15
Maxwell
I didn’t know if it would work. Hell, I didn’t even know if Adriel and Pierce would notice us sneaking out of the mansion, but if they did, they didn’t try to stop us.
When we were finally off Tenebrae property and back on the streets of Shadowcity, I let out a sigh of relief. Getting away from the sneaking and hiding felt good. I breathed in the night air, enjoying the coolness on my skin, like it was washing away all the lies.
“You know they’re gonna track us down if they realize we’re missing, right?” Theo said with a quirked brow. He made no attempt to turn back, so I figured he was still on board.
“Yeah. But maybe by then I can prove Adriel wrong,” I replied.
Theo grinned. “Big words. Hope you can pull it off, whatever it is.”
The plan was reckless--maybe even as stupid as Theo’s ridiculous fake chicken pox idea. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but I had to try.
And if it didn’t… Well, then at least I might not be around to feel embarrassed about it.
“So, where are you taking me?” Theo asked.
“My clinic.”
“Hot. Are we gonna do it there?”
I groaned and blushed when I realized there were still people milling around on the streets. “Keep it down!”
“Sorry.”
A thought struck me, and I pulled Theo close so that I was muttering in his ear. “Hang on. Tell me how you’re feeling right now, with all these people.”
He blinked. “What do you mean? I feel fine.”
“So, no overwhelming bloodthirst or anything?”
He frowned and furrowed his brow, looking a bit offended. “No. Geez, why does everyone have such little faith in me?”
“No, I don’t,” I said, touching his chest tenderly. “That just makes me a little more sure that this will work.”
We arrived at the clinic. Though it was closed for the night, I thankfully had a key to the building--as well as some of the more secure access areas. Theo wrinkled his nose as he stepped inside.
“This place isn’t as warm as the clinic at our place,” he commented. “It smells too much like alcohol and sterilization here.”
“Well, doctor’s officesaresupposed to be sterile,” I replied.
I flipped the lights on and navigated to the back room while Theo followed. I hesitated slightly before entering a room markedemployees only.Theo poked his head in.
“What are you looking for?” he asked.
“Er, nothing,” I said.
“Max…”
Anxiety prickled my skin. I faced him firmly. “Can you do me a favor and just wait in one of the rooms? Please?”
He frowned. “Sure, but are you okay? You seem a little jumpy.”
I tried to smile. “I’m conducting an experiment in which I can’t guarantee the outcome of my own safety, so I’m a bit nervous, yes.”
“Huh? What experiment?”
