?Jullia subtly perks up as she watches Mavyn. Cautiously, she asks, “You think she can help?”
?Mavyn, still frowning, nods once. “If I can figure out how to get to her world so I can ask.”
?“Ask about what?”
?I don’t know when I stood or when I started walking over, but the lightning mage who asked her question flicks her gaze up to me with raised eyebrows.
?Turning to her classmates, I growl, “Get out.”
?None of them have to be told twice and they all quickly get their things and leave. Only Mavyn, who’s glaring at me, Callahan, Jullia, and her stupid boyfriend stay seated.
?It takes them all less than a minute to be up and out of their chairs, but I still wait for them to get on the elevator and actually exit the library before rounding the table and facing the pink-eyed girl.
?“How do you know about this queen who can make the forgotten remembered?”
?Mavyn’s glaring eyes don’t let up as she sits back and crosses her arms. “Why does Alexandros think breaking the veil will help in finding his name?”
?I fume as I pointedly look at the vampyr with his arm wrapped around Jullia and then narrow my eyes at Mavyn.
?“Asher knows,” is all she says, and Jullia rolls her eyes at me as if I’m being ridiculous.
?“And are you planning on outing everything to everyone?” I grit. There’s a reason no one knows who the true leader of the rebellion is.
?Now Mavyn rolls her eyes, but Callahan speaks before she can. Although he’s more solemn than angry as I would like for him to be.
?“He has a point, Mavyn. These are dangerous – “
?“Secrets,” she cuts off, though more mildly, “that I wouldn’t speak unless I knew those I was speaking to couldn’t keep them. Asher made a blood oath, and we’re locked blood bonded.”
?A growl rips through Callahan’s chest as he faces her with a hurt and angry expression. “You bonded withhim.”
?The vampyr’s face pales as she shrinks in his chair and pulls Jullia closer to him. Mavyn simply down casts her eyes with resignation and guilt before gritting her teeth.
?“Lockedblood bonded,” she snaps. “When I first made the blood oath to him about never harming Jullia we had to. . . exchange blood.” I know she was about to say share but changed the wording last minute. I know because saying she had to share blood would imply something completely different than just exchanging it for an oath. “That in a sense bonded us and that was how I was able to give him my aura to create the runic shield over the school during the battle.”
?Ahh. So that’s how none of our mages and witches were able to penetrate. A runic shield on its own would be powerful, no doubt, but one imbued with her aura would be impenetrable.
?Gritting her teeth, she continues, “When he made a blood oath to me, I asked if he wanted to create an actual blood bond. Only ours is alockedblood bond, which means he can only use the basics of my magic and can heighten his own with my aura. He can create fire, but not blue flame. His blood is protected and his body cannot be influenced by other’s blood art.”
?“And what gain do you have?” Callahan sneers. “You could have blood bonded with anyone else. You could have done so with one of us. Why him?”
?Mavyn does not look at him and everything about her becomes nearly nonexistent. “I need his runic magic.”
?“You can learn runic magic!”
?She shakes her head. “I don’t have time.”
?Callahan’s hands slam onto the table and he stands before stalking off. His frustration and something else overcoming his senses. It makes me glare at her. I may not be close to the devil as my brother and the rest of them are, but Varian has told me stories. The kid is good. Of all of them he’s better natured.
?“Why are you such a bitch to him?” Her pink eyes snap up to mine and they’re a blank mask. I see nothing in them. “Even I can tell he’d do anything for you, and not just because he’s your fated. But you ignore him, and brush him off, and block him out. You’re torturing him. Of all the things you’ve done, all the death. . .” I scoff and shake my head. “He doesn’t deserve you.”
?Lavender colored eyes burn holes through my head, but I don’t look at her. I keep my focus on the bloodsucker. Her coldhearted, soulless eyes.
?“He’ll get over it.”
?Scratch everything I’ve ever said.
?I hate her.
