Page 83 of Cruel Destinies

“It’s okay,” he reassured the cat. “That was the last time.”

“What’s going on?” I asked, shrugging off my shoulder bag. I started unwinding my winter clothes and depositing them on the bed.

Okay, yeah, so this was kinda weird, but I trusted him. He seemed a bit cagey, but he’d never done anything that made me feel threatened. At least, not in a way that I didn’t like.

“Are you…thirsty?” I asked because I couldn’t resist, even though I had no idea what I would say if he said yes.

But he only shook his head. “No. Actually, I was hoping to talk with you about a couple of things.”

I let out a breath, but then my brow rose. “Okay. What’s up?”

While I was cool and composed on the outside, I was burning with curiosity—and other things—on the inside. Could this be it? Was Julian going to stake some claim on me, too? I mean, we were in a motel! What was going on in that gorgeous head of his?

“My apartment is no longer safe for you to visit.”

“Of course.” My head bobbed up and down, as if this was exactly what I’d expected him to say. Even I almost believed my little bobblehead act. Almost. “And why not?”

“First, I need you to tell me how you know Arya.”

Arya?“You didn’t... I mean, you’re not the one...” I put a hand over my mouth, an icy dread spreading over me. Had I misjudged? Is that why he’d befriended me? To get to Arya? And if so, that likely meant... “Her mom?”

Understanding dawned on his face. “No. No, I didn’t kill her mom. I had nothing to do with that.”

I took a deep breath, hoping to calm my thumping heart. Of course, he didn’t have anything to do with that. What was I thinking, jumping to the worst conclusion so fast? Just like Caesar did last night.Come on, Shea, you’re better than this!

“So, how do you know Arya?” Julian continued. “I’ve known for some time that you’re acquainted with her, but I need to know how deeply.”

“I’m her friend. From before...well, everything, I guess. She’d just moved to town, but we were instant besties. Even though she’s going to that school, we still talk and hang out all the time. Why?”

He ran a hand through his hair, then absently picked up Rainbow, who had begun running figure-eights across his legs. “The vampire who came after her is the leader. Hadrian. And he’s got footage of you with her. They don’t know who you are yet, but it’s just a matter of time.”

I plopped down on the edge of the bed, my mind reeling. Of course, I knew about Hadrian’s relation to Arya. She’d told me everything. That wasn’t what had my heart pounding anew.

He was saying that, because of my friendship with her, I had gotten on the vampire leader’s radar. And that scared the shit out of me.

“I’m trying to prevent Hadrian from getting to her,” he went on. “But you can’t be seen with her. Not now.”

And note panic rang in my head. “But she’s my best friend! And she still needs me.” Yes, it terrified me that I could become a target of the vampires, too, but I refused to abandon Arya now. Quit, run, and hide were not words in my vocabulary.

“Your friend is fine. Caesar is making sure of it.” He paused, letting the cat down. “But you can’t come to my apartment. Hadrian has left an Initiate in my care, and she’s with me most of the time.”

A pang of jealousy spiked through my belly, though I had no right to feel it—for oh so many reasons. “And where exactly doesshethink you are now?”

“Grabbing a bite.” He flashed me a smirk, and any other time, it might have made my heart flutter, but I was too busy wrestling with my conflicting emotions.

He sat next to me, putting his hand on mine. The contact sent heat flooding through me despite the coldness of his touch.

“I need you to promise me you’ll be careful. Don’t visit Arya. Stay out of Chicago.”

I looked into his eyes, desperate to find something meaningful in them, a reason to even consider what he was asking. “Why?”

“I need to know you’re safe,” he said, though I could see more words swimming behind his dark eyes. I needed to pull them out.

“Why? Just because of my magic? Or my blood? Is that all I am to you?”

I knew my inner bitch was rising to the surface, and that I shouldn’t even care after the promise I’d made to Caesar—well, that he basically forced me to make when he claimed me kinda without my verbal consent—which was really hot, but that wasn’t the point!—but dammit, I couldn’t fucking navigate these overwhelming feelings!

He closed his eyes, like my words physically hurt him. Then he shook his head.

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