Evelyn’s worried face made my chest tighten. She’d always been there for me, and here I was, making her freak out again.
“I’m sorry, Ev,” I said softly. “Just… trust me on this one, okay?”
The truth was messier than I could explain. Even if I wanted out, I was in too deep already. My only option was to ride this current and look for an exit strategy later.
Evelyn took my hand, her fingers cold against mine. “Seraph, promise me you’ll stay sharp. These creatures-they’re manipulative as hell.”
“I will,” I smiled, trying to look more confident than I felt.
So far, neither Marek nor Kael had hurt me. They seemed almost… human.
I’d agreed to meet Magnus at the medical lab today to check out the job. I threw on a white tee and jeans and headed to campus.
Magnus was already waiting at the entrance. Even from a distance, I could spot that blond hair and those bright blue eyes. He was nothing like Kael. Where Kael was all rough edges and raw power, Magnus was refined elegance-tall but not bulky, handsome in a classical way.
Today he wore a crisp blue shirt and white slacks, looking like he’d stepped out of a magazine. His face lit up when he spotted me.
“Morning, Seraphina,” he called, voice warm as sunshine.
“Hey,” I smiled back.
We walked to the lab together, cutting through the tree-lined path that ran like a green tunnel across campus. Sunlight dappled through the leaves, creating shifting patterns on the ground. The breeze carried the scent of grass and earth, and for once, I felt almost normal.
“Sleep okay last night?” Magnus asked suddenly.
“Yeah, fine,” I lied.
“Hmm. Did you use that aromatherapy stuff?”
“I did. Smelled amazing.”
I didn’t mention how it had eventually made me sick. No need to hurt his feelings.
“Glad you liked it,” he said, but his eyes lingered on me a beat too long, studying me like I was one of his lab specimens. Before I could dwell on it, he looked away.
The medical lab was impressive-our school’s program ranked in the top tier nationally. The space was filled with analytical instruments, microscopes, and culturing equipment that probably cost more than my entire education.
“Don’t worry about cleaning the equipment,” Magnus explained. “We handle that after experiments. You’ll just tidy the lab on weekends-wipe down surfaces, clean floors and windows, make sure the ventilation’s working. Basic stuff.”
Relief washed over me. I’d been worried about breaking some million-dollar microscope.
“That doesn’t sound bad at all.”
Still, the sight of organs floating in formaldehyde made my stomach flip. Even knowing they were donated for research didn’t make them less creepy.
My mind flashed to last night’s dream-Vivienne’s body splitting open, intestines spilling out while I felt nothing but satisfaction. But that wasn’t me. The real me could barely look at these specimens without feeling queasy.
“You scared?” Magnus noticed my discomfort.
“A little,” I admitted.
“Don’t be. Just think of them like animal organs. You don’t freak out during biology labs, right?”
His comparison hit wrong. Humans and animals weren’t the same thing. People eat chicken or fish without blinking, but we don’t eat each other. It was the first time Magnus had said something that made me uneasy-this gentle, empathetic guy suddenly sounding so… clinical.
“It’s not really the same,” I said, forcing a smile. “But I’ll get used to it.”
I figured he was just trying to help in his awkward way. I demonstrated my cleaning skills, and he immediately broke into applause.
“Perfect! Everything’s spotless.”
His praise made me blush. The work was nothing compared to my shifts at Eagle Club, though the pay was way lower. Still, it would cover groceries and coffee. If something better came along, I’d jump ship.
“Thanks. Let me buy you lunch as a thank-you.”
“Well, I won’t turn down free food,” he laughed.
We hit up a nearby restaurant, and for a while, everything felt normal. Just two friends sharing a meal, no werewolves or nightmares or weird supernatural drama. The guy across from me was cute, kind, and made my heart beat a little faster.
Then my pulse spiked for a different reason. My ears started ringing-that familiar sensation I only got around one person.
I turned and saw Kael standing nearby, his dark eyes locked on mine.
And beside him was Vivienne.
The irony wasn’t lost on me. He knew how she’d tormented me, yet there he was, standing with her like they were old friends.