Page 8 of Bound in Blood

“They’re here!” Malachi’s relieved voice greets us, and before I can blink or ask him why he’s surprised, Ophelia and I are wrapped up in his arms as Giorgios tactfully steps aside. Axl comes running into the room not a second later, and the four of us take a moment to enjoy being reunited. We were apart for less than a minute, but it felt like so much more.

“Are you okay, princess?” Axl asks. Her usually flushed cheeks are much paler than normal.

She presses one palm to the side of her face. “I feel a little lightheaded.”

“Here, sit down.” Axl drags over a chair, and I take the opportunity to survey my surroundings. Six arched windows line two walls of the large dining room, but all that can be seen through them right now is pitch-black darkness. A massivechandelier hangs above the long dining table, its bulbs emitting a soft orange glow.

The fireplace, complete with blazing, crackling logs, occupies the far wall, and a worn leather armchair sits beside it, a pile of leatherbound books nestled at its base.

When I look back to Ophelia, she’s blinking fast. I drop to a crouch and feel her forehead, noting her clammy skin. “What’s wrong, Cupcake?”

Her bright-blue eyes focus on mine. “I feel a little, I don’t know… weak.”

I look to Giorgios. “Is that a side effect of the transportation?”

He shrugs, coming closer to her. “Perhaps. Or maybe the thin mountain air is making her feel out of sorts. You will get used to it in a day or two.”

“No.” She shakes her head. “I feel weak—like my powers. They don’t feel the same.”

“Oh.” Giorgios purses his lips and glances at the fireplace.

My hackles rise and a growl rumbles in my throat, similarly to Malachi and Axl. Something’s wrong. Every one of my senses is hyperalert, and I’m about ready to pounce on Giorgios and tear out his heart. “What do you mean,oh?”

He shakes his head and sucks air through his teeth, appearing both contrite and annoyingly smug at the same time. “I assure you I simply did not think,” he offers.

I advance toward him, hands balled into fists and teeth bared. The fragile hold I’ve had on my temper since the moment we losthimthreatens to boil over. “Didn’t think about what?”

“Just because I swore an oath to your sire to look out for you does not mean I will not take your head for your insolence, Xavier.” Giorgios bares his fangs. “Do not forget who I am.”

“Giorgios, please?” Ophelia says, and that’s enough to direct his attention from me to her. “Xavier is only protecting me. Tellme why my powers are weakened.” There’s a tremor in her voice that I hate to hear. We’ve made a grave mistake in coming here.

“My fortress is built upon the ruins of an old monastery, Ophelia. It has never caused an issue for me before, because, of course?—”

“Vampire magic is not affected by hallowed grounds,” Malachi finishes for him.

The confusion serves to tamp down my anger at least. “Hallowed grounds?”

“Witch and elementai magic are not as powerful on holy ground. It’s something to do with the sacred energy,” Malachi explains, and I vaguely recall being told that before. I wish I paid more attention to all this stuff when I had the chance.

“And I’m sure there are few places more imbibed with sacred energy than a former Tibetan monastery.” Axl snorts. “Yet you didn’t think to warn us of that before we came here?”

“Because he knows there’s no way we would have brought Ophelia here if we knew,” I snap, wondering what the hell Giorgios’s game plan is here. I already know I don’t trust him.

Giorgios glares at me, his rage palpable, but it has nothing on mine. “That is not true. I did not consider the ramifications of Ophelia being an elementai. Time was of the essence. I simply wanted her where she is safest, and like it or not, that place is here. I promise you I do not intend any of you any harm.”

“You think she’s safest in a place where she can’t use her powers?” Malachi asks.

Giorgios removes his cloak and places it over the back of a dining chair. “They are severely lessened, not entirely useless.” He pulls a chair up next to Ophelia and takes a seat. “I promise you that you can still learn to control your powers, even when they are not at their strongest. In fact, it may be more beneficial to practice when they are weakened.”

Is he seriously trying to convince us this is a good thing? The more time I spend in his company, the less I trust him. “And what if she needs to protect herself? How the fuck is she supposed to do that if her powers are weakened?”

He trains his glare on me again. I seem to be adept at pushing all of his buttons—just like I could with his brother. I swallow down the despair brought to life at the thought of Alexandros.

“Should there be any danger to Ophelia within these walls, I would immediately take her somewhere safe before any harm could befall her. A place where she would be free to access all of her powers. Her safety is my utmost concern. No matter what else you refuse to believe, please believe in that.”

I crouch in front of Ophelia again and take her hands in mine while Malachi and Axl stand on either side of her.Let’s at least give him a chance, she implores us through our bond.

I grind my jaw, stopping myself from yelling out all the things I want to say about how wrong this feels, about not believing we should trust the man simply because he’s Alexandros’s brother. I’m angry and scared and grieving. But for her, I will give him a chance. One chance.You look tired, Cupcake.

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