Page 24 of Bound in Blood

That was clearly said for Giorgios’s benefit. There’s something going on that I am unaware of. Before we can go look for our girl, her chirpy voice fills our heads.I have something really, really important and really, really good to tell you all.

What is it, princess?

I need to see you to tell you. Like look at your faces and tell you.

What the hell has been going on this morning? I sure as fuck pray her news is as exciting as she’s making it sound, because I am fresh out of rays of hope. Xavier and Malachi look as confused as I feel.

Where are you guys?

Xavier shakes his head at me like he has no idea what her news could be.We’re in the den, but we’re headed to our room. Want to meet us there?

Yes!

Despite us growing weaker, our bond with Ophelia seems to have grown stronger here, and she was definitely feeling all kinds of perky.

“What do you think all that’s about?” I ask Xavier and Malachi as we make our way upstairs.

“No idea, but it has to be some good news,” Malachi answers.

Xavier nods. “Yeah, she was way too happy for it not to be.”

Like a toddler must feel on Christmas morning, I’m unable to dampen the flurrying flakes of excitement building up in my stomach. I’m trying my hardest not to get too carried away with myself, but… “She did say it wasreallygood.”

Malachi bumps his shoulder against mine. “Really, really good.”

We feel Ophelia’s nervous energy way before she arrives at our room, almost like it’s bubbling out of her. She bursts in like a tornado and closes the door behind her.

“What the hell is it, sweet girl?” Malachi asks.

She jumps onto the bed and sits cross-legged between the three of us, her lips pressed tightly together.Alexandros is alive.She speaks through our bond, but it doesn’t make her squeal of pure joy any less pronounced.

I must have misheard. That news is much too good to be true. I take her hand in mine and stroke a fingertip over her racing pulse point.What did you say, princess?

Alexandros. Is. Alive.She says each word slowly, her blue eyes sparkling.

There’s no way. I blink at her, too scared to believe it’s real in case she’s wrong.

Xavier turns her head toward him.How do you know this, Cupcake?

The dragons, she announces proudly.

Huh?The dragons?

She nods, bouncing up and down on the bed.

Malachi takes her free hand and laces her fingers through his.Take a breath, sweet girl, and tell us everything.

She explains to me how she managed to speak with Cadence earlier, and then she tells us all about her conversation with the dragons. By the end of it, the three of us are staring at her with our mouths open, wanting desperately to believe he’s still alive but unable to bring ourselves to.

I knew you wouldn’t believe me.A tear rolls down her cheek.

I brush it away before pulling her into my arms. I fucking hate seeing her cry, but this is all way too much to take in. My inner cynic reminds me she could be mistaken. Before we get our hopes up and cruelly dashed again, we need to make sure she’sabsolutely sure.First of all, princess, I believe every single thing you just told us.

What’s hard to wrap our heads around is that he’s still alive, and not because we don’t want to believe. But if we do and he’s not…Xavier’s throat works as he swallows.Then we lose him all over again.

But I swear to you he is. If he’s not in the netherworld, he cannot be dead. That is an irrefutable truth.She looks to Malachi.Please, Kai, tell them it’s true.

Wincing, Malachi nods.Every single thing we know about the netherworld says it’s true.

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