Page 132 of A University of Betrayal

“Excuse me for asking… I didn’t mean to be rude.”

Then, out of nowhere, Nicolaj started laughing. It was an amused and unforced laugh, as if I had cracked a joke. And instantly the tension at the table seemed to ease, even if it didn’t disappear completely.

“I was alive when there was no one you know today. All the history, I’ve been part of it, experienced wars that no man wants to experience first-hand.”

That sounded terrible... But it didn’t make sense. He didn’t look a day over forty. And if it weren’t for the scar, he’d look really good, just like everyone else in this damn family.

“I like your daughter, Tristan,” the man laughed.

Only Tristan wasn’t laughing. He seemed focused on the drink in front of him. Also, a glass, filled with blood. And Camille was staring at the table with her lips pressed together, as if she had a problem with this whole situation.

Only now did I notice that everyone present seemed to be avoiding Nicolaj’s gaze. No one but me and him had spoken to each other yet.

“They have guests,” Nicolaj said coldly, and I watched everything in his face tense up. “They actually think they can bring the Rolanows into our town without facing any consequences.”

No one said anything. And had I not read Jenny Bexley’s online article, I wouldn’t know who the Rolanows were.

“Their alpha is scared,” Tristan said in an amused tone, without taking his eyes off his glass. “He feels cornered. Just like you wanted.”

He looked tense, which made my inner tension grow.

“What are you talking about, boy?” Nicolaj murmured and looked at Tristan, who straightened his shoulders and quickly reached for his glass. “Those filthy dogs want to form an alliance with the Russians. They will marry off their offspring, as they have tried to do many times before.” His jaw looked like it was about to pop out. “And this time I won’t be able to get rid of them easily.”

I felt sick, not like when I was trying to get used to drinking blood, but like whenhehad made me watch him shoot people.

I chewed faster, harder, trying to pull myself out of the spiral of thoughts and not thinking about back then, but the present was just as disturbing.

Who was this Nicolaj to be so cold-blooded and kill the descendants of the Senseque? Had that scar on his face scarred him so much inside, or was there more to it than that?

Alan Wake

Petri Alanko

The meal had not taken long, as Nicolaj had some important business meetings to attend to and said goodbye to us. As soon as Nicolaj had left the room, the mood had lightened. The people present had all looked at me and finally Bastien had also left without saying anything. A little later, Laurent and then Tristan left too, until it was just the four of us students and Camille at the table.

“That was very bold of you,” she said, picking up her empty glass.

“It wasn’t bold, it was idiotic.”

I gave Adrian a dark look, only to find that his was as dark as night. He seemed angry, for whatever reason, but he didn’t give me time to ask, rising as well and disappearing from the room within a second.

“He’s...” I began, but was interrupted.

“Always like this,” Miles finally sighed and leaned his head back to empty the blood he had poured himself, as if he was the only one who wanted some. The veins in his neck and eyes stood out.

“Adrian has his quirks sometimes,” he continued. “And it’s at its worst when Nicolaj is here. That’s when he completely loses his shit.”

Miles poured himself another drink.

I convinced myself that it was cherry juice, and it worked ever since. Even if everything about it was wrong.

“That’s enough!” Camille snapped at him and snatched the white gold jug out of his hand. Her eyes were glowing red, and I noticed she hadn’t had a drink in Nicolaj’s presence.

Miles’ eyes began to glow instantly, but he let her take the jug and turned back to me. “You’re actually bolder thanme.”

“She doesn’t know how to behave in front of him yet, that’s all,” Camille sighed and winked at me. “And she’s allowed to. After all, she’s new.”

Great... new.So, my protected status had saved me from being tortured by this man?

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