“Are you going to answer any of my questions at all?” I snark at Blondie. I emerge from the bathroom to find her laying on the bed in front of a tray of food, a goblet of deep red liquid in her hands.
“You broke a vampire’s compulsion last night. Do you understand how impossible that is? Especially when it’s a member of The Five that’s doing it. They can even compel us regular vampires. That’s how strong they are.” Blondie takes a deep swig of her drink and I mull the thought over for a moment.
How did I do it?
I remember the crack forming in his concentration and how I could mentally tear it to shreds, but I didn’t physically do anything.
“So why would that cause a mess?”
Betty holds out a sheer, glittery dress for me to try on, the fabric adorned with silver sparkles and cut in a style that leaves very little to the imagination.
“Because there’s only one type of person who can do that.”
I turn back to Blondie and raise my eyebrows at her before pulling Knox’s T-shirt over my head.
Wait, why am I in his T-shirt? Did he dress me for bed?
I’ll add it to my list of things he’s already done to annoy me today.
“A descendant of a very powerful family,” she continues. “The same family that banished us down here.”
My brows knit together in thought over her insinuation. “What do you mean? I’m not some special fucking chosen one.”
Am I? I know very little about my heritage. Mom never got the chance to tell me anything and I didn’t dare ask my aunt. I’ve never even jumped on the ancestry DNA bandwagon like everyone else has.
I was too busy chasing vampires.
“No time to explain. We need to get you out there, now!” Blondie clicks her fingers and I feel my hair pull itself back into a fancy updo. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to magic.
“You basically tell me I’m descended from a powerful family with the power to break a vampire’s compulsion and just expect me to—”
Blondie holds up her hand to stop me. “Everyone in this place has a different theory on who you might be and what your presence means to the vampire society that lives further underground. If you make it through this training, I’ll tell you everything afterwards.” She pats my shoulders.
I glance over at Betty, who gives me a reassuring nod.
“What do I have to do for the training?” I ask.
“This one’s easy. Just trust Knox.”
Easier said than done. And what does that even mean?
I’m so sick and tired of having no idea what I’m doing. I’m the kinda girl who likes a plan. I don’t cope well with curveballs. The bond does a backflip inside of me at the prospect of seeing Knox but I want to rip the damn thing out of my chest. If it’s even a tangible thing, that is.
Who fucking knows? Not me!
***
There are less of us queued up this time. I didn’t really realize how many people didn’t make it through the first training. Megan is in front of me, in full burlesque wear, complete with a deep red feather boa that just so happens to be the same shade as Knox’s eyes.
Ugh, why does everything remind me of that prick?
I take an unladylike bite out of the croissant Celeste shoved into my hand before leaving me to wait my turn.
Megan throws a disapproving side glance at me.
“What?” I ask with my mouth full.
“Nothing. I just find it hard to believeyouof all people managed to break Egor’s compulsion,” she snarks, one of her eyebrows rising up and disappearing into the curls that frame her face.
