Page 22 of Bound in Blood

“There you all are,” Giorgios says. “I assumed you would have come into the house to continue your research.” A shiver dances down my spine. Fearful he’ll somehow discover that I’m talking to her, I bid Cadence a hasty goodbye and tell her I’ll speak to her again later.

“Just enjoying a little more of the morning sunshine,” Malachi says.

“Yeah, while we still can,” Xavier adds, his tone dripping with snark.

Giorgios hums softly. “Well, we know it will not come to that, Xavier, for if we cannot find an alternative cure, then we will utilize the only one we know, yes?” His eyes rake over me when he says that, and I resist the urge to squirm. The thought of Giorgios biting me and bonding me to him repulses me, but I would do it in a heartbeat to save my boys, a fact he is no doubt aware of. I nod, offering him a fake saccharine smile.

“I have an email from my cousin regarding the Ruby Dragons which requires your attention, gentlemen. I would answer his query myself, but I do not know the intricate workings of your operation at Montridge. If you would follow me?”

“An email?” all three of us say at once. He’s told us repeatedly there’s no cell service or internet connection here.

“Yes. One of my guards managed to get our old router to work.” Smiling, he shrugs. “I have no use for such modern technologies, but I sensed you were all feeling increasingly cut off from your lives at Montridge. It is a very old dial-up connection, but it will suffice for the occasional email.”

All of that is entirely plausible, I guess. And if it’s true, it would have been much more useful to know before I realized I could speak to my friends back at Montridge without the need of anything but my mind. Still, I suppose he’s making an effort.

“Shall we?” Giorgios says, indicating we should follow him.

Xavier and Malachi stand dutifully, continuing to play the part of grateful house guest to perfection, even if they remain unsure of Giorgios’s motives. “You coming, Cupcake?”

I want to play around with my rediscovered ability a little more, so I shake my head. “I’m going to stay out here and enjoy a little more sunshine. I’ll catch up with you before lunch.”

Have fun reaching out to some of our friends, sweet girl.Malachi flashes me a wink before he and Xavier follow Giorgios back into the house.

I close my eyes and lean back against the tree. I could tap back into Cadence and continue our chat—hearing her voice felt like going home. Or I could talk to Sienna. Or Enora. But none of those things would do much to help our current situation. If only I could talk to Alexandros.

Something tickles my arm, and I open my eyes to find a bright orange butterfly. And it hits me like a thunderbolt. Of course I can talk to Alexandros. Or at least talk to someone who can speak to him on my behalf. Hope flares white hot in my chest, and I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before now.

The butterfly flutters away, and I whisper my thanks to whatever goddess sent it to me this morning, then take a deepbreath and focus on my light. I’ve never tried this on my own before, but surely it’s the same as connecting to any being here in the mortal realm. Which should I try to contact? Elpis is surely less likely to be aggravated at my intrusion, but my connection with Anikêtos felt stronger, so it might be easier for me to connect with him.

I recall what the professor taught me about reaching another’s mind. How there will be something which will create a bridge between you—a spark—that, once accessed, will allow you to speak into the other’s mind. With Cadence, it was picturing her clearly in my mind’s eye and recalling the way she says my name. But with Anikêtos? I’ve never seen him, not even via the professor’s memories, and I have no idea what he looks like. No idea how to breach the veil between this world and his. I screw my eyes closed and think about the last time we spoke. His haughty almost-laugh. The pride in his voice when I addressed him by his full title: Anikêtos, heir of Herôs, seer of truths, and keeper of the cradle of magic.

Ophelia Hart.His gruff voice fills my head and sends a current of warmth shuttling through my body.

Ani? Is that really you?So relieved to have found him, I use his informal name, but he doesn’t seem to mind.

Why are you straying so far from your world without Alexandros to guide you, child? There are forces here who would use your mind if you are not strong enough to withstand them.

I suck in a deep breath and steel myself to say the words, stifling the sob which seems to have taken up permanent residence in my throat.I can’t reach him, Ani. I’ve tried but… I don’t know why because he could breach the veil when he was alive.

You are making no sense, Ophelia. Do not speak to me in riddles.His annoyance bleeds into his tone.

Alexandros is dead, Ani.

He is not!His reply is swift and said with so much conviction it rattles my bones.

My entire body comes alive, every nerve ending electrified with hope and expectation.

But we felt his loss. A little over three weeks ago now. Our bond was severed. We were told someone took his head.

Anikêtos snorts, and then his voice takes on a sinister edge that makes my toes curl.Who told you such folly, child? For I assure you, the Dragon Whisperer is not in the netherworld.

That spark of hope keeps growing, burning brighter and brighter.Could he be somewhere else? Is there another place people go when they die?

Not vampires. They either live amongst the mortals or they linger here in the darkness for eternity.

And you’re sure he’s not there?

He makes a noise between a growl and a snarl, but it effectively communicates his unwillingness to answer the same question again.

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