Page 61 of Venomous Lies
Thankfully, no one was in the library when I rushed in. Without missing a beat, I went past the librarian on duty and straight back through the maze of shelves to the employee quarters. Once I entered the private staff halls, I called out for Julian.
There was nothing, then a door was thrown open to reveal not just the vampire, but the new guy, Demir, and the new herbology professor too. What the fuck was that about?
But that thought was quickly out of my head when all three men immediately homed in on the witch in my arms.
“What happened?!”
“When I was doing my rounds, I found her trying to get out of her dorm,” I told them evenly, walking toward them. “She was attacked but can’t remember anything else.”
“In there.” Julian nodded at the room across the way as he closed the door to his private rooms. “Where is Bricriu?”
“No idea.” I shook my head as Demir opened the door and got out of my way. “She said she can’t feel him.”
“What?” he asked, brow furrowed.
“Who is Bricriu?” Demir asked, his hands tightening into the fists and loosening again a few times.
“Her mate,” the new professor answered before we could. “They were both in my class last week. Interesting.”
“What is?” Julian and I asked at the same time.
“Herwhat?” Demir asked, his voice so deep it was almost primal.
“Set her on the table,” Junichiro directed, gesturing at the table. “I have some skills with healing, so I should be able to help.”
“Be careful with her blood,” Demir warned as I laid her down, his voice and body stiff.
“Her blood?” the man asked without looking away from the witch.
“You know her. How?” Julian asked him, assessing the younger man with a shrewd stare.
“It’s poisonous,” Demir and Isla said at the same time. His gaze was studying Isla, while her eyes were trained somewhere a few feet to the left of him.
“Your blood itself is poisonous?” The herbology professor examined Isla’s face. “Will it hurt me as I heal you?”
“I’ve never had it happen before, but that doesn’t mean it can’t,” Isla rasped, slowly blinking at the man beside her. “You’re the new asshole professor.”
Demir snorted, and even the stoic man beside her seemed to soften—not a smile, per se, but there was something about his stance that seemed to ease.
“That would be me.”
“You’re still a dick even if you help me.”
“Duly noted,” he replied dryly as he started asking her a bunch of questions.
“You didn’t answermyquestion,” Julian said softly, a dangerous edge to his voice. I looked away from Isla to see him completely focused on Demir. “How do you know Isla Hallowes?”
“Demir is my brother, Hellsing,” Isla answered as Demir repeatedly clenched and released his fist.
“Brother?” I asked. My eyebrow arched when I studied the way he reacted, his jaw clenching hard enough I was surprised he didn’t break any teeth.
“We’re adopted.” Demir tried to walk over to Isla but was blocked by Julian and me. “Are you trying to stop me from seeing my sister?”
“You need to get Falke,” Julian ordered. “Junichiro ishelping her. Anyone besides her mate will just be in the way, and we still need someone to get Bricriu.”
“Yes, no need to have him going feral over the attack on his mate, let alone being the last to learn of it,” I drawled. “I’ll go get him unless you’d rather?—”
“Go,” Julian cut me off with a warning expression.
