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“Why are you working with him?”

“Library— Ly-can— Hist’ry.” More bile. It dribbled down my chin.

“Is that all he wants?”

“No.” That answer took me by surprise.

“What else does he want?”

“Teaching— control— my lycan.”

There was silence, and then she asked, “Anything else he wants?”

I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t— More coughing, more retching, pain, dizziness …

When I woke, I was on the chaise with Bellatrix sitting on the armchair. “Sorry I had to do that to you, Aurelia. But I feared you’d forgotten who you are. We do not fraternize with lycans.”

I tried to speak, but my mouth was too dry. My body was weary, my arms reluctant to move at my command.

Someone nudged me then started to help me sit up. My head swam. A cool something pressed against my lips, the coppery taste of blood and euphoria nectar. The first sip of blood was a balm to my sore throat, but swallowing was painful. My throat and chest ached, and I was parched. Fingers wrapping around the neck of the goblet, I tipped it back.

“Not too much,” Irving reminded me. “You’ll vomit.”

Oh, how the tides had turned. I slowed down until the goblet was empty. My gaze carved through Bellatrix as I lifted a shaky hand to wipe my chin.

“You dosed me with lycan repel.” My voice was rasping, faint. She shrugged. “How?” Had she gotten into my stash?

“You ought to be proud of your own poisons. Even works on a half lycan.” The sneer was unmistakable. The disgust.

I was revolted at myself. Looking away, I found Irving’s concerned expression, but his heart was pounding, his fear blotting out any other smell.

“Can I have more of this, please,” I whispered, handing the goblet back.

He nodded, cast a wary glance at Bellatrix before rushing off.

“How do you know who I’ve been working with?” I asked. “You’ve not even been here.”

“I have many connections in the university,” she said. “He signed in as your guest.”

So he did. Poor judgment on my part.

“He is a part of the Ministry of the Occult, at least temporarily. He’s only trying to do research on the history of the lycan packs. He doesn’t give a fuck about vampire life. Once he has the information, he will be gone. He’s no threat to your stupid ego. Not everybody is out to get you.”

“The Nygaards are being wiped out one by one.” My lungs seized as if hit with the poison again. My brows pinched together.

“Your cousin is fine, but your Aunt Mallory is dead.”

The blade of my grief apparently knew no bounds. I’d already lost my aunt before when my mother essentially exiled her and my cousin, but now there was no chance of redemption. I’d never even learned where they went, but now there was no chance of anything. I looked away so she wouldn’t see the tears stinging my eyes.

“Soon, it will be just me left at this rate. Perhaps it’s for the best, because you lot have been an utter disgrace to Primal Borns everywhere. Wanting to fraternize with humans, lycans, spellcasters. Wanting to assimilate with society. To do jobs for humans. It’s a disgrace.”

She stood abruptly.

“I have more travels. I’m searching for my brother, the bastard.”

“Why?”

Her perfectly arched brows lifted. “He’s my brother. We’re the only ones left of our generation with Mallory gone.” A simple explanation that explained nothing. “When I return, that lycan better be out of the picture. Otherwise, I’ll have him removed.”