Page 96 of Bound in Blood

“I know you have never truly trusted your cousin,” Vasilis says, placing a hand on Alexandros’s shoulder. “But he is a loyal member of House Drakos. He will not disobey either of us.”

Alexandros screws his eyes closed. “I do not sense any deceit in him, but I am unsure whether I can trust my instincts any longer.”

“Your brother fooled us both. Do not let his betrayal make you doubt your gifts; they outweigh his by legions.”

Alexandros nods and looks back to Axl. “And what of Lapis and Opal?”

“They’re fully on board,” Axl answers. “Both Professors Benedictine and Morrone, as well as their thirty members between them.”

Osiris studies the makeshift model. “We have a dozen of our toughest wolves at your disposal, and James Black is willing to lead them.”

“James Black?” Alexandros says, undoubtedly as surprised as I am to hear that the recently appointed head of the Callisto Crescents has volunteered for such a role.

Osiris nods. “I know he can be argumentative at times, but he is a good man from a good family. We can count on him.”

“He is strong and will be an asset in battle,” Sienna says with a firm nod, and her father shoots her a glare. There’s definitely something more going on there, but now isn’t the time to wonder about family drama.

Alexandros paces around the table, his eyes narrowed.

“It seems we are vastly outnumbered,” Vasilis says, a distinct gleam in his eye. “But I do enjoy a challenge.” He winks at me, and I can’t help but grin back. I think I’m really gonna like him.

Alexandros rubs a hand through his beard as he goes on scrutinizing the model. “We are, but we have something Giorgios does not. Ophelia and two dragons.”

As I knew she would, Ophelia blushes.

Alexandros beckons me forward. “What would you suggest our strategy be, Xavier?”

Well, fuck. Is he really asking me to weigh in when so much is at stake? I glance at Axl. We filled him and the others in on the whole Chosen One–prophecy deal as soon as they got back, and it spooked the hell out of him as much as me. But he simply gives me a reassuring nod.

I roll back my shoulders and clear my throat. “Axl and I head straight for Malachi and get him out of there. If we can trust Eugene, then you let him know when we’re there so he can get us inside. But as soon as we step foot in the house, Giorgios will know we’re here, and he’s gonna deploy his army.”

I slide the condiment bottles across the table from the end of the makeshift woods to the edge of campus. Then I move around the table and pick up the salt and pepper. Strategy has always been a strength of mine, but until now, I’ve only ever used it for the Trials. Being given this much responsibility is new, and it’s a little fucking terrifying.

You are doing well. Go on, Alexandros urges me.

“So I think we set up a perimeter here.” I point to the quad. “Then we have the mountain at our backs, and we can set up a solid defense against attacks from the woods as well as maintain an exit over the mountain that no one else has because we have fucking dragons.” I’m specifically referring to getting Ophelia out quickly should we need to, but nobody in this room needs me to voice that. We all know her safety is our most important objective. And I know her well enough to know she would oppose such preferential treatment.

When there are no complaints, I go on, placing the salt and pepper in front of my cereal box model of Zeus Hall. “With Anikêtos and Elpis at the rear, burning anything that gets to the edge of the quad to a crisp, we can have Ophelia, Enora, and Cadence directly in front, using whatever magic they have at their disposal and holding the line. And then everyone else will fan out across the quad, picking off any stragglers who get near.”

Vasilis stares at me, his eyes even darker than Alexandros’s, and for a moment I wonder if I just fucked that whole thing up. But he gives me a small nod, and I feel a rush of pride. The feeling is magnified a hundred-fold when I feel Alexandros’s approval shining through our bond.

“Does anyone know where Giorgios is?” Alexandros asks.

Vasilis taps on the carton of eggs that represents our house. “If he is using your sired as bait as we suspect, then surely he will be at your house too. Therefore, you and I will accompany Axl and Xavier.”

Alexandros glances at Ophelia and shakes his head. “It is too much of a risk. Perhaps that is his intent. To leave Ophelia vulnerable without our protection.”

“But I’ll have Anikêtos and Elpis, plus Cadence and Enora.” She waves her hands in the air. “Not to mention all this magic, right?”

He shakes his head. “It is too dangerous. We do not know Giorgios’s plan for you yet, agápi mou.”

Ever since the discussion of the prophecy, he’s definitely been spooked. It’s hard to describe, but he isn’t his usual calm, assured self. I want to talk to him about what he’s feeling, but now is not the time. Whatever the reason, him being freaked out has me spooked too. He’s the rock here. If he crumbles, then what the fuck do the rest of us do?

So, what’s the real plan here, Professor?Axl asks.

We protect Ophelia at all costs. Whatever Giorgios’s plan is, I fear it is bigger than we suspected. She is the key.

So why don’t we just run?I ask the question I know we are all thinking.Get Kai back, grab the dragons, and go live on some tropical island somewhere?

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