Page 77 of A University of Betrayal

You could tell Larissa was making an effort, but she was just bubbling over with anger.

Adrian and Miles exchanged indistinct glances, but then nodded and gave me and Grace one last warning look before turning and strutting off with David.

My inner tension rose, especially after the realization that they might have something to do with the recent events. I thought not only of the sudden appearance of the high-ranking councilor, but also of the death of Ezra Campbell. Ananimal attack.How creative. Wild animals lived in the woods of Blairville, but they didn’t just come into town to tear people apart.

Last night, I’d overheard Amara on the phone with the police chief, Graham Bardot. Julian’s father and she had made a deal that if anything supernatural happened, he would contact her immediately before it could get to Gloria. Because Gloria was a box of dynamite, and a supernatural death was reason enough for her to start a war.

“You have to help me. I’m in trouble. I have no idea what you know or why you know it, but nothing makes sense right now anyway.”

I looked into Larissa’s widened eyes. She had lowered her voice.

And there she was again. The Larissa I’d sat with at a fucking bar last time.Me...at aclub bar.This girl had been able to persuade me to do so much that I would never have dared to do on my own. And now she was a Ruisangor.

“Larissa, we’re not even supposed to talk to you,” Grace began cautiously.

“What? Why? I thought we were friends.”

“You’re one of them now,” my cousin continued. “Sorry.”

The words seemed to hit Larissa. Her eyes radiated pure bewilderment.

“Do you think I chose this?”

Grace sighed. “No, but we can’t help you anymore.”

I could tell my cousin was getting impatient because she was playing with her elbow and looking around the whole time.

I knew that the other Quatura were watching us. They were all sitting under the huge white gazebo, where Vivienna and her two bitchy pets had disappeared to.

“Guys, believe it or not, they’re keeping me prisoner in their fairytale castle while pretending I’m a blood-sucking beast.” She spoke so quietly you’d think someone was eavesdropping. “I’m a prisoner, and you’re the only ones who can help me. Who else?”

She came closer and Grace took a step back. Probably I should be scared of her too, but my fear was just as absent as any other emotion right now, thanks to the Salma, so Grace pulled me back a little indignantly.

“What’s wrong with you?” Larissa looked confused at Grace’s grip, from which I quickly freed myself.

Grace continued to stare at Larissa as if she could kill us at any moment.

“You don’t understand. Ifanyonehere sees us together any longer, it could have serious consequences for us.”

“Why? What is wrong with you guys?”

“The DeLoughreys and our family are...” Grace’s excuses were getting on my nerves, which was why I interrupted Grace unbidden.

“What Grace is saying is that our species are in conflict with each other.”

“Species?”

Larissa stared back and forth between the two of us.

“We should go now,” I began, trying to get Grace out of here.

“No,Julie...” Larissa grabbed my arm and I instantly felt her coldness.

I looked up, straight into her eyes, and all I could see was despair. To me, she was still Larissa, the best friend of Bayla Adams, who was a little crazy, liked to talk about motorcycles and had wanted to help me find Erik.

I swallowed.

The thought of Erik was the most painful. I repressed it again and again.

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