Asylum (Causal Enchantment #2)(15)

“I have to agree, Valentina,” Leo said sternly in his Irish brogue as he entered the room. “Only an idiot goes out in these temperatures without good reason. Don’t leave this cabin again without being properly dressed, and only with someone’s knowledge.”

Valentina turned to regard Leo, her bright eyes narrowing ever so slightly with displeasure before they relaxed. “Okay,” she agreed, smiling sweetly. If Leo’s severe reprimand ruffled her, I couldn’t tell.

“Why would you . . . ” Julian’s voice drifted off and he shook his head at his foolish sister one last time before turning to Leo, his expression wary. He opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated. “Do you know what happened to our parents?” he finally asked, his tone more respectful than yesterday’s. Leo’s blunt threat must have forced him to check his cockiness.

The wrinkles in Leo’s heavily creased forehead deepened. He nodded. “That’s why I came in here.” He paused. “Unfortunately, your parents didn’t survive. There were just too many . . . of them to control.”

“Too many?” Julian repeated, confusion in his eyes.

He hadn’t seen the horde of Ratheus vampires appear, I realized. He had been inside. The guy really had no idea what had happened.

“They died quickly, if that’s any consolation. I’m sorry.” Contrasted with his callousness the day before, Leo’s soft tone indicated authenticity. I noticed he wouldn’t use the term “vampires,” though everyone in the room knew exactly what they were.

I hazarded a glance at Julian to see hollow shock in the eyes that stared back at Leo. Instantly, I pitied him. I knew what he was feeling. It had consumed me only five years ago, the night I received news of my mother’s death. He was now an orphan. At least he still had his sister . . .

Julian’s brown eyes slowly slid first to the dogs, then to me. The muscles in his jaw tightened. “How are you involved in this?” he asked, barely above a whisper.

Max was instantly between us, his lips curling back to expose razor-sharp teeth. He snarled a warning.

“Calm down, Max,” I said sharply.

There was no need. Max’s ferocity—normally enough to make anyone wary—went unnoticed. Julian continued to stare at me with haunted eyes. When he spoke again, it was more to himself than anyone else. “They will all die. Every last one of them.” With that he stormed off, his words a swift kick to my stomach.

Movement beside me drew my eye. Valentina peeled off her sweater and tossed it haphazardly over a chair as she walked over to the couch nearest to me. She seemed surprisingly . . . fine.

I hesitated. “Are you okay?” I asked as gently as possible, moving to sit beside her. I hadn’t spoken to her since the day I helped her up from the cobblestones after her fainting spell.

Confusion flashed in her bright doe eyes while she worked to comprehend my meaning. “Oh! You mean because of my parents? Yeah, I’m fine. I figured they were dead.”

A small sound escaped me and my jaw dropped. Had I heard her wrong? She must have realized how callous she sounded, because she quickly added, “I was so sad last night that I cried myself to sleep. It’s out of my system now.” Her tone held zero sincerity. How could anyone be over their parents’ deaths in a night? Shock! That’s how! I finally realized. That was the only explanation.

I glanced over at Leo; he wore a perplexed frown. Good; it wasn’t just me who found the entire exchange strange. Shaking his head, he walked back toward the kitchen, muttering under his breath. I thought I caught the word “fool,” but I couldn’t be sure.

She’s not right in the head, Max mumbled. And she smells . . . off.

I shot a disapproving look at the giant dog. Of course she wasn’t right in the head. She’d just found out both her parents were murdered by vampires!

With a heavy groan, Max dropped to the ground in front of the fireplace and closed his eyes. I knew he was still listening intently.

“What’re you reading?” Valentina asked, eyeing the book I still clutched. Before I could answer, she spied the deck of photos sitting on the coffee table. A picture of Caden sat on top. “Oh. He’s hot!” She reached over to grab the photo. The sleeve of her black shirt slid up, revealing what looked like a fresh burn on her forearm.

“What happened?” I exclaimed, wincing as I leaned in to inspect the wound, at least four inches long and two inches wide. A large red X was branded in the center.

She quickly pushed her sleeve back down, mumbling, “I got too close to the wood stove.”

I winced again. “Do you want Leo to look at it? I’m sure he could help you.” I started to rise, ready to fetch the warlock for his magical healing powers.

“No, I’m fine!” She vigorously waved Caden’s picture in front of my face, forcing my focus away from her arm. “Who’s he?”

I smiled shyly. “That’s Caden.”

“Is he a vampire?”

I hesitated, then nodded.

“He’s really good-looking. Does he have a girlfriend?”

“Um . . . ” Yeah, me. Except he tried to kill me. Inconsequential point, really. What was he to me now? A boyfriend-in-waiting with a bad habit he needed to kick before he could be anywhere near me? How pathetic. I felt my cheeks flush.

“Oh . . . ” She smiled knowingly. “Too bad for me.” She leaned back on the couch, crossing her arms behind her head. Her wound didn’t seem to bother her and she certainly wasn’t acting like she’d just found out her parents had been murdered, even if shock was numbing her reaction. She seemed . . . triumphant.