Page 252 of A University of Betrayal

“Fine,” I murmured, unhappy with myself. “You win.” I raised both hands, but prepared to let go, because another wave of pain shot through my entire arm. “I needed a blood sample from a Legacy Ruisangor.”

Miles eyed me, seemed to be waiting for the whole truth, but he wasn’t going to get it.

“It’s nothing personal.”

“Damn it,you drew my blood?!” He let go of me and turned to walk across my stone porch and started... laughing? “What the fuck are you, running around ramming needles into people’s necks?” He laughed likehewas the maniac and notme.“And don’t tell me you’re human.”

Great, Quentin. Really great.When had I become so careless and negligent?

“If I tell you my reasons, you have to keep it to yourself,” I said impatiently, putting my hand back on my injured shoulder.

I felt pathetic.

“I wouldn’t make demands in your position,” Miles laughed and leaned against the support of the canopy, continuing to polish his knife.

I sighed and suppressed a pained groan.

“I’ll get you a drink.”

Miles looked up. And the grin returned.

“Nowwe speak the same language.”

Fire

Two Feet

I blamed it on the dizziness the pain had caused in me that I’d let the guy bandage my arm. I hadn’t been able to use Umbra in front of him, so I’d been forced to put myself through this torture.

He hadn’t been merciful, and I had been forced to resist taking him out from ambush.

You couldn’t get rid of a DeLoughrey. I would have to forget about all my chances of scientific discovery through the DLSC, maybe even leave town. And even then, some crazy immortal would probably find me and have his fun with me.

And so, I was forced to come up with something, maybe a contract?

I emptied the whiskey glass and grimaced at all the unpleasantness of the last few weeks.

Miles scrutinized me.

We were sitting in my living room area.

“So, you’re the epitome of a mad scientist who does forbidden things, all in the name of science,” Miles laughed, amused, as if this were a game.

I had told him about the genetic experiments.

At least it was half the truth.

“Let me guess, it’s still not working out with the love life?”

I raised my eyebrows.

“I didn’t invite you in to talk aboutthat,”I murmured.

“All right, Romeo,” he laughed, raising both hands before he rose to his feet with his half-filled whiskey glass and strode past the fireplace to one of the arched windows. “Then watch your Juliet escape.”

I grimaced.

Juliet.

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