Page 31

“What an apology!” Noah murmured with a grin, the twins’ giggles lingering from my left side. Kaleb scowled at him, the twins quick to silence and blending in alongside Alek and Raphael, who I had just noticed. Raphael was the one nearest to me, and he hadn’t bothered looking my way, not even as I came down the stairs. Alek hadn’t either, but I sensed his gaze avoiding me for the most part.

“I apologized, which indicates the end of all of this,” Kaleb muffled through gritted teeth.

Christopher’s eyes focused on me. “Ms. Eli, if you decide to proceed with his pretense, then you are allowed to remain as our long-term private guardian.”

“Why are you doing this?” Maybe I should have just accepted it, but there had to be a catch. Guardians dropped like flies under the Sephtis, and they made it evident I wasn’t wanted. They couldn’t have changed their minds overnight. “You all see guardians as animals, me as a pet. Why is it that you want me to stay now?”

“Mr. Amelle and Sonia have both vouched for your competence. It’s only wise to maintain a private guardian that’s held with high esteem.” Christopher's expression remained composed, and his heartbeat steady.

Vampires had slower heartbeats than humans, but when a lie slipped, it was just as noticeable.

I reconsidered Kaleb’s so-called apology. Did it irk me that he didn’t care one bit about what he’d done? Of course. Was I going to let him and Alek get what they wanted? Absolutely not.

“I accept the apology, Kaleb,” I said, my eyes falling on him. “Really, I don’t know how you’ll ever top it.”

Kaleb sneered, and Noah chuckled as he clapped his hands. “Now, in return for you dismissing his joke of a plan, we can dismiss yours against our brother! What an act it was. Such a marvel to witness, truthfully.”

I hadn’t moved, but suddenly my body froze. “What?”

A smile hinted from Kaleb’s lips while Noah’s hand cupped his mouth and said, “Oh my! Did I reveal vital information?”

Mr. Amelle had said that as long as they hadn’t said anything, then I was fine. It’d been almost two weeks, so why bring it up now?

That was the catch.

Christopher didn’t speak, but the twin’s silent laughter was the answer I needed. “But it was a mistake. It’s not like it was intentional.”

“We don’t do mistakes, dear,” Kaleb said as he sat down. “Don’t take our minor kindness as fondness. We’re still blood-thirsty snakes, and when the fitting moment arises, we pounce.”

“So, what? You were going to use that against me if I had decided to leave?” My feet trailed forward, but Sonia’s arms moved in front of me and met my stomach, her force pressing me back.

“That’s enough questions, Ms. Eli.”

“But—” The brothers all began dispersing, most of them vanishing into thin air within seconds. “Fine, but I have one last question.” Sonia nodded, and I asked, “Has the other guardian recovered, too?”

“What other guardian?” Alek paused before the opening of the living room.

“The one that fought with Mr. Amelle.” Sonia gave no reaction as she stood silent. Alek, on the other hand, grew closer with wide eyes and furrowed eyebrows. “I couldn’t tell them apart since they were in disguise in the beginning, but there were definitely two.”

Alek glanced at Sonia. “There was no report regarding another person alongside Mr. Amelle. But I’ll review it with the guardians who were on their shift at that hour.” She bowed and blurred across the foyer into the cellar, the door echoing when she fully disappeared.

Leaving the two of us with each other.

Whether it was the lake or the garden or even here, it was hard to not take in Alek.

We were a head apart, his scrawny shoulders meeting my temples. His jaw flexed as he turned his head onto me. Immediately, our gazes stumbled on each other as if a force compelled them. Those rich, brown eyes locked on mine, the abyss taking me in as his face brightened with a flush.

Like on cue, we both looked away, and I started to make my way to my room. No one had lifted the ban from my duties. I should catch up to Sonia to make sure—

An icy grip stopped me. Alek’s hand wrapped around my wrist and dragged me toward the opposite direction of my room. He took me under the main stairs, through the spiraling steps, and into the cellar that resembled a void with dim lights. He directed me through the left hallway and into a room where Mr. Amelle rested.

An infusion bag hung beside him as he sat upright on a bed, a book in hand while he bore a hospital gown. His locks didn’t rest on his head but instead poured over his shoulders, and a beam overtook his expression as he looked at us. He still wore his large shades, though.

“Ms. Eli, Alek, if I had known I would receive visitors, then I would have dressed more modestly.” His tone was different— as if he was teasing.

Alek’s hold tightened, and I swiftly jerked my arm from him.

“Why did you drag me here?”