Page 87 of The Blood we Crave

“Nothing is going to happen to her tonight.” He says as he twirls his fingers inside a cup of pens at my desk. “She’s going to trail him at the charity circus and meet us in the parking lot at nine when they close. Lyra knows the rules, knows not to go anywhere without telling us. We will be there the entire time. It’s going to be fine.”

My molars grind together as I nod my head in dull agreement, keeping my mouth shut as I walk towards my mirror to fix my collar. I didn’t plan on arguing this point with him again, not when I knew what would happen if something did, in fact, happen to her.

“This isn’t even about Lyra.”

I tilt my head in his direction, looking at Alistair for the first time since he arrived. His dark eyes are watching me like a hawk, as if he’s capable of seeing past the mirage I present to him. Out of all the guys, he might be the closest.

“Pray tell, you all knowing god, what is it about then?” I ask dryly.

He easily slides into my desk chair, leaning back with his hands resting behind his head. I’d met no one who could scowl quite like Alistair Caldwell. Even as a child, he’d had a permanent look of anger stamped on his face.

Even when he wasn’t necessarily irritated, he always looked that way.

“You’re upset that I didn’t vote with you.” He says with a sureness that makes a bitter laugh slip from my lips. “Laugh all you want, but this is the first time I’ve split our votes. We have always voted together, the one-time I don’t, you’re pissy about it.”

Tension sizzles in the room between us, one wrong word or move and a savage verbal argument will erupt between the two of us. It’s unfortunate that he’s my opposite, so strongly bonded when we agree, but feral enemies when we clash.

He was correct about one thing. This had been the only time in the history of our democracy style plans that we voted on contrasting sides. Did it annoy me? Sure it did. Following Rook’s lead has never ended well. Alistair knows that, or at least I thought he did. Everything he does is without thought and impulsive. Quick to jump on an idea that sounds good in theory but has a damning consequence.

“I’m so bored with your constant. I’m the leader, bit.” I say, “We are not children. This isn’t the school playground and I’m moping because you didn’t pick me. Your life might be a lot easier if you stopped believing the world revolved around you, Ali.”

His jaw ticks, my words dancing dangerously on that big red button inside of him. I swear, he’s too easy. Always has been.He may not know me, but I know him.

Better than almost anyone.

Alistair and I met first.It had been just me and him until we helped Rook set off firecrackers at a country club where Silas stood watch.

But before that, it was us.

My grandfather wanted to host a luncheon for Ponderosa Springs royalty, considering he was on the board. This was not out of character. I think it was his way of introducing my father to the people he was supposed to work in tandem with once he fully took over the Pierson Fortune business, and inherited his portion of this rotten town.

He’d wanted my father to rub elbows with the right people. Make a list of those who couldn’t be trusted, that sort of thing.

I’d been almost six, tossing rocks into the large water fountain in the entrance of our property’s driveway. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for my home to be filled with children and adults, mingling. It also wasn’t out of the norm for me to find any other place to be but inside with all that noise.

My grandfather said I would play the part of a wealthy grandson perfectly. I’d show-off my talent on the piano, let my father guide me around, introducing me to powerful names and influencers alike.

But that was only for about an hour before I disappeared. Before human interaction became too much and I craved the comfort of silence.

Standing outside my home was when I watched Alistair and his family arrive. I saw with quiet eyes how his mother and father got out of the car with his older brother, Dorian, close by their sides.

Content to leave a youthful lanky boy behind them to catch up. His head down, suit disheveled, and eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep. Like he knew his place was five steps behind theirs. Always in the gloom of their shadows. Of Dorian’s shadow.

A sad reality for someone so young.

I knew what that felt like. Understood what it was to be ashamed of your existence. It was as if there was something different in our blood, pumping through him, pumping through me, through all of us.

This wickedness that bonded our trauma. Wrapped us in all we hated, all we ran from and turned us into what we were today. We each became the things we feared the most.

No, we became worse.

I’d always thought Alistair, and I were the closest, yet today, we couldn’t feel further apart.

“Lyra will be—”

“Lyra,” I bite out, interpreting him with a harsh scowl, hating the way he says her name. Rushed without a passing thought. “Is expendable to you. A piece of dust in your world. You and Rook are content with something happening to her because she means nothing to you.”

He stands from my chair, quick to make his presence known as he steps into my personal space. I was on a roll for pissing off what remaining friends I have. First Rook puffing his chest like the big bad wolf he is, now Alistair?

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