Page 43 of House of Ruin
“What are we supposed to do now?” Jolene asked. “Whoever is behind this… They’re very good at pointing the finger towards us. We need help.”
“Absolutely the fuck not,” Val snapped. “As far as we’re concerned, everyone outside this circle is an enemy.”
“Val’s right,” Alecto said. She glanced at Andro. “When we were in Avalon Hills the other day, we saw Galliermo and Octavia having lunch with Madame RaquelandMiss Bellthrove.”
Val pointedly looked at Alecto. She wasn’t happy Alecto and Andro hadn’t said anything earlier, that much was clear.
Alecto didn’t even blink.
“There’ve been too many weird occurrences for us to trust anyone, even the alumni.” Val smiled. “We have to figure this out ourselves. And quickly.”
“So, we’re going to face whoever is behind the murders by ourselves?” Andro asked. “These are not simple murders. Professor Namiad said that while it’s not Aether magic, it doesn’t mean someone’s not accumulating different kinds of magic—”
“Death magic,” Jolene interrupted.
Andro eyed her. “Someone might be accumulating death magic for…something. We have no idea what. Hendrix was kidding about summoning the King of Hel, but after Rogue, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Yes, they are using the magic somewhere. But it means we can track the energy if they’re not spending it immediately,” Alecto countered. “It might lead us to whoever is responsible.”
“That’s something worth considering, Black,” Val drawled, her dark gaze measuring Alecto. “We need to solve the murders before anyone else blames the Snakes.”
Something inside Blaze’s chest swirled, rising to the surface.
He didn’t like the way Val looked at Alecto.
Get a grip.
Blaze turned away from the group, digging two fingers into his eyes.
He didn’t have a fucking right to feel territorial.
And for fuck’s sake, why did he even need to?
“Let’s go inside.” Val turned into Seventh Avenue, striding towards their home.
Blaze climbed the stairs into their brownstone last, his legs heavy.
The place was still empty, eerie silence spread thick as they shuffled to the end, down the stairs leading into their basement.
Immediately, Val plopped on the corner of the pool table, rolling a blunt. Andro went over to the leather couch before settling there with Jolene next to him.
So Blaze took the leather armchair Jolene usually occupied, stretching his legs.
To his surprise, instead of taking a spot on the couch, Alecto walked over to him, settling on the arm of his chair.
Blaze’s skin tingled with excitement. He wished to reach out and run his fingers down her spine.
“I’m willing to bet one of the Big Four Houses is behind this,” Val said, once the blunt was ready. “With the House of Tigers out of the equation, we only have two Houses left—Rats and Dragons.”
Andro pouted, making a grimace. “Which House wants us dead more?”
Blaze smirked. “That’s a competition right there.”
Alecto and Jolene giggled.
“Okay, new plan. Next week, when you boys go to the poetry night, you have sniff out anything you can about the Rats and where they stand on the murders,” Val said. Blaze expected Andro to argue, but he didn’t. “Witches at Venefica love to talk. Someone’s bound to slip up and give something away.”
“You really think Rathone planned these murders and will be stupid enough to open her mouth and blab about it?” Jolene asked.
