“Classes are still canceled until further notice, but stay inside this building, both of you, unless we tell you otherwise,” he instructed.
“Okay.” Alina breathed out, walking over to press a quick kiss to his lips before sliding her phone into his hands and requesting, “Can you put your number in really quick before you go? I know we have our mental connection, but it didn’t extend to Sanguis, so I always want a way to contact you.”
His fingers deftly navigated the phone, doing as she asked before handing it back with a smirk on his face. “Are you sure that’s the only reason why you want my number?”
Her cheeks burned with a tinge of pink as she batted her eyes at him coyly. “That’s for me to know and you to find out when I want you to, Sir.”
My stomach lurched at the easy banter and affection they shared. I wasn’t jealous in the slightest, but I was instantly reminded of what I’d given up. For once, it actually made me thankful that she had Lincoln to lean on while I put her through hell.
It also didn’t escape me how she spoke about Drake differently now. For one, she wasn’t calling him Dracula at all anymore, and there was no malice or suspicion in her tone when she spoke of him. The trust she had in him to get my mother spoke volumes of where they were at, and I had to wonder where they stood. Officially,andunofficially.
As Lincoln brushed by me, he clapped me on the shoulder before his voice filled my mind, making me jolt.
Don’t fuck this up, buttercup.
Chapter10
ALINA
Nerves blossomed in my stomach as the door clicked shut gently with Lincoln’s departure. While initially I was pissed at Lincoln for forcing the issue with Andrei, I couldn’t deny that I was relieved with the way it unfolded.
But now…Now I wasn’t sure where it left Andrei and me.
There was also the matter of Lincoln saying he was falling in love with me. Fates, each day felt like ten with the number of changes and revelations that seemed to be coming at me recently.
Opening my mind to Lincoln, I tried to feel for him through our bond.
Miss me already, Princess?
Maybe.
I swear I heard a faint echo of his laugh.
Glancing at Andrei as he sat down on the edge of Lincoln’s bed and dropped his face into his hands and rubbed at his eyes gently, I found myself wanting to comfort him. He looked absolutely exhausted and stress-riddled, but the devil on my shoulder was telling me that I needed to make him grovel before I let him back. It wanted me to get even and make him feel how I felt. But I knew, in the end, that would only make me feel like shit.
Maybe the old Alina wouldn’t have given in, but this wasn’t about getting even. This was about healing.
I actually wanted to tell you thank you for giving Andrei a chance and offering him your support. I know you were really heated and only did that because of me. It means a lot.
Don’t ever tell the kid I said this, but I do feel for him. When he mentioned his dad’s threat against you and his mom, it made me realize that just because I also grew up around the board doesn’t mean we have the same life. I was lucky enough to have two loving parents who cared about each other and me. I don’t agree with the way he handled this, but I can feel his thoughts and moods now because of the bond. He knows he fucked up and doesn’t expect you to even forgive him right now.
I had to stifle a little gasp. Reaching out through my bond to Andrei, I still got nothing. There was complete radio silence and a concrete wall around him.
I still can’t get through our bond to him. I can’t believe he let you in.
I don’t think he even knew he let me in. As soon as he made the decision to cut the bullshit and let us help, the wall came down between us. I picked up on him not wanting to overwhelm you with everything going on at once. He wants to have that conversation out loud.
I’d never felt such awkward tension between Andrei and I, but now it was almost overwhelming without Lincoln here with us. I had already made peace in my heart that I knew Andrei’s words and actions last night were driven from a place of abuse and fear, yet now that we were here, I didn’t know what to say.
That spoke volumes—Ialways had a lot to say.
My shoulders heaved with the sigh that puffed over my lips as I walked toward Andrei. Dropping down next to him, I tried to clear my mind a little, desperate to not overthink everything. Leaning my head onto his shoulder, I felt him tense up.
What’s he thinking now?
Oh, I have no fucking clue. As soon as I was walking out the door, I spoke into his mind and told him not to fuck it up, and he slammed his mental wall in place.
Of course you did.
