Page 305 of Blood & Betrayals

“I couldn’t tell him about the Torin stuff.” I exhale. “And I know who runsEverydayEmrys.”

Alice sits up so fast, I’m surprised her drink doesn’t spill. “Fucking what?!”

I nod and take another drink. Alice stares at me, waiting impatiently. “I can’t tell you, Al.”

“What do you mean you can’t tell me? You gotta!” Alice says in outrage.

“I can’t. I promised. Besides, the important thing is that I’ve found who it is, and I have the bot logs.”

“Okay, what did they show?” Alice asks, obviously still annoyed that I have top-tier gossip I’m not sharing with her.

“I’ll tell you tomorrow. I can’t face it tonight.” Alice’s scowl deepens, and I try to head off the inquisition I know is coming my way. “Tell me what you’ve been up to for the past few days.”

Alice eyes me grumpily but allows the change in subject. “Well, I was preparing for my exam in the greenhouses, and today I went to Draculea.”

“You did?” I ask, shocked she hadn’t told me sooner.

Alice licks the rim of her glass and nods. “They had a vote about me being queen or whatever.”

I gape at her. Why hadn’t she told me? “Al, I would have come with you if I’d have known.”

Alice takes a huge gulp of her drink. Whatever has happened, it is obviously bothering her more than she’s letting on. “My father orchestrated it,” she hisses.

I watch her face, trying to read her. “I take it that it didn’t go well?”

Alive exhales heavily. “He’s been madeStewarduntil I graduate. He’ll spend that time trying to subvert the Blood Call.”

“Okay. But nothing has been decided for sure?”

Alice drains her glass. “Yeah,” she says eventually after a prolonged, heavy silence. “I don’t know why I care.”

I shuffle closer. “You know I’ll support you, no matter what.”

A tear slides down her cheek. “I know. Fuck. They hate me. Why do I care?”

I lay my head on her shoulder, just being here with her. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.”

A comfortable silence falls between us, both of us processing. “He’s just… lovely,” I say, changing the direction of the conversation. I look down at the engagement ring, a tiny edge of unease sitting at the back of my mind. “This is fast, right?”

Alice hums thoughtfully. “Does it feel fast?”

I rub my thumb along the ring. “Well, I mean, we’ve only been together for what? Eight months?”

“Does it feel fast?” Alice repeats the question, obviously not satisfied with my answer.

“Sometimes,” I answer honestly. But I’m not sure if it feels fast because I never anticipated this being my life or because it actually is fast.

“Because you don’t want to marry him?” Alice asks, and I wince. Everything in me repudiates the question.

“I love Connor.”

“Then what’s holding you back?”

“I’m not holding back. I just… What if it doesn’t work out?” I ask with a deep sigh.

“Why wouldn’t it work out?” Alice asks.

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