Chapter 36

RED

"S tay here, stay seated," Octavia says as she deposits me at a table in the corner of the room and hands me a drink. Then she heads over to speak with Xavier.

The Chief finds me and slides into the seat next to me. My skin prickles. My blood simmering a million degrees beneath my skin. Fucking traitor.

How dare she come and sit next to me like nothing is wrong? I want to fling my drink at her. Smash the glass across her face.

I want to throw my uniform at her and forsake the entire Academy. How fucking could she?

"Hey," she says, her brow creasing as she takes in my appearance. "You don't look so hot."

"Thanks," I deadpan, grateful that I appear sick enough that my tone will come across as humour, rather than the seething fucking rage I'm actually harbouring.

"I'm sorry. But you're sweating and ghost white."

"Yeah," I say, unsure what else I can add. I am both of those things and there's not a lot I can do about it.

"Is the competition getting to you? Do you want me to take you back to the Academy? For a time out and refresh?" she asks.

"No," I bark, unable to tolerate the nicey-nicey bullshit. But then I remember to cool it. Octavia doesn't want me confronting the Chief, and she's not confronting her mother. Not yet, anyway. "Sorry, I'm fine. A bit tired."

The Chief puts her arm around my shoulders and rubs, like she's comforting me. But her touch is like acid: sharp, stinging, and full of poison. I force myself to be calm and touch her hand, patting it like I'm grateful for her affection. Lure her in. Make her believe I trust her. Then I can flip this deception on her arse.

"Don't worry, Chief. I've not told anyone. It's our little secret."

She beams at me.

Cunt.

I want to knock the smile off her face.

"I was wondering… Would you let me take you for dinner. Just me and you? Perhaps we could talk about your future, what happens after… How we can work together," the Chief says, her eyes glittery. Once upon a time, I'd have seen those eyes as of a mentor, a hero or an angel. Now they're the eyes of the devil, a traitor, a villain.

I'm distracted by the sight of Sadie creeping through the crowds. Her eyes meet mine, and she cocks her head towards the door. I wonder if she's finally decided to help give me my memories back.

I wonder what the price is.

I get up, leaving the stool I was sitting on and instantly feel light-headed.

"Nice catching up, Chief."

"Wait. The dinner—" she says.

"I got to go, sorry," I say and leave, without a backwards glance.

I stagger across the casino, realising I'm in trouble. Octavia is right, there's no way I'm going to make it through tomorrow's trial without drinking human blood and gaining some strength back, and I can't keep draining Octavia, without making her weak for the trial either.

There has to be another way than having to drink human blood. I refuse to believe there's no other way for me to survive this. But then my insides cramp up, and I'm not sure I buy the shit I'm selling.

Sadie grips the back of my arm and before I know what's happening, my feet have lifted off the floor and I'm being sped out of the room. I forget how strong vampires are.

The moment I'm out of the casino, I know Octavia senses it. There's a sharpness in my chest, a panic and prickle rushing through my system that doesn't belong to me.

Is our bond growing stronger? Is it weakening and allowing the connection to let emotions filter through?

Sadie deposits me in the shadow of a tree about fifty feet from the entrance. Then she lifts her hands to sign.

"Meet me tomorrow, in the Blood Woods, by the river."

"Why?"

"Because I'm going to give you what you want. And the strength trial will be in the heart of the woods. So meet me there, and we will discuss payment. Okay?"

I nod.

But she frowns at me. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I say and wipe my brow as my leg cramps in my suit trouser. My stomach folds in on itself, and I have to bite my tongue to prevent myself from reaching out and chomping down on her wrist.

Her head turns toward the casino. "Octavia is coming. Will you meet me?" she asks.

"Yes," I say, but she's gone before I finish speaking.

Octavia rushes across the grounds to the tree as my vision smatters.

"Verity," she says, but I don't hear the rest of the sentence. I collapse, hitting the ground, and everything goes black.