Page 232 of Blood & Betrayals

“No,” I answer simply and more sharply than I mean to.

Thomas makes another note. “And you had no contact with any fae before arriving at Avalon, correct?”

I have to make a conscious choice not to react, not to betray my lie. “No,” I answer.

“And how would you describe your feelings toward other fae? You don’t seem to resemble them…” He looks me over, and once again, I feel my skin burn and itch in the wake of his gaze. “Friendly? Hostile?”

“Completely indifferent,” I grind out, though I try to keep myself as relaxed as possible.

Thomas raises a brow at me. “So you felt nothing seeing two fae killed?”

“That’s… I didn’t say that,” I stammer, caught off guard. “And that wasn’t your question.”

“You said you felt indifferent towards fae,” Thomas pushes on, and I feel the headmaster getting more irritated beside me. “The three bodies found have been fae.”

“That doesn’t mean I wasn’t just as affected by the murders as everyone else.”

Thomas watches me for another long moment before writing something else down and flipping through a few pages of hisnotebook. “Your boyfriend found the first body, correct? A Mister Connor Morningstar?”

I tense again at the mention of Connor. I want to keep him as far away from this as possible. “Correct.”

“It seems these murders are related to you,” he states, looking back up at me. “Have you had any unusual encounters?”

“Encounters?” I ask.

“Contact with someone you don’t know, perhaps.” Thomas pauses. “Strangers reaching out to you. Cryptic messages?”

“No.” The word slips out, and I don’t fucking know why I don’t tell them about the stranger. I’ve not heard from him in weeks. He left me, and he’s probably not even around anymore, so why shouldn’t I mention it now? What if it is helpful to the investigation? Why do I continue to protect him?

“You’re sure? Anything would help.”

“No strangers,” I say. Again, the words are almost compulsive, like a deep instinct.

Thomas watches me for a long moment before he nods and then stands up. “I’ll be in touch.”

The headmaster still has his arms crossed across his chest, his brows drawn. He follows Thomas to the door, nodding at me before he leaves, closing the door behind him.

I’m about to go to Alice’s room to debrief her when someone else knocks on the door. I open it to see Connor’s concerned face. “Babe?”

I smile at him, relaxing immediately. “Hi, big guy.”

“Why was the headmaster here?”

“Oh, I was just being questioned about the murders. I guess because I’m fae.” Connor looks even more concerned, and I know I desperately need to distract him. “Do you like my dress?” I ask, twirling for him.

Connor watches me, his eyes darkening. “Is this for me?”

I nod. “As is what’s underneath.”

Connor stalks toward me, and I back toward my room. “Well, then. Let’s skip dinner,” he growls, pouncing.

92

Summer

Iwake early, relieved to escape the nightmare. My mind had decided to relive the interrogation with Thomas, only this time, the three deceased fae sat behind him. Their dead eyes stared accusingly at me while his penetrating gaze blistered my skin.

I kiss Connor on the cheek and climb out of bed. Quietly, I change into my gym clothes and head out.

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