“She’s in the infirmary recuperating from injuries too,” he said, reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair from my burning cheek. “We should go check on them later.”
And then it hit me. The dog. Oh my God, the dog. But that didn’t make sense; it was impossible. That meant she was. what? Some sort of shape-shifter? Or a. a. “Werewolf?” I whispered.
“I believe she prefers to be called a lycanthrope,” Aidan offered. “A vampire’s natural enemy, though it would seem Jenna didn’t get the memo.”
I nodded, unable to speak. She’d saved us. Somehow she’d saved us all. But why? She wasn’t our friend; she owed us nothing.
“What about Blackwell?” I asked, finding my voice again.
“No longer a threat” was all Aidan said in reply. He rose from his chair, his legs long and lean in a pair of frayed jeans, his skin pale against a rumpled black T-shirt. He was barefoot, I realized. I’d never seen him barefoot before.
“Are you feeling well enough to get up and get dressed? Cece brought you some clean clothes, there on the bed. She’s the one who undressed you last night, by the way.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
The barest hint of a smile tipped the corners of his mouth. “Anyway, if you’re well enough, the headmaster wishes to speak with you.”
So Blackwell was still around, the traitor. “How can you stand to look at him, after what he did?”
“I think you’ll find there have been some changes at Winter-haven,” he said cryptically, reaching for a pair of sneakers and slipping them on.
“Should I leave while you get dressed?”
“No.” No, I didn’t want him to leave my side — not now, not ever. “Just. just turn your back or something.”
With a nod, he turned toward the bookshelves, his hands thrust into his pockets while I reached for my clothes. Luckily Cece had remembered a bra, since I wasn’t wearing one now. Moving quickly, I shed Aidan’s shirt and put on my own stuff. “Okay,” I called out, zipping up my hoodie.
“Ready.”
Aidan turned around to face me, a sad, almost bittersweet smile on his face. “Before we go”—he cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable all of a sudden—“I just wanted to make sure you understand. those things I said last night, before Jenna struck. Surely you realize. you know why I said those things, right?”
As painful as it was, I allowed myself to remember. When Aidan had said those hateful words, I’d known exactly what he was doing — and why.
Still, I’d gotten angry; I’d felt myself grow stronger, more sure of my abilities. I’d been poised to strike — I would have struck if Jenna hadn’t attacked when she did. Whether I would have struck Aidan or Julius, I’d never know for sure.
But Jenna’s appearance had changed everything. It had been the point where reality had veered away from my vision — it was the new element, the one that allowed me to believe we could change the outcome.
“Of course I know why you said those things,” I said at last. He would have sacrificed himself for me, for my friends. “Did you really think I’d believe it?”
In reply he reached for me and drew me to him — roughly, almost violently. I felt his lips in my hair, his fingers biting into my shoulders, as if he’d never let me go.
But then he did. Releasing my shoulders, he took a step back, his gaze meeting mine. I held my breath, the familiar frisson of electricity passing between us, making gooseflesh rise on my skin. Relief washed over me. It’s still there.
Raising one hand to his lips, he kissed his fingertips, and then pressed them against my heart. Something about the gesture said more than any words could, bringing tears to my eyes.
I stood outside that big carved-wood door as I had so many times in the past, only this time Aidan stood by my side. I was scared — terrified, really.
How could Aidan trust Dr. Blackwell again? He could be plotting against him still, at this very minute, summoning some other sect of rogue vampires to Winterhaven, some other killers who operated outside vampire law.
At last the door swung open, and I took a deep breath. Squeezing Aidan’s cold hand in my own, I stepped inside and waited for the big leather chair behind the desk to swivel around.
It did, and all I could do was gasp.
“Good morning, Miss McKenna,” Mrs. Girard said cheerily, her hair perfectly coiffed. “I’m glad to see you looking so well.”
My mouth fell open, but no words came out before I snapped it shut again.
Mrs. G. just smiled. “If you’ll take a seat, chérie, I’ll explain it all to you.”
Nodding, I sank into the chair before me. Aidan stood behind me, his hands resting on my shoulders.
“Where’s. where’s Blackwell?” I stammered, finding my voice at last.
“Gone,” she said simply. “I am headmaster now. Acting headmaster, technically, though I’m certain the board will quickly make the appointment permanent.”
“He’s gone, or dead?” I had to know.
Mrs. Girard looked me square in the eye. “Dead. I’m only sorry I didn’t learn the truth in time to foil their plot and spare you the trouble.”
“Are you saying that you’re. you’re one of. of them?”
“A vampire? Yes, chérie. I am.”
I twisted in my chair, looking up accusingly at Aidan. “She’s one too, and you didn’t tell me?”
“Please, Miss McKenna,” Mrs. Girard said, and I turned back to face her. “You must know that he could not tell you. It’s against our laws to do so, and the punishment would have been severe. Only I could tell you such a truth without punishment, and I had no cause to do so. Until now, of course.”
Remembering the three days of torture Aidan had endured as punishment for telling me about Dr. Blackwell, I just nodded, swallowing hard.
I’m sorry, I said to Aidan. I shouldn’t have accused youNo, I understand. But just know that she is very powerful, more so than Blackwell was. Much more so.
In other words, we should be cautious.
“But yes, I am a vampire, and Aidan Gray is perhaps my greatest handiwork, my most valuable creation. I could not possibly let Blackwell destroy that, not when Aidan offers our kind such hope.”
She turned you? I asked him, completely stunned. Mrs. Girard is the vampire who did this to you? But I thought you didn’t knowI didn’t. Not until last night, while you were sleeping.
“Anyway, Miss McKenna,” Mrs. Girard continued, unaware that Aidan and I were having our own private little conversation, “I want you to know that you are safe here. Blackwell was a fool — weak and easily manipulated, it would seem. Winterhaven was meant to be a safe haven, a nurturing environment for those in need of one, even a Sâbbat. That Blackwell violated that tenet — well, it’s unconscionable. I hope you’ll choose to stay on.
For now, at least, despite the recent unpleasantness.”
“But. but I thought you weren’t allowed to. you know, harm one of your kind. Won’t the Tribunal—” She waved one hand in dismissal. “Oh, have no fear about that, Miss McKenna. You see, I am the Tribunal. Chairwoman, at least.”
I nodded, trying to digest that. The kindly Mrs. Girard, chair of some merciless vampire court? She was part of the group that tortured you? I asked Aidan.
She’s the one who ordered it, he answered.