Page 261 of Halfblood Deceived

“I don’t know.” Aylana sighed and took Aella’s hands in hers. “Aella, you can tell us. We are your friends, and we want to help you.”

Aella bit her lip. “You have to swear not to tell Kamilla and Zeydan because they won’t let me be the bait to save Diana.”

Evan and Aylana blinked at her.

“Promise or I won’t tell you,” Aella insisted.

“I promise,” Aylana said, giving Evan a look.

He sighed. “Fine, I promise. But you’ll carry my death on your conscience. Because if something happens to Aella, Zeydan will murder me.”

“Nothing will happen to Aella,” Aylana insisted. “We’ll keep her safe.”

“Yes, we will,” said a deep, masculine voice.

They all turned to find Andreas entering the room, looking amused and scowly.

Aella blinked at him. “You are a vampire. Vampires aren’t supposed to be out in the sunlight. How do you manage to look amused but scowly? You are a very weird person.”

Evan snorted. “True.”

“Sunscreen, contacts, and tinted windows help,” Andreas said. “And you don’t get to call me weird, Aella. Now spill the beans before Zeydan comes back and doesn’t let you be bait. He found out about what happened, and he cut his business trip short. He’ll be here before night falls.”

Aella wrinkled her nose guiltily. “He shouldn’t have.”

“I agree,” Andreas said. “You are still in one piece, after all.”

Aylana glared at him. “Behave, Andreas.” She turned back to Aella. “Now, will you tell us?”

Aella sighed. She had no choice. The clock was ticking. Diana needed her, and she needed to be bait, and Zeydan and Kamilla wouldn’t let her. But maybe Aylana would let her because she was practical. And Evan might help because he was nice, and Andreas would because he was not nice.

“Diana didn’t do it, the blueberry muffins did,” Aella said.

“Of course they did,” Andreas said sarcastically. “Those evil blueberry muffins.”

Aylana growled at him. “I’m starting to understand why Mari throws staplers at your head.”

“Er, do you know any sobering spells, Aylana?” Evan asked, looking anxious now.

Aylana frowned. “Yes, but I’m not sure it would work. We need a detoxifying potion. I have a few at home. We should all get out of here.”

“I can’t be seen with you,” Aella said. “It will ruin the bait.”

The three supernaturals shared a look.

“Andreas,” Aylana called. “How good are you at hypnotizing people?”

The vampire grinned, canines flashing. “Very good.”

“Disturbingly good,” Evan agreed.

Aylana took a deep breath. “Alright, here’s the plan…”

Aella paid attention. Or tried.

And about half an hour later, they all left the hospital unseen.

So the plan must have worked.

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