“Sorry we went behind your back,” Alyssa says on a heavy sigh. “But I think it’s a good compromise that Slade worked out.”
She had nothing to do with it, yet she’s still taking partial blame. This was all Kane and I.
“Yeah. No worries. I had planned to go behind your back, so we’re even. Are you good? Need more pillows or something?” Ella asks.
Alyssa clears her throat and sits up. “Ella, I think we need to talk.”
Kane walks out, and I pay more attention.
“Not now,” Ella tells her, patting her hand. “I’m really tired and just want to sleep for a while. And then we need to focus on Hannah above all else. You look good.”
“I know you’re different. We’re always different, constantly evolving with each generation,” Alyssa presses, causing Ella to look away. “But I still understand, Ella. Your blood is still my blood.”
Ella holds her gaze for a second, then lets out a shaky breath. “You know how when you peer into a soul, and you can see if there’s something worth saving?”
“You mean when I’m not being drained magically and physically?” Alyssa asks with a small smile.
“I can’t do that,” Ella says seriously, and Alyssa’s brow furrows as I exhale harshly. Because that’s my fault.
All she’s tethered to.
“Chaz always explained to people we’re not monsters using that as a means of proof our kind was judged by archaic guidelines, yet I don’t have that ability. When I’m the monster, I’ll hurt anyone.”
“There were times I was so lost that I did the same thing, Ella,” she assures her, patting Ella’s hand.
Ella pulls back, clearing her throat.
“I’m always lost with everyone but Slade,” Ella explains to her, causing a stone to settle on my stomach. “He’s the only one who I trust myself with, because I’m no longer me at all when I lose control now. And it seems lik
e he’s the only one who does know who I am.”
“Ella, we know—”
“I don’t mean it like that,” Ella says, waving her off. “I mean the other side of me that he always handles. The side of me that disappears before harm is done. The side he sees and doesn’t fear, when everyone else, including myself, is terrified of what I might do.”
Just as Alyssa starts to talk, Kane walks back in, and Ella shakes her head.
“I really want to talk about anything else,” Ella states.
Alyssa looks like she wants to say more, but instead, she rubs her stomach. “She’s not draining me so much right now. It’s like she’s full but just waiting on the right time to come out.”
“Stop calling the baby a she until you know for sure it’s a girl. Just because we usually produce women, it doesn’t mean this is going to be a girl too,” Ella says, forcing a lighter tone that doesn’t do anything but add to the tension.
Kane starts to speak, but Ella talks over him.
“I should go. I told Thad I’d meet him and Roslyn for a run before I crash. It’s been helping a lot,” she tells them vaguely, not revealing the hell she’s been putting herself through for mere seconds of more restraint.
Opening my eyes, I go over to the computer and print the list of addresses I could locate with the access Kane doesn’t know he gave me to the ‘royal’ data base. It’s why I insisted on meeting him in his office to discuss the new terms with the dragonites.
I didn’t expect Gavin to hand over these names as easily as he did, but I did expect to get them.
I take the first list of names, then I grab the next fifteen pages of names. It doesn’t even cover the first book.
The jar of blood from the dragonite floats through the room at my request, and little glass vials all appear. As I continue looking over the addresses, I flick my wrist, and a single drop of blood goes into every vial.
The vials vanish from sight, and I lift the jar, taking a much larger sip than necessary. It goes down smoothly, and I screw the lid back on, putting it aside.
Walking outside, I see all my people training for a war, still waiting on their promise of revenge, and I hold the papers up in my hands, drawing all their attention.