Page 61 of House of Malice
Lyra glanced between them, unsure.
“You might have even performed it yourself when you attended Venefica,” Alecto said.
The tension in the air was thick. Lyra seemed to be lost for words from the shock.
“Let me give you a word of advice, girls,” Lyra said, her voice low. “There is no value in the past. In fact, melding with things that are hidden for a reason might prove dangerous.”
Jolene’s eyes widened. “So it is true! Your group is the one responsible for all those murders in the past!”
Lyra glanced around once more and sighed. “It doesn’t matter now, does it? The things we did in the past have absolutely no importance to you in the present. The same way what you do during your time at Venefica will not impact your children’s time there in the future.”
Alecto wanted to scream. Lyra had no clue how much their guardians’ past was affecting their present. So much so that there was a psychopath out there, a powerful one, trying to kill them.
“What did you do with that spell?” Jolene asked, crossing her arms. “We have a right to know, no? We’re members of the House of Snakes, and we’re the Inner Circle.”
“It was for the Game, wasn’t it?” Alecto asked. “You did something to another House to win the Game, right? Who was it? House of Rats?”
Lyra shook her head, a shadow of sadness settling in her soft features. “Don’t. What we did then… It was what we believed we had to do. Don’t ask any questions.” Her gaze hardened then. “Don’t you dare go asking others about it. They might not be as kind as I am, you know that.”
Jolene and Alecto exchanged glances. It was futile. Even Lyra refused to let them in, to give them something they could use.
“How can we trust you then, if you’re not willing to trust us?” Jolene asked.
Lyra caressed Jolene’s cheek, with a sad smile. “Trust is an illusion, my dear.”
27
“Acinnamon roll and a black coffee, Kaliad,” Blaze told the sprite behind the counter. “And I’ll have a coffee with milk and three sugars please. Plus, your breakfast plate. Extra bacon and extra eggs.”
“Coming right up!” Kaliad whizzed away.
Blaze yawned, still sleepy because he’d had to wake up at four in the morning today. His muscles ached after the practice and a workout, and his stomach was ready for food.
“Actually, can you add some extra hash browns as well, sweets?” Blaze shouted to Kaliad.
The sprite nodded her little head, giving him the tiniest thumbs up in the world.
Suddenly, someone’s hands covered Blaze’s eyes, and a body pressed against his back. It took him less than two seconds to recognize who it was.
The smell of her was the thing Blaze recognized first. Then the softness of her skin.
“Guess who?” she asked in a low, deep voice.
“Let me guess…,” Blaze murmured. “Jessica from the Rabbits?”
Her hands were off his eyes, and he blinked, blinded by the light for a moment.
“Oh, Jessica you say?” Alecto asked. He turned to face her and found her standing with crossed arms and pursed lips. “Who the fuck is Jessica?”
Blaze smirked and pulled her closer to him by the waist. Alecto tried to pretend she was mad, but when Blaze gripped her chin and their lips met, she immediately melted in his arms.
“I got you a coffee and a cinnamon roll,” he murmured over her lips once they finally peeled off each other.
Alecto smoothed the wrinkles on his white shirt. “So thoughtful. I didn’t know Jessica had the same taste as me. Lucky you, easy to keep track.”
Blaze chuckled and kissed her temple. “You’re hot when you’re jealous.”
Alecto smiled then. “Trust me, I can get even hotter.”
