Chapter Seven
Before I went back to my room, Dan made it clear that no one outside of another Bloodwright could know about us or what he called the Stonebound.
Sara-Kate and Tiffany had to remain in the dark for their own safety, both from other Bloodwrights and the Stonebound.
He refused to go into any more detail about the Stonebound beyond the fact that they are enemies to Bloodwrights and should be avoided at all costs.
I hoped when I spoke to Alaric next, he would actually give me some more helpful information and explain more about what being a Bloodwright meant, including what could be done about it.
Surely there is a loophole Uncle Dan just doesn’t know about.
I woke up the next morning groggy, mouth dry, but no headache.
The ring felt tight around my finger, but not uncomfortably so.
I pulled on my uniform for the day, getting my bag together before heading to the kitchen.
Tiffany had already left, but Dan was uncharacteristically sitting at the breakfast counter, sipping coffee.
For the last week, he had always been gone before I went to school.
But here he sat calmly, as if this had always been his routine.
Iris had the morning off, so it was just the two of us today.
“How are you feeling, Mari?” His tired eyes told me he had gotten just about as much rest as I did.
“Okay, I guess.” I shrugged, moving to the fridge to refill my water bottle for the day. “No headaches.”
Uncle Dan chuckled. “You’re handling this better than I did.”
“Really?” I moved closer to the kitchen counter. “How did you become awakened?”
Uncle Dan sighed. “Did Nana ever tell you about Daisy?”
The name didn’t ring any bells. “No.”
He nodded, like he understood why this would be another thing Nana wouldn't have mentioned. “She was my baby sister. She and my mom drowned at Lake Sinclair one summer. I was only about seven when it happened. Daisy was only three.”
“Oh my God,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah, well, I was awakened. But Dad was there to help me cope, be my mentor through it.” He shrugged as if becoming a Bloodwright was just another rite of passage, like puberty or braces. But maybe in a family like ours, it was. “At least he mentored me until he and Sylvia had your dad, Preston.”
“What happened after that?” Nana never spoke much of life before my parents died.
I was only three at the time, living in Massachusetts.
But when my parents died in that car crash, Nana flew up from Georgia and took me with her.
Before I thought she was trying to help Uncle Dan, her stepson, who was fresh out of law school, trying to make his way in the world. Now I understand the real reason.
Uncle Dan shrugged again, draining the last dregs of his coffee.
“Ancient history. Not worth getting into. Besides, I just wanted to check in with you before heading back to work. You sure you’re up for school? I could call and get you a day off if you need. You’ve been through a lot and had a lot of information thrown at you.”
While a day to hide out in the apartment was tempting, I shook my head. “No, I want to go and talk to Alaric about . . .” I gestured to my ring and then to myself. “All of this.”
Uncle Dan smiled tightly as he stood, placing his cup in the sink before pulling me into another hug.
“You’re not alone, Mari. I need you to know that. Even though I’m not your mentor, I’m still here for you. You understand?”
His voice cracked on the last word, as if he really was hurt that he wouldn’t be the one to mentor me. I was sure that in another life, it would have been him or, preferably, my own father, who I couldn’t even remember.
“I know.” I hugged him back.
Mr. Lewis dropped me off at the front of the school, where Sara-Kate was waiting for me by the front gates.
I had kept my promise by texting her when I had gotten up and when I was on my way so she knew when I’d arrive.
She looked me up and down, as if searching for some hidden injuries or defects. If only she knew.
“Hey,” I greeted, bumping my shoulder with hers as we made our way through the courtyard and into the main entrance hall. “Look, still alive and everything.”
“Ha. Ha. You’re hilarious.” Sara-Kate rolled her eyes as she walked me toward my first-period class.
“You didn’t have to wait for me or walk me to class, you know?”
“Yes, but you apparently are prone to headaches, fainting, and God knows what else. If I don’t keep an eye on you, who will?” She laughed just as we rounded the corner of the hallway.
“I can take over babysitting duty from here.” A deep, British and familiar voice echoed from behind.
Sara-Kate and I exchanged glances, and my cheeks flushed as we turned to find Alaric, his backpack slung over his shoulder casually, looking more like a model for a school in a magazine than an actual student.
The ring on my pointer finger seemed to thrum, almost as if it sensed his nearness and appreciated it.
“Oh look, it’s the boy who’s always at the right place at the right time,” Sara-Kate chided, glancing between me and Alaric, looking like she was about to bark at him to leave us alone.
“Be nice,” I hissed. Obviously, Sara-Kate wasn’t over how Alaric had originally treated me when he ditched our study sessions and promptly ignored my existence. If only she knew how bound we apparently were to each other now.
“I deserve that.” Alaric admitted, glancing at Sara-Kate. “I was an ass, and this is my formal apology for that. To both of you.”
He glanced at me, the sincerity in his eyes ringing true just as the ring warmed, as if it were urging me to forgive him.
“I see. Well, if you are truly sorry, then I guess you will need to make it up to us. Dinner at Marea’s this Friday would be a good start.” Sara-Kate smiled widely. I looked at her, eyes wide with shock. Was she actually doing this right now?
Alaric considered her offer seriously. “You’re right. It’s the least I could do. How does seven sound?”
“Perfect!” Sara-Kate replied, both of them apparently ignoring me as they made these plans. “But I just remembered that I have a thing that night, but you two should have a great time!” She turned immediately, heading to her first period.
“What thing?” I yelled after her as she scampered away. Did Sara-Kate just set me and Alaric up on a date? What the hell?
“Really important thing!” She yelled over the crowd of confused students who had to duck out of her way. “Can’t miss it. Tell you about it later.”
“Typical.” I muttered under my breath, heat coursing through my body as I turned to face Alaric alone. I so wished I could have told Sara-Kate about the Bloodwright bonding thing because maybe then she wouldn’t have done this to me.
“You can completely ignore her and not worry about dinner or anything.” I tried to cover, flustered at the thought of going to some fancy New York restaurant with Alaric.
“Oh no, she made an excellent point.” He nodded, his eyes glancing at the ring on my finger. “We have a lot to discuss, and spending more time together is only going to come with the territory of our . . . situation.”
Right. So Uncle Dan was right, and Alaric did know what this ring meant and that we were indeed bonded as Bloodwright mentor and apprentice. Great.
“Speaking of which.” I steered the subject back on track to what was important. “We need to talk. My uncle explained this whole Blood—”
Before I could get the word out, Alaric quickly but gently covered my mouth with his hand, silencing me. My cheeks flushed at his nearness, warmth pooling in my belly.
His face turned as grave as his tone. “Not here. Later. After school. Meet me in the library.”
I waited until he released my mouth before quipping. “Do you plan on showing up this time?”
A flash of what looked like hurt reflected in his features before he nodded. “Yes. I swear.”
The day dragged on as I waited for my hopefully enlightening “study session” with Alaric. To his credit, he didn’t ignore me during first period, but was actually talking to me, working with me as we tackled a genetics lab—hilarious considering what new genetics I had just learned about myself.
But it wasn’t just the first period where Alaric paid me attention.
It was in between every class as he walked me from room to room throughout the day, even when doing so was definitely going to make him late to some of his classes that were across campus.
But without fail, he was standing outside each of my classroom doors, ready to walk me to my next class.
He even walked me to lunch, even though he had lacrosse training on the field that period.
Sara-Kate was all smug as I sat down and Alaric sat my lunch tray in front of me. Did I mention he insisted on carrying my satchel and then carrying my lunch tray as we went through the line in the school cafeteria?
“I see someone is taking his babysitting duties very seriously.” Sara-Kate giggled as soon as Alaric ran off, most likely in trouble with his coach for being late.
“Shut up.” I fumed, tugging at the ring that seemed to throb when Alaric wasn’t nearby. Stupid cursed ring. “So what is the majorly important thing that you have on Friday night that you can’t come to dinner with us?”
“Thing?” Sara-Kate asked innocently. “What thing?”
I threw a grape at her in retaliation for her clear attempt to force Alaric and me together, annoyed at how my best friend was determined to be my wingwoman no matter what.