Page 58 of Guardian

I remembered the bits and pieces after some time. The assailant.Herattack on Alek. His gentle touch as I stoppedherfrom ripping him to shreds. His calming words pulled me fromherhold.

He sawherrampage and sought my safety even when his life was at risk.

Did he recognize whatshewas? Would he report it back to the CEG after our agreement is finished? Was he scared of whatshewas capable of when I wasn’t in control?

Alek’s lips parted, and his fangs glinted under the light. I’d never noticed how long they were before. Or how nicely they laid against his plump lips.

“What?”

“Would you like to listen to one of my melodies?” He said as he tilted his head toward the large piano. “It tends to ease my mind in moments when thoughts swallow me whole.” He stepped toward it and rested on the bench, his head snapping toward me. He looked petrified with wide eyes. “My apologies, Katerina. It wasn’t my intention for the words to be phrased in that manner. What I meant is that—”

He suddenly stopped and I walked to the bench. “Finish what you were saying.”

His lips pressed together, and he lowered his gaze. “You seem to be troubled, that’s all.”

“Is it that obvious?” I sat on the spot next to him. “I’ll take you on your offer.”

Everything about him softened around the edges: his shoulders slumped, the abyss in his eyes gleamed, and a smile so gentle I’d never seen before warmed his face.

Yeah. Those were definitely butterflies.

Alek eased against the keys with slow movements. A steady, distant harmony filled our surroundings, each tug against the keys increasing the emotion behind each note. There weren’t any lyrics, but I could feel what he depicted. Heartbreak. Sadness. Exhaustion. A memory that I didn’t have but could experience. A tenderness that felt like a hug. An eeriness that clung to my bones after it finished.

“It’s our mothers,” he said slowly. “Sophia’s Requiem.”

“It’s gorgeous, Alek,” I muttered, and I meant it. It was the most honest I’d ever been. “Thank you for showing it to me.”

I didn’t notice when we stopped staring as if it was a competition and started just looking through each other. Or how much darker his eyes grew when I met them. Not even the pull his body had on me.

This wasn’t good. But it was too late to draw a line on this snake.

“Although I said we couldn’t make any promises, I want to assure you, Katerina, that what occurred in the hospital won’t ever be discovered.”

“Why?” I blurted out and immediately wanted to bite my tongue. But I needed to correct myself. “Don’t get me wrong. I really appreciate it, but I need to know. . .”

The words died along the way. I needed to know what? That he knew what I was? That if I confirmed it, he’d accept it?

It was impossible. Lace was the only one burdened to carry my secret. I couldn’t bear to tell Lorenzo. He hated the fact he was a lycan while I wasn’t even sure what I was. Our symptoms were nothing alike, our diets were polar opposites, and when he transformed, it was nothing likehers. But the thought of him hating me was enough to never tell him.

“You’re different,” he started, his eyes roaming over me, “Our mother had no say in keeping her existence a secret. I’d like for you to have that choice.”

Nothing in the air showcased he was lying. It was the opposite. His expression was stern, and his eyes were frozen on mine. A storm of emotions swelled inside of me. I couldn’t tell where one started and the other ended, but one thing was obvious: I’m glad it was Alek who knew.

He stretched his palm before me. “It will be a promise upheld between us.”

When our hands touched, any thoughts I had —even ofher—dissolved.

“Just between us, then.”

ChapterTwenty

ALEK SEPHTIS

“While vampires are calculating, humans are sneaky beings,” our mother had once said. “Although both are cunning in their own ways, a human’s desire outweighs the thought of consequences. They’re limited to impulsivity, unlike vampires, who ponder before they react. Vampires are motivated to reach the top in any conceivable way.”

Yet, a piece I never acknowledged in her lessons unveiled itself.

“Even if that meant manipulating their family.”

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