Bloodline Secrecy: A Young Adult Urban Fantasy Academy Novel (Bloodline Academy Book 2) Lan Chan (pdf e book reader .TXT) 📖

“I don’t know. Maybe I didn’t really believe they were serious about suspending their golden boy.”

“Did you just come here to insult me?”

My legs were slightly jittery from the fright and from being in close proximity to him. I allowed myself to sit down on the stone floor, my legs tucked underneath me.

“I came because Astrid is worried about you.”

“Astrid knows I’ll be fine.”

“Your version of fine and a normal person’s version are two different things.”

He dropped back down to the ground and started doing more reps. “Now that you’ve seen me you can go.”

“I haven’t seen you,” I said, watching the rigid line of his back. “I’ve seen the asshole you want everyone else to see.”

The next time he pushed up, Kai flipped so that he was seated too. His back was to the wall, one knee lifted. “If I recall correctly, you were the one who asked me to leave you alone. You don’t get to come here and expect me to be different.”

I placed my hands on the concrete in front of me. “Then tell me you didn’t hit Bradley because of me. Tell me you’re not in here because you refuse to apologise, because of me.”

“What do you care?”

“I care because I’m being blamed for what you do.”

This time he leaned forward. It might have been a trick of the light, but I couldn’t see any green in his eyes. “I’m Malachi Pendragon. I can do whatever I want.”

That one statement that harkened back to when I’d said it to him told me everything. My jaw clamped down hard. “I don’t need you to fight my battles. I don’t need you, period.”

“Why weren’t you at school on Friday?”

I blinked. “I didn’t feel well.”

“Why?”

I threw my arms up in the air. “That’s none of your business. For all you know it could have been feminine problems. I’m none of your business. Do you have metal in your skull or something? Get it through your thick head.”

“You said it was my fault that you’re being harassed.”

I inhaled slowly. I had said that. I should have known he would have taken it to heart. “I’m sorry. I was upset. I shouldn’t have blamed you for what those stupid kids at the Academy are doing. I can handle them. I don’t need you getting suspended on my behalf.”

“I didn’t do it for you.”

“No. You did it because of me. Just like you turn into a terrified rage maniac when you think Cassie is in danger. I’m not a wallflower. I can take care of myself.”

“Then why are you running?”

It was a question I couldn’t answer. He knew it as well as I did. “One day I won’t run anymore,” I said. In that moment I knew it was the truth. I wasn’t close to being a match for Lucifer. But I damn well wasn’t going down without a fight. “But that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t need you to interfere with my business.”

He stared at me hard.

“Do you think I’m weak?” I asked.

His eyes grew wide. “Blue.”

I held up my hand. “Answer the question.”

“No.” It was immediate. He didn’t have to think about it.

“Then why are you acting like I’m going to crumble at the first sign of trouble? Yeah, sometimes I don’t feel up to taking shit from people. I might skip out on a few days of school. But I will never let something as trivial as what one asshole says break me.”

I got up to my feet. “Pull yourself together,” I said. “Astrid is worried about you and she’s lonely at school. That’s what you need to be worried about. Not me.”

I turned on my heel and walked out.

Astrid got to her feet as soon as she saw me. “Well?”

“We talked.”

“He spoke to you?”

“Yes.”

She smiled. I was surprised when she reached out and took my hand. “I didn’t say anything he wanted to hear,” I told her.

“That’s okay,” she said. “He’s not used to good news anyway. But as long as he hears it, it means he’s listening.”

I smiled back at her to hide the fact that my heart was breaking.

13

I really wasn’t helping my own cause by bugging the professors to sign the petition for low-magic users. Sophie was understandably mortified.

“I don’t know why you’re so embarrassed,” Nora said through the mirror. It had been a week since my visit to Seraphina. Kai had returned to school. Nobody treated him any differently. In fact, they seemed to revere him even more. His little stunt had been a reminder that he might be Raphael’s but he could take down any of Michael’s blood. Some people had all the luck.

“I’m surprised Jacqueline hasn’t said anything to you about harassing professors,” Sophie shot at me.

“How am I harassing them?” I said. “All I do is ask them to sign the petition if they want to. It’s not like I’m holding a wand to their heads.”

“It’s super awkward.”

“Well, I for one am glad one of you is taking this seriously,” Nora said.

Sophie rolled her eyes. “She’s just trying to find something to take her mind off the fact that she’s still having a fight with Kai.”

“Oh, is that still going on?”

“Excuse me!” I said. “I’m not having a fight with him.”

“Sounds like it to me,” Nora said.

“Can we get back onto topic?”

“If you say so, dear. Though I don’t see what the problem is. He’s obviously interested in having a relationship.”

I could have died right there. “Why don’t you talk to your own daughter about her relationship with Max!”

Sophie literally punched me. It didn’t hurt. Much. I rubbed my shoulder while Nora frowned. “What do we need to talk about? Max is a lovely boy. As long as you’re safe, I don’t mind.”

What parallel universe were we in? Sophie shot me a smug grin. “Your father might have other opinions, though.”

“Yeah, let’s get Mani on the line.”

“Let’s not,” Sophie said. “Anyway, we have to go, Mama. Homework and all that.”

“Alright.