I lean toward him, resting my head against his shoulder, twining my arms around his arm. I give him a slight squeeze, and he stiffens. I squeeze him again, this time in warning.
Morozov frowns as he watches us.
“If you have a problem with this, then I suggest you take it up with my father,” Wilder states. “But I think you will find you’ve overestimated your place in his esteem. He is not one to take kindly to questioning of his methods.”
Morozov looks like he wants to argue further, but Wilder suddenly stiffens. “Come on, Bronny,” he states, whirling. I loosen my grip on his arm, and as my hand slides down, he snags it, pulling me along behind him.
He sets a punishing pace, clearly wanting to leave this conversation as quickly as possible. I glance over my shoulder at Morozov, still standing there in the shadows as we head back deeper into the building.
I release his hand as soon as we round the corner. Wilder flexes his fingers, probably trying to remove the feel of my hand pressed against his. I know that my fingers tingle as if I’d been holding snow. “Never call me Bronny again,” I say stiffly.
He nods, his nose wrinkling with disgust. “Agreed, Eel.” He turns, looking over his shoulder. Probably to ascertain that the professor isn’t following us. “That was an uncomfortable conversation.” His jaw twitches as he turns back to me. “What is it going to take for him to stop being so suspicious?”
“It seems that whatever you are up to… it’s very big. It has the professor quite on edge.”
Wilder swallows, averting his gaze.
I release a sigh. “I had actually intended to eat outside.”
“It’s too sunny.” Wilder shudders. “I cannot join you.”
“I didn’t intend for you to join me.”
“And how would you explain that to the professor if you turned around and went outside without me after we just did our level best to convince him that we are happily engaged? He probably thinks we’re off to sneak an embrace or do something equally disgusting.”
I release a sigh, my shoulders slumping as I glance down at the bundle of food wrapped in a cloth and tied to my belt next to my spellbook. I suppose the world wouldn’t end if I didn’t eat with Sofarynn for one day.
“How long is this scheme of yours and Morozov’s going to take? When can we go back to normal?”
Wilder’s features darken as if a shadow has visibly crossed his face. “There’s never going to be a normal again if my father and Morozov have their way.”
I tilt my head as I study his features, trying to determine what caused that sudden mood shift. “And you? What would happen if you get your way?”
He releases a long sigh. “If I want to live a life without being hunted as a monster then I have no choice… my way is the same as theirs.”
I give my head a shake. “You’re a mystery, Wilder Zubkov.”
“You’re one to talk,” he mutters. “You’re no mere schoolgirl. I know that much.”
I feel myself smile. “We already have a relationship founded on a lie. Naturally, there would be some secrets to crop up.”
Wilder exhales. We walk in silence for a long moment before he grasps my arm. I pause, stiffening, but his hands are eerily gentle as he turns me toward him. His eyes, though red, are earnest as they look into mine. “I know that you don’t trust me, but I just want you to know that I would never let anything happen to you.”
“Never say never,” I reply, fingering my spellbook’s belt and the frayed ends of the cloth. “The world is a dangerous place.”
Chapter Fifteen
Wilder
Idon’t know if I am being paranoid, but it seems as if Bronwyn is avoiding me. Well, perhaps not avoiding me, but she is focused on her daily tasks of attending her classes, studying in whichever library I happen to not be in, and eating her lunch with some caretaker.
She acts as if we are not currently in a fake relationship.
How can I convince Morozov that I’m madly in love with her if she and I are never around each other?
I glance down at my drink, swirling the red liquid in my chalice. My friends think that it is wine. I like to pretend that it is wine because the truth is far more gruesome.
It’s blood. I brought vials of the loathsome liquid with me, taken from slaughtered livestock, because I cannot go more than a few days without sating my thirst.
