Page 13 of Lethal

I wipe a tiny tear from the corner of my eye. “Thank you.”

“Now. That’s enough from me. You’ve been welcomed here, and you now know that you’re wanted at the academy. I’ll put you in a temporary room for the night. Tomorrow, you’ll get settled with your new roommate.”

My spine straightens.Roommate. I guess it makes sense at a boarding school, but with everything else going on, I hadn’t thought about that possibility.

“You don’t need to go to lessons tomorrow,” Octavia continues. “Instead, you’ll get a tour of the castle and island. We want you to be able to find your way around. It’s a little disorientating at first.” She smiles. “Your room for tonight is right next door. It’s all arranged for you.”

She stands, steps to the far wall, and opens a door that leads into an adjoining space. Tentatively, I follow her through and gaze around. The walls are stone with those flickering candles in the alcoves. A four-poster bed with what appears to be sumptuous silk sheets sits in the centre of the room. I gape at the sight of it. If I’m going to be sleeping in beds like this for the rest of my time here, I don’t care if I have to have a roommate.

“You will have a wonderfully peaceful sleep tonight. Trust me.” The mischievous smirk she gives me makes me wonder if there’s some sort of magic involved.

I grab my luggage and wheel it in, thanking her for setting everything up for my arrival. Soon, the door is closed, and Octavia goes back to her own chambers. I’m alone, surrounded by suitcases, next to a four-poster bed. I let out a long, rugged sigh and flop down on the soft sheets.

“Holy moly,” I whisper. “That is some serious comfort.”

Before digging out my pyjamas, I decide to reply to Carrie and let her know all about the craziness of the day. I fire off a few messages then inspect the rest of the room. There are windows looking out at the island, but there’s not much to see. The candles make the space both cosy and spooky. Maybe that’s just the vibe of this place.

The magical flames flicker underneath portraits of grim-faced men with pale, illuminous skin.Vampires?

They’re beautiful people. Cheekbones so sharp they could cut glass, with barely an ounce of buccal fat between them all. Green and grey eyes stare down from the walls, above strong, straight noses.

I’m pulled out of my observations by a soft knocking sound that makes my blood freeze. Then I realise it’s coming from Octavia’s room, not mine. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I walk over to the adjoining door to listen.

“She’s here, then,” someone says. It’s a man’s voice, unfamiliar.

The next voice is Octavia’s. “Yes. She’s here.”

“It’s a mistake, you know,” the man says.

“Time will tell,” Octavia retorts. “She’s been called. She had to come. Unless you would let her perish out in the human world.”

“I’m just saying that this could all go horribly wrong. You know her history. You know what her family did.”

“I do.” Octavia lets out a heavy sigh. “Every family in the aura world has had a difficult past. What am I supposed to do? Expel them all? Let nothing but ghosts haunt the corridors at Dracul Castle?” She snorts. “Come on, you know better than that. Kira Belvedere is no more of a threat than any of the other royals here.”

“Well, I hope you’re right. We don’t even know what her powers are yet.”

“Neither does she,” Octavia says.

“And the Belvederes are former royals. That family has a history, you know. A complicated one. Besides, what if she—”

“She won’t. She doesn’t know.” I hear her give a deep, saddened sigh. “It’s certainly going to be a baptism by fire for the girl. Truth be told, I pity her.”

I step away, their words burning me.

Pity?

What the hell is in store for me at this place?

Eight

I wantto replay the conversation in my mind, but as soon as my head hits the pillow, I fall into a deep, dreamless sleep. When I wake, it takes me a moment to figure out where I am. And then it all comes flooding back. My cheeks are wet with tears by the time I peel myself away from the bed.

There’s a bloody annoying phrase Dad repeats all the time:When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.I’ve totally rolled my eyes every time. But now I find myself muttering it as I step through to the connecting bathroom for a shower.

The shower comes on. “Decent water pressure in a castle? This must be magic,” I mumble aloud.

For the next few minutes, I let the water run over me, leaning into it with pleasure. It washes away the salt of my tears.

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