Page 73 of Dragon Unleashed

Alice picks up the vase she put my rose in, weighing it in her hand, contemplating my words. With every ounce of her strength she flings it against the wall. It smashes to pieces, water running down the wall and forming a puddle. The bedraggled rose petals float on the surface. It’s poetic, beautiful in its way.

Alice circles me. Without turning, I track her stilettoed steps cautiously. She’s taken the time to change into my favorite dress. I can salvage this.

“I’ll have her thrown out! You watch,” she snarls.

Alice sweeps up the reports on her desk, lobbing them at me.

Her going after Lorelei wasnotpart of my plan. Frowning, I step around the papers toward her. She’s casting around for something else to chuck my way, fat tears rolling down her cheeks.

I sidle up to her. She’s equally likely to throw herself at me as she is to rip my head off. Her life’s been all kinds of tough and it’s left her…unpredictable. I reach out and catch her hand.

“I’ll do it, Zephy. I’ll get rid of her, for you.” She sobs.

I rub my thumb over the back of her hand. She doesn’t pull away, or swipe at me. I tug her cautiously toward me, drawing her in until she’s nestled against my chest. Maneuvering us both onto her sofa, I pass a hand over my face.I can’t believe I’m using it for this.But I can’t let her go after Lore. And she will. If there’s anything I’ve learned about Alice Allegra, it’s that the passion I love in the bedroom translates to a vicious possessiveness outside it. Alice climbs into my lap, resting her forehead on mine.

“I have a secret to tell you, Alice. I need you to listen very carefully.”

Her big eyes widen, and she nods like an enthusiastic puppy, squirming in my lap, her dress riding up. My dick stays resolutely limp.Traitor. Alice has been good enough until now. How do I convince her this has nothing to do with Lorelei if my cock won’t even twitch for her?

I pull the stone out of my pocket, holding it gently in the palm of my hand. Taking Alice’s hand I place it on top of the stone, interlacing our fingers. Shutting my eyes, I whisper the words“Veritas lux.”

A glow emits from the stone, encircling our hands, winding up my arm, finally reaching my mouth. The tightness that always rests on my tongue loosens.

“The truth, Alice, is that I’m slave bonded.”

She gasps, nearly pulling her hand from mine.

“Wait, there’s more. The Virrey bonded me to Farrell. I don’t want any other ties. Not to you, not to anyone. I’m a free spirit, I can’t be tied down. I won’t. You’re going to have to accept it if you want us to see each other.”

Slowly the glowing light dies down and I prize our fingers apart. The abolition stone sits heavy and spent in my hand. I shove it back into my pocket and stare into Alice’s eyes. Tears well up there again and her lip trembles.

“Promise me this isn’t because you’re holding out for Lorelei?”

“I just told you the truth, Alice. I’m done being bonded to anyone. Even my allegiance.”

She rests her forehead against mine again and her breathing evens out.

“It’s awful, Zephyr, what the Virrey has done to you. To us.”

I still against her.To us?

“I won’t give up on you, Zephyr, I won’t give up on us. You do what you need to. I’ll be here.”

I bite my tongue until I taste blood.

If this keeps Alice off Lorelei’s back, I’ll play along.

Chapter Thirty-six: Lorelei

Bright Solstice decorations wind cheerfully down the staircase to the common room. The hada have worked through the night on this. The twinkling lights, the ivy weaving through everything, and the scent of cinnamon and clove…it’s perfect.

The only thing that would top this would be having family to go home to. And a home. It’s not like Seth was really family, notreallyrelated. Not even a half brother in the end. And there definitely were no Solstice celebrations at Frank’s. What happened to Seth? A tiny part of me is still curious about his life.

As I make my way down to breakfast, the decorations distract me from dwelling too much on my not-family. The place is stunning. The hada need a pay rise, if they even get paid… The tiny holly berries peeking out from between the leaves wrapped around the banisters have to be my favorite. Somehow they make my heart lighter, cheerier.

Shouting reaches my ears the moment I step outside. The Angel King’s handpicked professors are already running drills in the frosty grounds with the older students. Thank the goddessesit’s only the final year they take. I don’t hate Silas’ training anymore, but it isn’t at the butt crack of dawn.

A professor jogs past, his porcelain face perfect despite his pace. The new staff are all like him: angels. And vicious with it. Sweaty students rush past a good distance behind the professor, and my fangs prickle. They drop so quickly through my gums that my lip oozes blood before I can react. Shit. It’s been forever since I’ve fed. No Chano. No blood. We worked out feeding once a week was enough, but I’m far beyond that now.

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