Page 67 of Mortal Blood
“If they don’t intend to bow, brother,” Thessalia said, tilting her head, “I don’t think they require limbs.”
“I do believe you’re correct, sister.”
Kallan snorted, but he seemed a whole lot less sure of himself than he was a minute ago. “We still have you outnumbered, leech.”
“Two vampires, three shifters—two of them not even shifted—I’d say the odds are pretty even.” He gestured my way. “And the halfbreed tips the scales in our favor. I dare say she’ll fight with us.” He heaved a dramatic sigh. “And then I’ll have to report the fight to the council, and the shifters will no doubt find out you were carrying out an unsanctioned attack against the mate of the Iron Shadows’ heir, and I can only imagine what kind ofimpactthatwill have on the opinions of the packs in the coming war…”
Kallan and Harvey shared wary looks.
“It all seems rather bothersome, brother,” Thessalia said blandly, sounding bored.
“I agree, sister.” He sighed again. “But needs must.”
“Forget it,” Kallan spat. “We’ve got better things to do with our time.”
He jerked his chin at Eva, who turned on her heel and loped away.
“See you around,” Kallan spat, eyeballing me. “You better watch your step, freak.”
He followed behind Eva and Harvey, and I watched until he was gone, then reluctantly turned my attention back to Thaden and Thessalia, to find both of them regarding me intently.
“You’ve got a talent for making friends, haven’t you, sweetness?” Thaden said.
I scowled at him. “Shouldn’t you be in class?”
“We’re royalty, sweetness. Classes aren’t mandatory for us.”
“Right. Obviously. So the two of you just thought you’d wander around, looking for ways to make my day worse?”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” Thessalia said, dropping the Drusilla act. At least, I was pretty sure it was an act. “I have places to be.”
She turned and left, leaving me alone with Thaden. My very least favorite place to be.
“Are you going with her?” I asked. “Or are you sticking around to make my morning even worse?”
His expression hardened. “Just protecting my blood bag.”
His hand shot out and grabbed my chin. I tried to jerk away but whatever supernatural strength boost I’d gotten from Sam’s blood had either faded fast or been no match for Thaden to begin with. Either way, I couldn’t stop him turning my head to get a good look at my face.
“You’ve fed.” It was a statement, not a question, so I didn’t bother to answer it. Thaden’s eyes bored into mine and I jerked my head again, but he still didn’t let me go. Grinding my teeth together, I met his eye.
“Yes. I fed. And if you’d fuckingbeenthere—”
Then what? He’d have helped? He’d have been able to stop it? Stop me almost killing Sam? Hardly. He’d made it clear more than once what I was to him. Hell, he’d probably have been one of the assholes laughing while it happened.
“Would you just— Just let me go, okay?”
“You liked it.”
“Let me go!”
I slammed my hands into his chest and he staggered back.
“Cali…”
I didn’t stick around to hear what he was going to say, whirling on my heel and shoving my way back into the academy. So much for my air.
Chapter Twenty-Two
