Chapter 12

The double doors to the study creak slightly and I hear footsteps approaching. A young, pale man enters. He is dressed in a white robe and silver rimmed glasses. His short golden hair falls over his brows in messy curls. With his bright eyes focused on the piece of paper in his hands, he does not seem to notice I am out of bed as he slowly totters towards me.

I let him continue until he sees my feet, pauses, looks up and blanches. "I—"

I do not let him finish.

Grabbing his collar, I pull his elbow and twist him, so that my sharp claws rest on the beating vein in his throat. The boy immediately goes lax, then two seconds later breathes again and raises his arms.

He lets out a quick flurry of stutters that are far from words, let alone sentences.

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