Something deep inside me deflated. A secret part of me had hoped maybe Ronan was having a guy’s reaction to Carden—that maybe he was jealous. Instead, it was just a concerned-teacher reaction.
Ronan was one of my primary instructors, not to mention the Tracer who’d brought me in. If my bond with Carden was discovered, would Ronan get in trouble as well? He’d warned me not to trust Alcántara. Given time, I’m sure he’d warn me against Carden McCloud, too. And if he ever found out I’d bonded with McCloud? Fellow Scotsman be damned, Ronan’s head would probably explode.
“Just keeping an eye out for me?” I asked.
My tone had been cynical, but Ronan’s reply was serious. Heartfelt, even. “I am looking out for you. Is that such a surprise?”
I just shook my head, needing a moment to rid my throat of this tight feeling. I spent so much time armored against my solitude. To be reminded that there might’ve actually been some people out there who cared…it sideswiped me with emotions I couldn’t afford.
“You must be careful,” he continued, slowing his pace. He lowered his voice and looked around to make sure we were alone. “Vampires have their own agenda. You must always be wary. And if you ever need help, you can come to me. Don’t wait until it’s too late. ”
I swallowed hard, the ache in my throat too thick. I’d already ignored careful and had flown right past too late. “Thanks,” I said, mustering a weak smile. “But there’s nothing to worry about between me and Carden. ”
Guilt crushed my chest. I’d assumed the worst of Ronan, and now, by underplaying my relationship with Carden, I was lying to him, too. “I’ve been staying away from him these days anyway,” I added, consoled that at least that part was true.
Then I thought of a problem I could bring to Ronan. If anyone could give me insight as to why the vampires had abducted Mei-Ling, it’d be him.
“There is something I do need help with,” I said. “My roommate. I don’t get why she’s here. They took her, you know. ”
“I know,” he said, his voice tight.
“I thought only girls who’d hit rock bottom ended up here. Your hoodoo-juju powers aside, it was me who walked up the steps into that plane. ”
“What you say is true. ”
“So now they’re kidnapping girls for their little Watcher army?”
“Mei-Ling is the only one,” he said.
“But she’s just a kid from Long Island. What can she do for a bunch of vampires?”
“She’s not entirely helpless. ”
I stared hard at him. “You sure are being mysterious. ”
After a moment, he conceded, “She tried to fight back. ”
I pictured Mei-Ling. Slim. Young. With a name meaning beautiful, delicate. The image of her fighting back made me ill. She’d had some fancy school and parents who loved her. She shouldn’t have had to learn to fight back.
I flashed back to those times I’d tried to fight back at fifteen—and I’d only ever faced off against my father. Mei had been up against Tracer Otto.
I made a mental note to kick his ass someday. Him and so many others…It was getting to be one long list.
“How’d she possibly fight back against Adolph?” I sneered, using my pet name for the detested Tracer Otto.
“Caution, Annelise. ” Ronan cut me a look, then glanced around to make certain no one was close enough to overhear. “Otto came for her after school. As I understand it, she stabbed him in the throat with her violin bow. ”
I chuckled, surprised and more than a little amused. “Go, Mei, go. Maybe she’ll last more than a week after all. ”
Ronan smirked. I got the impression he wasn’t the biggest Otto fan. “She caught him by surprise. ”
“Fighting spirit or not, she’s just a regular kid. She’s not saying much, but I’m sure she must be terrified. How’s she even going to make it through the week? Once the other Acari get wind of her, they’ll chew her up and spit her out. ”
“I believe her placement with you was intentional,” Ronan said evenly.
I stopped short. “What?”
“You are how she’s going to make it through the week. I believe that’s why she was placed with you. ”