Page 92 of Roaring Flames

“Good,” I say lazily, feigning an indifference I don’t truly feel.

But I can’t let him know how much Izzy means to me. If he discovers she’s my mate… I don’t even want to think about it. It’s too horrible to comprehend.

“She’s been very clingy lately.” I force my nose to wrinkle, force my lip to curl away from my teeth like I’m disgusted.

“Girlfriend?” Vlad asks, one brow arched.

“She seems to think so.”

I remind myself not to change the subject too quickly. I need Vlad to believe that Izzy is just some random girl I fucked, not the love of my life.

“Got any pictures?” Vlad asks, scrolling through my phone.

My stomach twists.

Not on that one. I’m not stupid enough to leave anything overly personal on the phone I carry with me. The phone hidden in my apartment, however…

“Enough about Gracie.” I level him with a glare. “How much longer do I have to be here?”

I force a tiny bit of haughty disdain into my voice. Not enough to offend him, but enough to remind him of who, exactly, he’s dealing with.

The Council’s adoptive “son.”

Their favorite assassin.

“Have a hot date?” Vlad asks, his lilting voice irritating my skin like a dozen ice picks.

I bare my teeth, and he chuckles.

“Don’t be so dramatic.” Vlad rolls his eyes. “Now come with me.”

I stare at him suspiciously.

I haven’t left my new cell since they forced me in here days ago. My only companion has been Vlad…and his weapons of choice.

“Where are we going?”

“Don’t stare at me like that,” he huffs. “You’re acting like I’m about to murder you.” He laughs uproariously, as if he just told the most hilarious joke, before sobering. “I need you to clean up. We have somewhere we need to be.”

“Where?” I grit out.

But Vlad simply smirks at me, his eyes sparking with a savage lethality that curdles my stomach. “You’ll see.”

Thirty-Six

ANSEL

Ireceive the text in chemistry.

Trying to be inconspicuous, I slip my phone out of my pocket and hold it under the lab table.

Shelby

Need you home ASAP.

Shelby

There’s been an incident.

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