14. Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Bronwyn

It has been a strange past few days, even for me. And I was raised by a secretive crime lord and a comely innkeeper alongside my twin and our vampiric adopted sister.

My life has never been normal by any stretch of the imagination, but I think that kissing Wilder is perhaps the most surprising thing that I have ever experienced.

And I walked in on my father murdering one of his business associates when I was eight.

I hate that out of everything that transpired last night—from discovering that both Wilder and Professor Morozov are in league to the half answers I pried from Wilder later—the one thing my mind keeps straying back to is that kiss.

It was nothing, it meant nothing, it explains nothing.

If I want to know what is going on I should focus on the connection between Wilder and Morozov and how they both became vampires, not keep reliving that kiss in my mind.

Over and over, without ceasing, without respite, remembering how it felt, wondering if I kissed him back.

It's disgusting, really.

My thoughts shouldn't be on Wilder at all, mystery or not. I have a spellbook to steal. A sudden influx of vampires in the academy is not my concern.

"Oh, Miss Bronwyn, how fortuitous. I was hoping to see you."

I halt dead in my tracks. I'm at the entrance hall of the second-year building, my lunch in my hand on my way to Sofarynn. The corridor ahead is streaming with sunlight as it filters through the high arched windows, but there standing in a dark alcove just outside the front hall is Professor Morozov.

There is nothing fortuitous about this. The professor was lying in wait for me. Which means that he has taken enough notice of me to know where I take my afternoon meal.

"I don't know how much Wilder has told you…" his tone carries a threat. It's very clear that he is checking to see what I know, and if he doesn't like the answer… well, I probably won't like what happens next.

Wilder's warning rings through my mind. He had said that Morozov was a threat. I'd at first laughed it off, the academy has strict rules over what can be done to students, stricter now after last year. Even if Morozov is a vampire, I have nothing to fear from him. Surely, he doesn't feed off the students.

But then I start to wonder if that's actually true. If a psychotic professor could kidnap students to carry out his sick experiments on them then who is to say that Morozov is not also operating under the academy's nose.

"Nothing that his father doesn't approve," I reply with a smile that I hope passes for sweet and innocent and that not too much time passed while I was considering my response. If Wilder is scared enough of this man to pretend to be in love with me then perhaps, I should be just a little frightened of what such a man is capable of.

"And what might that be?"

I force a small giggle. It sounds insipid but hopefully not strained like how I feel. "Oh, you know the usual. Sweet nothings and promises of a future."

Morozov's eyes narrow further, and I feel my smile slip slightly. He doesn't seem to be buying my na?ve act. It's all I can do to keep my eyes from darting to his mouth and the deadly fangs hidden within.

I've seen firsthand how quickly a vampire can strike.

"Just who is your father again?"

"Uh…" I begin, but I'm cut off as someone grabs my arm from behind. I jump until I hear Wilder say.

"Bronwyn, my darling, there you are."

I try not to stiffen as Wilder drapes his arm over my shoulder. I tell myself that it is only because I can feel the coldness emanating from his skin, even through his clothes, that a shudder runs down my spine and my breath catches.

"Professor," Wilder says with a small nod. "I'm surprised to see you here." His tone carries a hard edge of accusation.

"I was just having some words with your lovely fiancé," the professor replies. "Making certain that we understand each other."

"Good luck with that, I'm afraid that there is very little she understands."

This time I cannot stop myself from stomping on his foot. Besides, my skirts hide the movement.

"It's a good thing that she has a pretty face and a lot of coins," Wilder says his voice coming out breathy with the pain. His smile is plastered across his face. "Otherwise, I could have been paired with someone too smart for her own good and with an ugly face to boot."

"I'm just still so surprised that your father thought now was an appropriate time to begin considering the holy nuptials," Morozov mutters, his tone heavy with accusation. "Especially with all our… plans."

It's all I can do to keep my face blank, to try to sell the illusion of the brainless fiancé that Wilder is creating.

Wilder waves his hand as if trying to swat the words from the air before they reach him. "My father is nothing if not capable of multiple schemes at once. My dear sir, did you think you were the only person he was conspiring with? How silly of you, he never gives anything his full attention. I should know, I'm his son." Despite Wilder's flippant tone, I can sense the deep hurt buried underneath his carefree fa?ade.

Morozov's eyes dart to me but I quickly turn to Wilder, mustering my most sympathetic look as I reach up, trailing a hand across his cheek as if I'm trying to console him. I suppose there is a part of me that does pity him. I don't know much about Wilder's relationship with his father, but I can see in his eyes whenever he mentions him that it is not a good one.

I could have been so easily like him if not for Elwis the Eel adopting me and showing me unconditional love. I can only shudder to imagine what sort of person I would be if I had not been rescued from my abusive birth father. The few memories I have of him are nightmarish.

If I had been left in his care, I would have become just as cruel as Wilder, if not more so. After all, it is our fathers who show us who we are. Elwis showed me that I was a priceless treasure to be cherished.

My birth father showed me I was worthless, not even worth coming home to some nights, or making certain that Natasya and I were properly fed.

What sort of person did Wilder's father teach him that he was?

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."