Promised in Blood (Broken Bloodlines Book 2)
Promised in Blood: Chapter 21

Alexandros is pacing his study and runs a hand through his hair while muttering in Greek. We got back from Silver Vale a few moments after him, and he summoned us in here as soon as we set foot through the door. I’ve never seen him so rattled before, and it’s unnerving.

“I don’t understand why Meg having her heart ripped out would be an attempt to implicate you, Professor?” Ophelia says, her nose wrinkled in confusion. “Surely you are not the only vampire ever to have committed such a crime?”

He stops pacing and stares at her, and there is a look of something like regret etched on his face. But I know that can’t be right because my sire is made of granite. He is sure and iron-willed, leaving no space for all-too-human emotions like regret or guilt.

Alexandros’s eyes don’t leave Ophelia’s face. “To tear out a witch’s heart …” His tongue darts over his bottom lip. “In ancient times, witches believed that their hearts were the root of their power.” His eyes flicker over her face as though he’s searching for something. Her disapproval, perhaps? But our girl simply maintains that same curious expression she often has. “Like their elementai cousins, witches’ emotions have always been linked to magic. Therefore, even after their ancestors discovered that the heart was simply another vital organ, the heart remained a totem of a witch’s power for a long time. To remove their heart is to desecrate their body, and some believe this prevents them from taking their place amongst the cosmos after their death.”

“So by taking their heart, you also take their soul?” Ophelia asks.

He nods, his eyes still fixed on her. “That is why removing a witch’s heart is so barbaric and why it is considered too heinous a crime for most to be capable of.”

“But not you?” Her voice is little more than a whisper.

A low, instinctive growl rolls out of him, and before I can blink, he’s standing right in front of her, a large hand cradling her face. “No, not me. And make no mistake. I would do the same again if I had to.”

Unease permeates the room, so heavy I can taste it, but I can’t decipher it entirely. Perhaps because it is something I’ve never experienced before from Alexandros. I pay careful attention to the way his heart pulses a little faster than normal, his breathing a fraction shallower, his eyes imploring her. Is he seeking her approval? Or her forgiveness?

Ophelia’s heart rate picks up now, and I tune into her feelings, surprised at how much more easily I can do that since he bonded with her too. Perhaps it has something to do with her powers being unlocked, or maybe it’s because the five of us are one entirely connected unit. Whatever it is, I like it, and I don’t have the desire to dissect that any further right now. But she doesn’t disapprove of him. Not even a little. She feels sadness. His and her own. And she’s anxious too, much like the rest of us, but not because of anything he’s done.

“I hope you never have to” is all she says. She tips her head back, submissively displaying the pale skin of her throat.

The air grows thick with sexual energy as he runs the pad of his thumb over her lip. My brothers watch them every bit as intently as I do, and all five hearts in the room beat to the same steady rhythm, a cacophony of blood pulsing through each of us. The symphony of our bond. “Enora will cast new spells which will strengthen the protection at Silver Vale, and I will have her cast a similar incantation preventing anyone uninvited from entering this house too, but as we discovered today, they are not failproof. We will all need to be more cautious.”

He keeps his hand around Ophelia’s throat. “And you will no longer go anywhere on this campus unaccompanied.” She licks her lips but doesn’t reply. “Do you understand me?”

“Yes sir,” she whispers.

“Why do you think someone from the Order is interested in Ophelia?” Malachi asks, cutting through the uncomfortable silence. “Do you think this Nazeel knows what she is too?”

Alexandros sighs. “I cannot be sure. There are far too many unanswered questions, but we cannot discount the possibility that there are others who are aware of Ophelia’s powers. At least some of them.”

My frustration mirrors his. Unlike Malachi and Ophelia, I’m not naturally curious by nature. I have lived the last two hundred plus years operating on instinct. Taking what I wanted and following my sire’s lead without hesitation. But now I replace myself plagued by questions that have no easy answers. One thing I am sure of, however, is that my pink-haired princess is at the center of it all.

She inhales a shaky breath. “Do you think what happened to Meg might⁠—”

“I will never allow anyone to hurt you,” Alexandros says. He rests his forehead against hers. “We would all die to protect you.”

Xavier, Malachi, and I voice our agreement. She sniffs, and a fat tear rolls down her cheek. “I don’t want any of you to be hurt because of me. For anyone to be hurt because of me. Meg was …” She chokes on a sob.

“You are not responsible for any actions other than your own, Ophelia Hart,” Alexandros says, his tone so authoritative that it leaves no space for challenge. “Promise me you will always remember that.”

She sniffs again, and he swipes a tear from her lip. “I promise.”

“I have to go speak with the faculty heads.” His voice is steeped with regret, and he glances between Xavier and Malachi. “You two will stay with Ophelia.” He checks his watch and looks at me. “You will accompany me.”

I’m torn between my sense of responsibility and my desire to stay with Ophelia and comfort her, but while Xavier, Malachi, and I are all commanders of Ruby Dragon, I am the unofficial leader, and I don’t underestimate the importance of what he’s about to do. There is a fine balance between curating allies while still keeping Ophelia’s identity a secret, and I’m honored that he trusts me enough to allow me to stand by his side.

But I feel Xavier’s acute frustration at not being chosen. He is no doubt as capable as I am, and it’s too bad his fiery temper all too often lets him down. His rage simmers beneath the surface, but he keeps a lid on it, his blue eyes fixed on Ophelia. “Come here, Cupcake.”

Alexandros releases his grip on her, allowing her to go to him, and Xavier wraps her in his arms. Seeing the way she nestles against his body makes me jealous that he gets to stay behind.

“We will update you with any pertinent information upon our return,” Alexandros says stiffly before striding from the room. I give my girl an all-too-brief kiss before I hurry out after him.

The tension in Alexandros’s classroom is so thick, I could pierce it with my fangs. The various society leaders sit in the front two rows, their eyes focused on the front where Alexandros stands alongside Osiris and Enora. Anxiety and suspicion radiate from the faculty heads with an intensity that makes my mouth dry. What if they ask too many questions about Ophelia? What if they suspect?

Relax, Axl. Do you think I would ever allow them to learn of who she is before we are ready?

I know you wouldn’t. They just look so fucking suspicious of us.

As they should be. We called them to a clandestine meeting immediately after the president called a last-minute faculty meeting.

“What is this about?” Nicholas Ashe is the first to voice what everyone else is undoubtedly thinking. As the faculty head of Onyx Dragon, our biggest rivals, he’s the last person I’d trust with any secrets. But Alexandros is right. If there is a threat to nonhumans on campus, they need to be given the information necessary to protect their students.

Enora motions for Alexandros to take the lead, and he steps forward. “Some time last night, a young Silver Vale witch was killed in her bed. She was found this morning with her heart torn from her chest.”

A chorus of gasps and curses ripples around the room. Professor Collins from Iridium Vale sobs loudly.

“I am aware of only one vampire known for tearing out the hearts of witches,” Nicholas says, his beady eyes twinkling with amusement. He’s such a fucking prick.

Alexandros levels him with an icy glare, and Nicholas heeds his warning and leans back in his seat, but the seed of suspicion has been planted, and now nine pairs of questioning eyes are focused on the professor.

“Nobody said it was a vampire who killed Meg,” I say, unable to resist leaping to his defense. Nicholas bares his teeth at me, and I would love nothing more than to tear his throat out. It might provide some welcome relief for all the pent-up emotions hurtling through my body. Too bad it would also earn me a reprimand from Alexandros and the other society heads, so I refrain, shoving my hands into my pockets.

You are here only to observe and learn, Axl, Alexandros reminds me through our bond, but his tone isn’t harsh. In fact, I think I hear his appreciation.

“There is no suggestion that Alexandros was involved, Nicholas,” Enora says, shooting him a withering look. “If you would allow him to continue, he will enlighten you all further.”

Nicholas grinds his jaw, but he doesn’t speak again, and the next voice to fill the room is Alexandros’s. “We know very little about the attack so far. We do not know what creature killed the girl, or their reason for doing so, but we do know that it appeared to be an attempt to implicate me.”

There’s another round of grumbles and curses, but most of them are now in support of my sire, who despite his ruthless and cold reputation, is highly respected among his colleagues.

“Is there a reason why Silver Vale was targeted? Why Meg in particular?” the head of Gold Vale asks.

“Are all witches at risk?” her counterpart from Iridium chimes in, which is the catalyst for a barrage of questions.

“Are our students safe?”

“Do we need to do anything about the humans?”

“What does this have to do with the wolves?”

“Are all vampires implicated or only Ruby Dragon?”

My ears ring. So much heightened emotion in one room is overwhelming, and I struggle to keep a lid on my temper. Why can’t they just listen?

“Enough!” Alexandros barks, and the room falls silent.

“We do not know why the witch was targeted.” He lies with such ease that not even the most well-trained eye could pick out a hint of falsehood in his expression or body language. I had almost forgotten how skilled he is in the art of deception, and I must admit that it’s impressive to see him in action. “Nor whether there was a definite attempt to implicate me or any other vampires, or whether it was a purely random attack.”

“Only a powerful being could break one of Enora’s protection spells and enter that house uninvited,” Professor Collins says.

There are mumbles of agreement.

Alexandros clears his throat. “That brings us to our other suspicion. We believe dark magic was used.”

Another chorus of gasps, mostly from the witches. “H-how can you possibly know that?” Professor Collins asks.

“I am not here to reveal my methods, Raquel,” he says, protecting Enora without having been asked to. Again, I’m struck by their obvious deep friendship which I was entirely unaware of. “My intent is simply to alert you all to the possibility that Skotádi have breached the grounds of this campus. And if so, then all of our houses are potentially at risk. So do what you need to strengthen your perimeters and protect your students.”

“The Skotádi? Are you sure?” This question comes from the youngest of the Crescent Society heads, James Black.

Alexandros scowls. “We cannot be sure of anything yet. That is why we are only warning you and not bringing this to the attention of Dr. Ollenshaw.”

“So you’re keeping Ollenshaw out of the loop?” Professor Morrone from Opal Dragon raises his eyebrows.

“Do you think it wise to alert the university president to a potential Skotádi threat, Phillipé?” Alexandros asks.

“Ollenshaw is a fool. He would have the entire campus under lockdown and in a state of panic before the day is out,” Nicholas declares, and for the first time I can recall, I replace myself agreeing with the head of Onyx Dragon.

“We all know he is little more than a figurehead,” one of the Crescent leaders adds.

“Useless,” someone else mutters.

Professor Benedictine, head of Lapis Dragon Society, stands. “Everyone knows that the true power of this school sits within this room. I agree with Alexandros. There is no need to alert the rest of the faculty at this time. Mass hysteria is not productive for any of us.”

“Wouldn’t want to lose access to those tasty snack bags of yours if the humans got a sniff that their kids may be in danger, huh?” James Black says, folding his arms and grinning.

“James!” Osiris warns his counterpart, but Alexandros has already moved, and he stands directly in front of the young wolf. He cracks his neck, and the room falls deathly silent.

“My family built this university before your grandfather was even a pup. It exists for the benefit of all nonhuman species who wish to seek refuge here, you insolent little fuck.” Each word is sharp and colder than ice, and the wolf’s face blanches, but he has the audacity to growl anyway. “That is why each society bears a part of my family crest. Should you feel like challenging the status quo here, then I would be more than happy to discuss it with you in full when I have more time.”

James drops his head, avoiding my sire’s eyes. “My apologies, Alexandros. I spoke out of turn.”

Without acknowledging his apology, Alexandros addresses the room once more. “You will each do whatever is necessary to ensure the protection of your house. We will keep you abreast of any new developments as they come to light. In the meantime, we will attend Jerome’s faculty meeting. We will assure him that our defenses are being fortified and that this was a random attack. There will be no mention of the Skotádi.”

It’s a command, not a question, and everyone in the room knows it. Everyone voices their agreement, but there is still a small undercurrent of suspicion rippling through a few people in the room. I can’t help but worry about Ophelia and how long we’re going to be able to keep her secret.

“I was hoping to speak with you in private, Alexandros.” President Ollenshaw’s tiny eyes narrow further as he regards me with disdain.

“There is nothing you cannot discuss with me in front of my sireds, Jerome. I trust them implicitly, as should you.”

I roll back my shoulders and look the president in the eye, pride swelling my chest.

Jerome gives a furtive glance around, but most of the faculty members have already left the English lecture hall, and only a few stragglers congregate near the coffee machine in the small kitchenette in the corner of the room. “You seem convinced this was a random attack on Silver Vale.” His voice is little more than a whisper.

“Why are you speaking in such hushed tones, Jerome? This is what we just discussed openly in front of all of our colleagues, is it not?”

He purses his lips. “But I have … well, there are parents and the school board to answer to.”

“A fact of which I am well aware.” Alexandros sighs. “But what exactly would you tell them, Jerome? That a student was murdered? To what end? This was an isolated incident, one which we will ensure will not happen again.”

Ollenshaw smacks his lips together, and his brow pinches in a frown. “But was it? Or is there more to this witch’s death than we have been led to believe?”

Alexandros scowls. “Enora told you what occurred. If you do not believe her account, I suggest you take that up with her rather than me.”

Jerome sputters, seeming to choke on his own breath. Enora Green is a powerful witch from an even more powerful family, and Jerome is clearly averse to getting on her bad side. “I did not say I don’t believe her account.”

Alexandros clenches and unclenches his fists beside me, and my annoyance mirrors his. There’s a pink-haired elementai I’m anxious to get home to. I felt her pain all too acutely when she learned of Meg’s death. Guilt threatened to overwhelm her when she thought herself responsible. Her expression when she saw Cadence at Silver Vale and the empathy that seeped from her pores at her friend’s distress told me what I already know. She makes me feel more than I’ve ever felt in my life, even as a human, yet it is only a fraction of what she experiences. I need to hold her in my arms and do whatever I can to take away her pain.

“Do what you feel is most appropriate, Jerome. But know that if you disrupt the delicate balance of this institution by encouraging hysteria and panic amongst the students and faculty without good reason, then there will be consequences.”

Jerome swallows hard, visibly blanching. I suspect he is as aware as we are that he holds no real power within these walls—that he’s a figurehead and nothing more. And the man standing before him wields more power than he can even dream of.