Page 17 of Bound in Blood

A cloud of sorrow passes over her face for only a second before being replaced with her usual look of steelydetermination. “No. Not yet, but I will. There must be something, mustn’t there?”

He taps his steepled fingers against his lips and hums. Finally, he says, “I believe there must, if only we could be certain of where to find it.”

Malachi coughs. “Well, if you could find it real quick, we’d sure appreciate it.”

I lean forward in my chair and watch Giorgios intently. “Do you not think it’s odd we all started to get sick at exactly the same time?”

“Perhaps.” He shrugs. “I have not been in the company of vampire brothers who have lost their sire before, so I cannot say for certain.”

“You’ve never come across groups of vampires who’ve lost their sire before?” My tone is accusatory, but I don’t care. He’s over two thousand years old, and I don’t buy it.

“Groups, yes. Many groups. But not families such as yourselves. Alexandros raised you like brothers, and I am sure it must have an impact on your…” He pauses like he’s searching for the word. “Deterioration.”

Fucking asshole.

Malachi shifts in his seat, jostling Ophelia on his lap. “But I thought age and strength were the determining factors?”

“Usually, yes. But given how you have all started to weaken at the same time, then perhaps it is affected by more than that. Perhaps it is the strength of the bond which determines the speed of deterioration. It is not an exact science, so we simply cannot know for sure. But we must learn. I have arranged to meet with an ancient seer in five days’ time.”

I sure as fuck hope that’s the good news he’s presenting it to be. “Why five days? Can’t you transport straight to this person?”

He shakes his head. “She refuses to meet with me anywhere but the country of our birth, and it will take her time to clear herschedule and travel to Greece. But I am hopeful she will have some of the answers we seek.”

“Please, can we come with you?” Ophelia asks. “I’m sure Enora will give you the spell if you ask her, and we can tap into my power. Elementai magic is similar to witch magic, only channeled differently. I’m sure we can make it work.”

“There’s no way we’d risk your safety like that, princess.” I lock eyes with Giorgios. “But I could go with you.” Both Malachi and Xavier immediately add their willingness to participate too.

Giorgios narrows his deep-blue eyes and pauses for a few seconds before shaking his head. “We cannot be absolutely sure it would work without a powerful witch’s spell. If the circumstances were so dire that we had to try…” He shakes his head again. “I am confident you are powerful enough, Ophelia, but Axl is right, we cannot risk you. Any of you.” He indicates all of us with a nod. “I know our relationship has been somewhat strained, but please believe me when I tell you that I am doing all I can to protect each of you. I will find a cure for the deterioration, and I am hopeful the seer will point me in the right direction. Besides, she does not welcome strangers.” He huffs a small laugh. “It took some convincing to persuade her to meet with me.”

My attention is drawn to the other side of the room by a clearing throat. “Sire, you are needed in the courtyard,” Imari says.

Is that a look of relief on his face? Maybe he summoned her here with a fake emergency to avoid further pressure to take one of us with him.

We trust him, don’t we?Ophelia asks through our bond after he leaves the room.

Let’s see what he has to say after his visit to the seer, Malachi says.

I give my agreement.

The guy has been nothing but accommodating since we got here, but… I don’t know.Xavier’s brow furrows.Something just doesn’t feel right about the way we all got sick.

Ophelia shifts on Malachi’s lap, her book clasped in her hands.Wait? Do you think he’s somehow making you sick?

What, like poisoning us?I ask.

Xavier huffs and flops down on the sofa beside Malachi and Ophelia.I’m saying we shouldn’t rule anything out. He could be doing all he can to try to find a cure for us, or he could be giving us poisoned blood. He’s always been very generous with his supply. And outside of the people in this room, I truly don’t know who or what I trust anymore.

Malachi wrinkles his nose like he’s deep in thought.You really think he’d do that, though? I mean, why risk it when the sickness will get us all at some point eventually?

Speed up the process?Xavier shrugs.Get Ophelia all to himself a little faster?

Ophelia’s sadness is profound, but she masks it quickly. Malachi presses a kiss against her forehead. “You okay, sweet girl?”

She nods. “Yeah, it’s just a lot to think about.”

“Yeah, it really fucking is.” Xavier sighs. “My fucking head hurts.”

My mind is racing with questions and suspicions and doubts, and I would give anything to hear Alexandros’s calm voice. The way he could cut through the chatter and help me focus was a skill I didn’t realize I’d miss so much.Let’s think this through. If we’re actually considering the possibility that Giorgios is poisoning us to make us get sicker faster, why? What would be his endgame?

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