Page 43 of Revenant

“No. You’re worse. Bastian does it for fun. You on the other hand…” He trails off because he doesn’t have to explain further.

I toss the bag onto the bed. “I’ll be fine. One night won’t kill me.”

He finishes his off before tossing it in the waste bin. “She fell asleep on me,” he says, voice calmer now. “She was exhausted. Scared. Even if she would never admit it.” I hate that he’s suddenly acting like he knows her. I turn to walk out, needing space, somewhere where her scent isn’t infecting the air.

“She asked if I could keep the nightmares at bay.”

My steps falter.

Nightmares? Slowly, I face him again, knowing exactly where he’s going with this.

He takes a deliberate step forward. “So I’ll ask this once, Eryx. Are you giving her nightmares?”

“No.” The word is immediate, instinctive—but not convincing.

Elias exhales, running a hand through his short, damp platinum hair. “But you’ve thought about it.”

The accusation slithers between us.

I don’t answer.

“So, what? You’re going to hate her for the rest of your bloody life because she reminds you of Veil?” He shakes his head, scoffing as if I’m the one out of line. “She’s not the witch who cursed us!”

“She’s close enough.” I growl. My mouth tastes like iron, the bloodthirst chewing through my restraint from the inside out.

Elias shakes his head. “You’re terrified of her.”

“I’m not—”

“You are.” His voice softens, but the softness is a blade sliding under my ribs. “You’re terrified she’ll break you, in ways Veil or the curse never could.”

A low, animal sound rumbles in my chest. I avoid eye contact, not because he’s right—but because the look he’s giving me makes something feral inside me thrash against its cage.

“Stay away from her. She’s already drowning in fear she doesn’t understand. Don’t make it worse.”

“I’m not the one making it worse!”

“Then who is?”

I swallow hard, the sound guttural. “I don’t know! Probably the curse!” I snarl. “And whatever sick part of her bloodline is calling to it!”

Elias goes still like he’s finally realizing I’m unraveling. I’m two breaths away from tearing into anything that so much as smells like her. I lift my gaze to his and whatever humanity is left in my expression burns away. “She’s Veil’s legacy,” I hiss, stepping into his space. “You think I’m giving her nightmares? If I’d stepped into her mind, Elias, you’d know. She’d know. The whole damn school would know.”

A beat of silence settles, where even the air recoils.

“I haven’t touched her dreams,” I snarl. “But the curse has, and I’m willing to bet it’s the dark magic that’s waking up for her.”

14: Alicent

It’s been a week since I found out I’m a witch. Seven days since I found out vampires are real, and everything I thought I knew about my family has completely turned upside down.

And apparently nobody gives two shits.

There hasn’t been so much as a peep from the guys. Not since I fell asleep in Elias’s arms, or when I woke up in the west wing without any recollection of the in between. They’ve kept their distance—them and the other witches.

The latter isn’t too surprising given Della came to Eryx’s defense. Which is absurd, considering he had just killed someone. One of us.

Unfortunately, their silence hurts more than I care to admit. With them gone, and the witches not making any sort of effort, I feel truly alone. Besides Moriah. She’s the only constant in this world of uncertainty these days.