Page 25 of Bound in Blood

A spark of hope flickers to life inside me.What if these dragons are lying, princess?

She gasps and gives me a look that could turn me to stone.Dragons do not lie!

Also true, Malachi adds.

That spark turns to an ember.

Xavier holds up his hand, halting the current direction of our conversation.Okay, so if he’s not dead, where is he? Why did we feel him die? And why did Giorgios tell us Lucian killed him?

Ophelia holds up three fingers.I don’t know. We didn’t feel him die; we felt the severing of the bond, like Alexandros felt with Lucian.She puts a finger down with each answer.And I don’t know.But I do know who might have some answers.

Giorgios has already lied to our faces, I remind her.

I’m not talking about Giorgios. I’m talking about Lucian. He shares Alexandros’s bloodline, now our bloodline. I think I could at least try.

Is she fucking serious? She wants to willingly connect her mind to that murderous psychopath’s?No fucking way, princess.

Both Xavier and Malachi echo my sentiment.

But don’t you want to know where Alexandros is? And what Giorgios’s game plan is?

I shake my head.Not at the expense of your safety, Ophelia.

She crosses her arms over her chest.Like it or not, we’re all in more danger here than we realized. If Alexandros is alive, which I know he is, then you’re all not going to die. You are not sick with the deterioration, and you are being deliberately poisoned. Giorgios brought us here to weaken us all, knowing my powers wouldn’t work properly. He lied about his own brother being murdered.

She has a fucking point.Xavier sighs with frustration, and I feel it in my own bones. Of course she’s right, but that doesn’t mean we have to like it.

She untangles herself from my arms and sits up straight, her shoulders rolled back and her eyes darting between us.So if I reach out to him, you’ll stay with me. Like hold my hand?Her voice sounds small despite her courage.

I take her hand and press her knuckles to my lips. Alexandros couldn’t reach his own son. Their bond was effectively severed, so it’s highly unlikely Ophelia will be able to make contact. Regardless, I’ll be here for her anyway.Every single step of the way, princess.

We’ve got you, sweet girl.

Always, Cupcake.

I pull her back against my chest and rest my lips on top of her hair, inhaling her ginger-scented shampoo, the one that was already in the bathroom here. I much prefer her candy one from home.And how about we discuss the fact that you can contact the netherworld and talk to fucking dragons?I’m so fucking proud of her I could burst.

She giggles.I know. Cool, right?

It’s better than cool. It’s fucking incredible. She is incredible. Astounding. Amazing. There aren’t enough adjectives in theEnglish language to describe her. And if anyone can find Lucian Drakos—and even more importantly, his father—then it’s our girl.

Chapter

Ten

OPHELIA

This is dangerous, Ophelia. What if he discovers where you are?The plea in Malachi’s voice makes me falter, but only for a second.

And what if he does, Kai?I ask.We already know Giorgios lied about Lucian killing Alexandros. We know he’s been alive all these years and has never harmed his fath?—

We also know he killed his own mom and his sisters just because they were elementai, Axl reminds me.

Dammit. They have me there.That was a long time ago. Perhaps he’s changed?

Xavier snorts.Doubt it.

Frustrated, I throw my hands in the air.And perhaps he’s still a psychopath who’s hellbent on feasting on my soul, but the reality is that we’re running out of options and time. You’re all getting weaker. We don’t know what’s making you sick. We don’t know where Alexandros is, and we don’t know what Giorgios’s plan is. One person who might have those answers is Lucian.Ifhe somehow reads my mind and figures out we’re here, we’ll deal with it, but I’m fresh out of any better ideas. How about you?

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