Page 100 of Promised in Blood

“How long have you had your powers, child?” Enora asks, regaining her composure and climbing to her feet.

She glances at me, her teeth sinking into her luscious lower lip and making me long to take her from this room and have her to myself. I motion for her to answer.

“Almost four weeks now,” she whispers.

Enora shakes her head in disbelief. “Four weeks? Surely not.”

Ophelia wrings her hands together. “I know I’m not great, but Alexandros and the guys are teaching me. I have lessons every?—”

“Ophelia.” Enora goes over to Ophelia once more and places her hand on her perfectly smooth cheek. “My sweet child. The fact you have mastered such powers in four short weeks is extraordinary.”

“Ophelia is extraordinary,” I say, my eyes darting between Osiris, Cadence, and Sienna before coming back to Enora. “Which is why the secret of her identity and the magic she is capable of must not leave this room.”

I take Ophelia’s hand in mine, lacing her nimble fingers through my own. Xavier does the same with her other hand. Malachi and Axl stand behind us.

Osiris continues to stare at her like he is witnessing a miracle, and I suppose that he is. “You cannot keep her a secret forever, old friend. People will realize what she is. Power like that cannot be hidden for long. It is possible that the Order is already aware. It’s almost certain that the Skotádi know something if they’ve been here on campus.”

Sienna rubs her hands on her jeans. “But why did they come for Esme? If they know about Ophelia, why not come for her?”

“We are not yet sure of what the Skotádi do or do not know. I am certain they are not aware of the full extent of Ophelia’s powers. Otherwise, they surely would have made some attempt to get to her. But there are still far too many unansweredquestions. Such as why the Skotádi made both the murder of the young wolf and that of the witch at Silver Vale appear as though they were committed by vampires.”

“What witch at Silver Vale? Meg?” Sienna asks.

Her father nods solemnly. “I will explain later.”

I rub my temples and try to drown out the growing cacophony of questions racing through the minds of everyone in this room. Tasting their blood has permitted me entry to their innermost thoughts. “We are aware that there will be a time when we cannot conceal Ophelia’s identity any longer.”

“But you saw how good she is already,” Xavier adds. “The more time we have to help her learn to control her powers, the stronger she’ll be when that time comes.”

“She’s already more powerful than everyone in this room,” Axl says.

“I am not.” Ophelia blushes, so self-deprecating in spite of what she just showed us.

You are, little one, I tell her through our bond.

Malachi drops a kiss on the top of her head. “And her powers keep growing every day.”

“We are going to do what we can to give Ophelia as much time as she needs to learn to control her powers, and we are asking nothing of you but your loyalty. My boys and I will keep Ophelia safe. We will take care of her training. The five of us will leave this place if and when it becomes necessary.”

“The five points of a pentagram,” Enora murmurs, a knowing smile on her face.

“You can’t leave,” Cadence says, jumping from her seat.

Ophelia brushes a tear from her cheek, and her sadness causes a dull ache in my heart. “I don’t want to.”

I give Ophelia’s hand a reassuring squeeze. I wish I could tell her that we will never have to leave here, but reality closes in on us more with each passing day. “This is bigger than all of us.”

Enora clears her throat and nods. “Bigger than anything we have ever dealt with before. Cadence and I will do all we can, Alexandros. I know an elementai’s powers are channeled differently, but the fundamentals of use are the same. If there is anything I can do to assist in Ophelia’s lessons, it would be an honor.”

Cadence nods eagerly. “I’m here whatever you need, Ophelia.”

Osiris wraps an arm around his daughter’s shoulder. “Ophelia’s secrets are safe with us, old friend.”

Sienna rolls her eyes. “My new bestie is the most powerful being who ever lived, and I can’t even tell people. That sure as hell sucks.” She flashes Ophelia a smirk that makes her giggle.

Ophelia leans against me, and I wrap an arm around her, pressing her into the crook of my shoulder.

They know, and they didn’t freak out, she says.

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