Page 83 of Bound in Blood

And that is completely terrifying.

Chapter

Thirty-Seven

ALEXANDROS

“Alexandros.” A familiar voice rouses me from my sleep, and I blink at the apparition of Enora Green standing at the foot of the bed. For that is what she is—an apparition. I have seen enough of them to know.

Enora surely possesses such magic, but I have never known her to use it to contact me before, and that knowledge is enough to have dread settling in my stomach. “Osiris told me of your whereabouts, but only because it was a matter of grave urgency.”

Ophelia has been in regular contact with Cadence and Enora whilst we have been here, and although I am still wary of most of witchkind, I am certain I can trust them. The boys and Ophelia remain sleeping, and I slip out of bed and keep my voice low, careful not wake them. “What brings you here to me, filis mou?”

She glances around her, her physical form still back at Silver Vale. “I must be quick in case Giorgios detects this spell.” My dread turns to white-hot anger in the blink of an eye. “He is here, Alexandros. He told everyone you are a traitor to House Drakos and has taken control of the Ruby Dragons.”

“And President Ollenshaw and Eugene simply allowed it?”

“You know they are both unaware of his gross misdeeds. He is being very persuasive. Charming and convincing in that soothing way he has about him. But he has an army of Skotádi with him, Alexandros. They camp just beyond the woods at the base of Montridge peak. Osiris and some of his pack discovered them last night while hunting.”

“How many?”

“Hundreds. Perhaps one thousand.”

Giorgios’s powers of deception are much greater than I realized. How long has he been planning this, and more concerningly, how did I not know any of it? “A Skotádi army? Of what? Vampires? Demons?”

“Yes. Osiris detected warlocks too.”

“Witches?” I growl.

“Warlocks, Alexandros,” she bites back. I have always considered them to be the same species, for they are simply witches who use dark magic, but witches who abhor dark magic vehemently disagree with my stance. “I am sure Giorgios suspects Osiris and I know the truth. He has requested entry to Silver Vale twice since his arrival not twelve hours ago. I have refused, but I am not sure how much longer I can put him off. I am worried for my girls’ safety, filis mou.”

I close my eyes and take a few seconds to process what this means for everyone at Montridge. How long before Giorgios unleashes his Skotádi army? How long before he tortures anyone he suspects may be helping us and discovers where we are? Any concern I have for our allies and the thousands of innocent people at Montridge pales in comparison to my fear for Ophelia.

“I am worried for Ophelia’s safety too,” Enora says. “For all of you.”

Before I can reply, a warm hand on my forearm forces my eyes open. “Enora?” Ophelia exclaims. “Is that you?” Her delightis quickly drowned out by anxiety. “Why are you here? What’s wrong? Is it Cadence?”

“Everyone is well for now, sweet child. But Giorgios is here at Montridge.”

Ophelia gasps. “Then we have to go back. He’s looking for me, right?” She turns and faces me, her eyes clouded with fear. “They’ll all be in danger, Alexandros. We have to go back.”

“I must go,” Enora says before I can tell Ophelia what a terrible idea her returning to Montridge is. “But know this, Alexandros—he is somehow in possession of dark magic. Some of the darkest I have ever felt. I sensed it as soon as he set foot outside Silver Vale, and he knows I did. But still, he did not care to mask it.”

“Go, Enora. I will update you with our intentions as soon as we have discussed my return.”

Enora offers a tight smile before her form disappears.

“Yourreturn?” Ophelia asks, her voice low.

I am too tired for this argument, but there is no avoiding it. In fact, I have been anticipating it for days now. There have been many times when I considered simply running. Taking her and the boys and hiding, but every lesson I have learned in my long life tells me that plan is futile. “It is far too unsafe for you to return to Montridge and face him, little one. I will confront him alone.”

Her skin flushes pink and her hands ball into tiny fists. “The hell you will. We only just got you back.”

My frustration and anger boil over. Most of it is for my deceitful brother, but he is not here right now, thus Ophelia bears the brunt of it. “That is what will happen. I will find you a safe place to hide, and you will stay there with Elpis and the boys whilst Anikêtos takes me back to Montridge so I can deal with Giorgios.”

“The fuck we will.” Xavier joins the conversation, and a second later, he is standing beside us.

Before I can blink, Axl is with us too. “We go everywhere together, or we don’t go at all.”

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