Page 89 of Promised in Blood

I press my lips together and stifle a snicker, reveling in the uncomfortable silence that follows.

“Ophelia Hart.” His menacing tone sends a shiver down my spine, but in the best possible way. “One day, I am going to give you the spanking you deserve.”

Oh, yes please. For the love of all the demons on hell and earth, spank her fine ass.

She sighs, resting her head on his chest once more. “But I can go to Silver Vale, right?”

He grunts.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Thank you, sir.”

He smacks her ass. “Go to sleep.”

She turns her head my way and smiles. Smiling back, I rest my hand on her back and draw circles on her skin.

I like the way you do that. It makes me sleepy. We’re the only two here, and it totally blows my mind that she’s able to block people out of my head while talking to me. Even after all the practice I’ve done with her and the professor, I still can’t block him out on my own.

Are you okay after what you saw?

Malachi breathes softly and steadily behind me, and I smile at the familiar sounds of him sleeping.

Yeah. I know it was awful, but I actually feel better, you know? Like I finally know where I came from.

I go on lazily tracing a circular pattern on her skin.I can understand that.

Her eyes flutter closed.Will you always do this for me, Xavier?

Always, Cupcake.

A few seconds later, she drifts off to sleep too. Sparks of electricity seem to engulf my hand when Alexandros strokes her skin and his fingers brush mine. I know he must have felt my reaction, but it doesn’t cause him to move his hand. He leaves it next to mine, our fingertips resting next to each other. And that’s how I fall asleep—touching her and him and wishing this could be how I fall asleep every night.

Chapter

Thirty-One

OPHELIA

“Hey, O,” Sienna calls my name across the quad, and when I look up, she’s waving at me with a huge smile on her face. “Get over here.”

I offer a wave before glancing at Axl, my bodyguard for today. The professor kept to his word. I don’t leave the house without at least one of the guys accompanying me. Classes, the library, dining halls. Axl gives me a kiss on the cheek and leans against a tree, his arms folded over his broad chest. “Go talk to your friend, princess. I’ll be right here watching.”

“Thanks.” Skirting my way around the giant Christmas tree in the middle of the quad, I keep my head dipped low, aware of people’s eyes on me as I head over to one of the most popular girls on campus. I’m still not quite used to having the attention of someone like Sienna. She literally turns heads when she walks by, and I swear her skin shimmers when she moves. She tosses her long, thick braids over her shoulder. “You want to come to a party tonight?”

“A party?”

She props a hand on her hip. “Yeah.” Her laugh is warm and friendly. “You know, those things most college kids go to? Maybe dance? Get a little drunk? You know, if that’s your deal. It’s not mine but…” She shrugs.

“But it’s Monday,” I say, then immediately wish I could call those words back when I see her amused expression. How big of a nerd do I want her to think I am? “Not that it matters. Um… Could I, uh…” I press my lips together. “Bring a friend?”

“Sure.”

“Or three?”

Her eyes sparkle, and she glances over my shoulder at Axl. I follow her gaze to see him still leaning against the tree, his tight T-shirt straining against his biceps. Girls check him out as they walk by, but he keeps his attention focused on me, and I can’t help but smile.

“Oh, you mean the Ruby Dragon commanders? You’re their girl this year, right?” Sienna says, directing my attention back to her.

Despite not getting any judgy vibes from her at all, my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to everyone on campus knowing I have three boyfriends. Technically four, but the professor and I are still not common knowledge. But wait, did she say— “Thisyear?”

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