Page 61 of The Book of Blood and Roses

“Have you dreamt of him again since then?”

“No,” she says, and as the drizzle grows heavier, we start walking again, quickly, towards Tynarrich. “And please don’t tell your roommate about this.”

“I won’t,” I promise.

“Does the dean know your blood smells like this?” she asks. “I find it hard to believe Tynahine would accept someone who might make its students…” She hesitates, unable to find the right words.

“Lose control?” I offer, and Julia opens her mouth, but doesn’t say anything. “He knows,” I say. But I don’t tell her how, exactly, he found out.

“And Astra?” she asks, as Tynarrich’s towering walls appear before us. “Does she know?”

“I told her earlier today,” I say, looking down at my boots. “But I don’t know how she’s going to react.” She gawks at me with a stare halfway between pity and bafflement. “I know,” I whisper before she can add anything. “I should have told her ages ago. And you. And Ife. But—”

“No,” Julia says. “It’s all right.”

“It’s not.” My voice thins. “This is what happens. I always wait until it’s too late.” Julia places a cool hand on my shoulder, and when I look up, I feel as though I have a pine needle stuck between my vocal cords.

“Has anyone ever—”

She doesn’t have to finish the question. And for some reason, I feel like I could answer. I could be honest. I don’t know why, but I’ve got a gut feeling that she’d understand what I’ve lost. More than Penny, more than anyone in Callisto.

Vampires brought her into this world of shadows against her will. So that’s one thing we have in common.

Chapter

Twenty

The dean’s number is on Tynahine’s intranet, next to a photograph from the nineteenth century, in black and white. Faust Nocth hasn’t changed one bit, his face frozen at the age of thirty. He’s the last person I want to rely on, but I have no choice.

“Dean’s office,” says a familiar baritone. I grit my teeth and breathe out.

“This is Cassie,” I say.

“Ah, my favourite vampire hunter.”

My nails dig into my palms. I don’t want to ask for favours. But I can’t think of what else todo.

“I need a new room.”

“Is that so?” The humor hasn’t left his voice yet. Which is somewhat unnerving.

“I’ve stopped taking my allicin supplements.” I hear his chair creak. I can practically see him leaning back.

“Wonderful. But moving is a terrible idea, Rebecca.”

“It’s only temporary,” I say, trying to keep my temper out of my voice. “I need a few days for Aliz to get used to my scent before wesleep in the same room. She’s already showed an”—I swallow, trying to find the right word—“interestin biting me. And I know what effect my blood has on vampires.”

“And have you expressed an interest in being bitten?”

“Just give me a new room,” I snap. My cheeks burn as I remember the feeling of her fangs, so light and sharp against my skin.

There’s a long sigh across the line. I think he’s going to sayfine.But instead, he says: “I may not know how to undo the contract, but Idoknow how your symptoms will worsen. A Blood Familiar is supposed to be at their master’s side at all times. The further apart you are, the worse the symptoms will get.”

I think of the soothing effect of Aliz’s touch and realise he is right. “How do you know so much about this?”

“Because Blood Familiars used to be the norm,” he says. “At least before the treaties. They were easier to control, and being blood bound also gave them superior abilities. They became more like their masters, able to heal faster, fight stronger, and age slower. There were a few cases of humans who regretted performing the contract, and tried to get out of it before it became permanent. Those who ran away would always go insane, Miss Charity.”

“Don’t say that name,” I snap, looking at the door. My heart quickens, bile rising up my throat. “What do you mean,insane?”