I try to offer him a feeble smile, but it’s forced. I honestly don’t know how to feel right now. My emotions are turbulent and erratic. A part of me wants to curl into a ball and sob, my grief for Barret nearly palpable. I haven’t fallen apart yet, but that only means the crash is inevitable. You can’t lose someone you care about without severe ramifications. And intertwined with my grief is a need for vengeance so strong and staggering that I feel physically sick. I want to find Alex and his sick, sadistic father and kill them both. I want them to feel every ounce of pain and fear Barret did as he died. I want them to scream for relief—relief only I can give them. I want to be their fucking angel of death.
Finally, I feel immense and cloying worry. I have no idea where Hux and Jack are, if they have made it back yet, if they’re still coming. I pray that they heard Dimitri’s ominous statement towards me before I was pushed through the portal. What if they didn’t make it to the hospital in time? What if they were injured?
Panic pulses through me, and the only thing keeping me from completely succumbing to insanity is the knowledge that they’re still alive. I don’t know how to explain it, but I know innately that they’re still alive and well. I can feel their presence like a ball of light, hovering just at the edge of my awareness. I’m certain I could reach for it if I needed to, could caress it and let them know of my presence.
Is it…?
Is it because we’re mates?
Before that lone, traitorous thought can get traction, Dimitri grabs my arm and begins to drag me towards the Academy’s entrance.
“What the hell?” I gripe, craning my neck to stare back at the others. Cal is nowhere to be seen, but Mason and Frankie are staring after me with knowing expressions. I don’t see Vin, but I have no doubt he’s watching me, despite being hounded by his fan club. And no, I’m not salty, thank you very much. I have a fan club too. It’s just a different type. Mine is more of a “death to Violet Dracula” club. Pretty sure they have matching t-shirts with my face on them and a large red X slicing through the image.
“We need to talk.” His words are domineering, succinct almost. The crisp nature of them matches his immaculate appearance.
“Can’t we talk around witnesses?” I babble as he drags me down the hallway and towards his office. “You know, in case you murder me and hide my body?”
I don’t actually believe he’s going to murder me, but a girl can never be too careful.
“If I wanted you dead, you wouldn’t be standing here right now.” He turns his head slightly to stare at me with those frosty blue eyes of his. I gulp at the intensity of his gaze before ducking my head in an admittedly submissive move.
When we reach his office, I’m surprised that his secretary is nowhere to be seen. At my curious expression, he states, “I gave Miss Birdy the week off to watch the games.”
“Oh…that’s surprisingly nice of you.” I follow him into his office with only a little trepidation. Again, it’s not because I think he’s going to hurt me, but because everything about Dimitri confuses the shit out of me. He’s the epitome of contradictions—one second, he’s hot, and the next, he’s ice cold. I have no idea where I stand with him and what he even wants from me.
“I’m not a monster, Ms. Dracula,” he purrs, leaning against his desk with his arms crossed and legs extended.
“Technically, we’re all monsters.” I move to sit opposite him, the position allowing him to tower over me. I don’t feel any fear, however. Just safety.
Which is ridiculous, because Dimitri is the most dangerous fucker around and can possibly kill me with his pinkie finger.
And…
Now, I’m imagining my headmaster repeatedly jabbing me with his pinkie finger until I fall to the ground covered in bloody welts.
“I see that you listened to me for once,” he states in his deep, baritone voice that slides through me like whiskey. I know immediately he’s talking about his advice to travel to the hospital.
“Next time you want to help, could you be a little more clear?” I raise a single eyebrow at him, and his face pinches together. “Maybe slide me a note? Send up a smoke signal?”
“That would be cheating.” His frown deepens. “And I’m prohibited by magic to cheat.”
“Then why did you…? Oh.” Understanding causes my eyes to widen slightly. “That’s why you were being all vague and shit.”
“I was being as concise as possible.” His nose scrunches slightly, as if he has smelled something pungent. “I’m just grateful you listened to me.”
My good mood instantly sours as pain spears my chest.
“Barret didn’t make it,” I whisper hoarsely, the agony of that simple statement suffocating me.
“That’s a shame.” Despite his words, Dimitri’s expression remains carefully blank and apathetic. That only exacerbates my rage, and I shoot to my feet with anger tightening my chest.
“You don’t give a shit, do you?” I take a step closer, my pulse skittering at both his proximity and my own anger. “You don’t care that someone died.” It’s not a question.
“People die all the time.” He stares down his nose at me, expression unreadable. “You may not be familiar with death yet, but you’ll have to learn. Death will follow you everywhere, Violet Dracula.”
“Is that a threat?” I ask, my fangs lengthening in response to his words.
“It’s a promise.” His cold eyes ensnare my own, and I’m helpless to look away. “But I also promise to protect you. I’m…” His face twists before settling into a grimace. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“People apologize about death when they have nothing else to say.” This close, his peppermint scent curls around me, warming my body. “But
