Considering the church sat right above the New York secret Bloodwright Council, yeah, I get it. But of course those workers and Tiffany couldn’t know.
“That’s odd,” Dan thought aloud, his eyes darting between Alaric and me. “I wonder what the actual problem is.”
“Oh, they probably just misplace or forget things,” she replied easily. “I told the contractor we would keep working hours to daytime only and that if anything else goes missing, we will file a police report. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
Alaric’s hand reached under the table, taking my hand and squeezing it tightly, making me believe that he also thought there was something suspicious about what Aunt Tiffany had revealed. Maybe the Bloodwright safe haven wasn’t so safe after all.
When brunch finally ended, I excused myself by explaining that I was going to meet Sara-Kate at the library for a much-needed study session.
“Maybe you should reschedule,” Alaric said as he walked the three of us out the door toward Mr. Lewis, who had the car pulled around and ready. “You know, till tomorrow.”
I knew he was hinting at the fact that I still needed to undergo my initiation before I was considered protected or safe from my death mark. But I’d be damned if I was going to miss out on an afternoon of some normalcy with Sara-Kate before my entire world changed forever. Alaric said that after tonight, I’d want to be with him all the time, and right now, I wanted to relish the fact that I didn’t want to be with him. Not really, anyway.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” I replied, glaring up at him. “It’ll just be for a few hours and then we’ll hang out with your dad.”
Aunt Tiffany was under the impression I had dinner plans with Alaric’s father just as we had our get to know each other brunch when in reality, I was going to be part of a blood ritual that would essentially bind me body and soul to the charming Bloodwright mentor in front of me, but I don’t think she’d take that well.
Alaric was about to argue when Uncle Dan slapped his hand on his shoulder, winking at me as he said, “Why don’t you and I have some one-on-one time? I could show you my legal library since you are interested in law.”
“Oh, what a wonderful idea,” Tiffany beamed. “Come by our place, and then Mr. Lewis can drop you off at home before your dinner with Mari and your father.”
Alaric smiled tightly, nodding as he found himself trapped between Tiffany and Uncle Dan. “Of course, I’d love to.”
I smiled and waved as I started to walk down the street towards the library. “Bye! You guys have fun.”
I only got two blocks before a text pinged on my phone.
Tall, Dark & Grumpy ??
You will text me when you get there
and when you leave. Better yet
send me your location.
Mari
You’re not my Twinflame or
whatever yet. So no, I’ll keep
my privacy mine for now.
I shoved my phone into my jacket pocket, amazed at his audacity. I know walking around a concrete city with really old buildings probably wasn’t the best idea for someone like me, but I had my necklace and my ring. I could also still feel the thrumming of my newly awakened power beneath my skin.
Before we had left training yesterday, Alaric had taught me a simple protection ward that I could imbue into my skin. It wouldn’t last very long considering my half-awakened status, but it would be an extra layer of protection until tonight when I fully emerged as a bloodroot. Then we could continue to train without fear of the death mark.
My stomach suddenly felt like I had eaten rocks and not an expensive Michelin-star brunch as I subconsciously rubbed my left arm. I pushed the doors to the library open, making my way to the cafe on the third floor where I was to meet Sara-Kate. I found her huddled at a corner table, textbook and notebooks splayed open next to a giant cup of coffee she was currently guzzling. The sense of the ordinary was palpable—this is what my life should have been, meeting my best friend to study and hang out on a Sunday afternoon. And not prepare for a blood-binding ritual.
I sat down as she looked up, noting the dark bags beneath her tired brown eyes.
“Are you okay?” I asked. “You look exhausted.”
She rolled her eyes. “Happy Sunday Funday to you too.”
I laughed. “I’m sorry. It’s just, isn’t the whole point of the weekend to get some rest?”
She sighed heavily. “Yeah, it’s just not my weekend.”
