it. Yet his voice is cool when he speaks. “The Skotádi?”

Enora nods, and Osiris growls in agreement.

Alexandros stands and begins to pace the room once more. “The Skotádi were here. Are here? On campus?”

“I believe so,” Enora says solemnly, her head dipped so I can no longer see the tears in her eyes.

“Who else knows about this?” he asks.

“Nobody but us.”

---