Page 243 of A University of Betrayal

I looked up in alarm, directly at Larissa, who was now also part of this clan. It was as if all their gang stories had come together and made a baby, because the DeLoughreys ran some shady businesses, piled up a lot of money and Larissa had even mentioned to me at dinner that she always trained in an underground training hall with theguysusing real weapons.

Anyway...The DeLoughreys were people I would never mess with.

But if Bastien was part of this story... The man from the book was similar to him,yes...He was mysterious and suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

And then there was Alarik.

“It’s cute how Professor Copeland was with her,” I continued to gush without restraint.

Julian laughed and pushed a plate towards me with the sliced apple on it.

I looked at him in disbelief, but he insisted I eat something, so I picked up the plate and started to eat a few pieces. It was only then that I realized how hungry I actually was.

“Next time, I’ll cook you blueberries,” Julian said with a grin and I tilted my head, grinning in fake frustration, raising my eyebrows.

“He’s become a professor of literature, history and philosophy,” I continued before reaching for another piece of apple. I tried to connect the Alarik of that time with the Alarik of today, wondering if he had changed a lot.

Living in the Dark

Myuu

“I wonder what happened to Alaister,” Larissa asked, opening the fridge.

“He’s dead.”

The fridge slammed shut with a crash.

We all looked at Julie, and the first feeling that spread through me was sympathy.

Julie looked from one to the other. Then she blushed. “I mean, what else? He’s gone and no one’s talking about him.”

“Shit,sorry, that’s your dad, isn’t it?” Larissa gritted her teeth.

Julie blushed even harder.

“Yes, but it’s all right. I’ve never met him.”

“Do you know that Gloria?” Larissa asked much more carefully this time.

Julie laughed bitterly, and it made my blood run cold. “Believe me, you don’t want to meet her.”

I had met her, and my respect for her had grown enormously that day. She seemed like someone you didn’t want to upset, under any circumstances.

“She’s the highest member of the opposition to the Circle,” Julie explained, staring out the window at the pond that surrounded the houses.

“Do I need to understand that?” Larissa looked overwhelmed and opened the fridge again.

“No, I haven’t quite figured it out yet either,” I laughed quietly, a little tense inside, because the Circle had made no further effort to contact me and I had become so paranoid that I had marked every full moon on my calendar with an alarm clock. As far as I knew from Grace, though, other young Quatura were having their rites of passage at the moment, so mine could be a whole month away.

I didn’t want to think about it. Instead, I was grateful for the peace and quiet from these crazy people.

And to make sure I didn’t turn into a hairy, albeit majestic, beast, I would consume Alarik’s dodgy herbs in a few days, just like Julian did.

“And this Amanda? Isn’t that...” Larissa lowered her voice and gestured toward the stairs. “Vivienna’s mother?”

Julie lowered her voice again and looked at me. “That’s her. And I’m surprised she got on so well with that Alice and your mother back then.”

When I had seen the light blonde woman with the straight, shoulder-length hair, she had seemed like a loyal servant to Gloria. And that as her daughter...

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