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Authors: Verónica Wolff
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he didn’t join in the amusement. It was a dumb move that could get McCloud killed, and I braced for some form of retaliation.
“Have you urgent mathematical issues to discuss instead?” Carden raised a brow. “I’ll leave you to your triangles then.”
He was stupid and gutsy, not giving a care for what anyone else thought. And God help me, watching his strong back as he walked away stole my breath. Carden was all courage, and suddenly it wasn’t a stretch to picture him riding around on a horse, waving a sword.
The moment Carden was out of earshot, Alcántara spun on me, his black eyes boring into me. “As you may have heard, another young woman was exsanguinated.”
“I—I did hear,” I stammered, worried what the abrupt topic change might indicate.
“This time, the victim was not merely a Guidon. She was a Watcher. Those who ascend to Watcher are the cream of the cream. The elite. Such young women are not often caught unawares. Our Watchers do not die easily.”
“Yes,” I said carefully. “I know.” Every alarm in my head shrilled; every shield slammed into place. Why was he discussing this with
me
? He couldn’t seriously think I had anything to do with it.
“We are very curious as to Master McCloud’s whereabouts yesterday evening. Do you know,
querida
?”
He’d torn the ground from under me. He suspected Carden. Not only did Alcántara suspect him—I could tell by the look in those coal black eyes that he was after him, guns blazing.
But was this an investigation to discover if McCloud was guilty of murder, or was he also investigating whether he was guilty of being with
me
?
For all I knew, Alcántara had seen us talking last night, and this was a test to see if I’d lie for Carden. It was a stunt he’d pulled before. “Yes, actually,” I replied as calmly as I could. “We exchanged words in front of the dorm after dinner.”
He put a finger under my chin, like he needed a better angle with which to peer into my traitorous eyes. “Are you certain?”
“Yes, sir,” I replied, trying to sound blasé. “I’m certain. In fact, Tracer Ronan was there as well.” I cringed instantly. Why had I brought
him
into this?
Alcántara tilted his head as if to say he found all of this deeply fascinating. “What a compelling trio. Whatever did you discuss?”
“The importance of swimming,” I stammered.
“How peculiar.”
Relief set in. We were on to a new topic. “Ronan—I mean,
Tracer
Ronan—will be my swim instructor again this term.”
“I see.” He nodded. “Do you know where Master McCloud went after your little tête-à-tête?”
Every muscle in my body seized. Which was worse—Alcántara suspecting that Carden and I were close enough for me to know his comings and goings, or that Carden might have something to do with Watcher Angel’s death?
“I…I don’t know where he went.” And I didn’t. I didn’t know where he went, where he rested, how he spent his time. Carden had told me to keep my distance, and even if I wanted to defy him, I didn’t have the first clue as to how I’d find him.
“I cannot help but note that these unfortunate incidents have coincided with the arrival of McCloud,” Alcántara said, adopting a pose of elegant thoughtfulness. “I wonder if something happened to him in that dungeon. If our enemies poisoned his mind somehow.”
“I couldn’t begin to say.” My words hung, and Alcántara did nothing to fill the silence.
We stood frozen, locked there on the path, but footsteps coming from behind pulled both of us from the moment.
I looked over my shoulder. Who knew I’d be so glad to see my mysterious roommate?
“Hello.” Mei was calm, neither overly formal, nor overly casual. You’d have thought the vampires were an everyday occurrence in Long Island.
“Hey.” I edged from Alcántara to insert myself between them. I’d gathered I was supposed to protect Mei-Ling from outside forces, but at the moment, I wanted to
“Have you urgent mathematical issues to discuss instead?” Carden raised a brow. “I’ll leave you to your triangles then.”
He was stupid and gutsy, not giving a care for what anyone else thought. And God help me, watching his strong back as he walked away stole my breath. Carden was all courage, and suddenly it wasn’t a stretch to picture him riding around on a horse, waving a sword.
The moment Carden was out of earshot, Alcántara spun on me, his black eyes boring into me. “As you may have heard, another young woman was exsanguinated.”
“I—I did hear,” I stammered, worried what the abrupt topic change might indicate.
“This time, the victim was not merely a Guidon. She was a Watcher. Those who ascend to Watcher are the cream of the cream. The elite. Such young women are not often caught unawares. Our Watchers do not die easily.”
“Yes,” I said carefully. “I know.” Every alarm in my head shrilled; every shield slammed into place. Why was he discussing this with
me
? He couldn’t seriously think I had anything to do with it.
“We are very curious as to Master McCloud’s whereabouts yesterday evening. Do you know,
querida
?”
He’d torn the ground from under me. He suspected Carden. Not only did Alcántara suspect him—I could tell by the look in those coal black eyes that he was after him, guns blazing.
But was this an investigation to discover if McCloud was guilty of murder, or was he also investigating whether he was guilty of being with
me
?
For all I knew, Alcántara had seen us talking last night, and this was a test to see if I’d lie for Carden. It was a stunt he’d pulled before. “Yes, actually,” I replied as calmly as I could. “We exchanged words in front of the dorm after dinner.”
He put a finger under my chin, like he needed a better angle with which to peer into my traitorous eyes. “Are you certain?”
“Yes, sir,” I replied, trying to sound blasé. “I’m certain. In fact, Tracer Ronan was there as well.” I cringed instantly. Why had I brought
him
into this?
Alcántara tilted his head as if to say he found all of this deeply fascinating. “What a compelling trio. Whatever did you discuss?”
“The importance of swimming,” I stammered.
“How peculiar.”
Relief set in. We were on to a new topic. “Ronan—I mean,
Tracer
Ronan—will be my swim instructor again this term.”
“I see.” He nodded. “Do you know where Master McCloud went after your little tête-à-tête?”
Every muscle in my body seized. Which was worse—Alcántara suspecting that Carden and I were close enough for me to know his comings and goings, or that Carden might have something to do with Watcher Angel’s death?
“I…I don’t know where he went.” And I didn’t. I didn’t know where he went, where he rested, how he spent his time. Carden had told me to keep my distance, and even if I wanted to defy him, I didn’t have the first clue as to how I’d find him.
“I cannot help but note that these unfortunate incidents have coincided with the arrival of McCloud,” Alcántara said, adopting a pose of elegant thoughtfulness. “I wonder if something happened to him in that dungeon. If our enemies poisoned his mind somehow.”
“I couldn’t begin to say.” My words hung, and Alcántara did nothing to fill the silence.
We stood frozen, locked there on the path, but footsteps coming from behind pulled both of us from the moment.
I looked over my shoulder. Who knew I’d be so glad to see my mysterious roommate?
“Hello.” Mei was calm, neither overly formal, nor overly casual. You’d have thought the vampires were an everyday occurrence in Long Island.
“Hey.” I edged from Alcántara to insert myself between them. I’d gathered I was supposed to protect Mei-Ling from outside forces, but at the moment, I wanted to
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