chapter 7:4

7.4 | A World Soaked in Blood

Dedicated to mxbeebz

Nika's hands curled into fists. "No."

"And yet, by giving him directions to the library,

you aided in his efforts to steal the journal"

"Unwittingly"

"Did you lure your other friends to the abandoned

cabins?"

"That's just"

"Are you the reason Luiza Lazarov got kidnapped?"

Nika was trembling. With fear? Anger? Ren couldn't

detect it.

The Prime Minister released the armrests and

stood straight again, mouth twisting into a vile

grin. "Are you a traitor, Nika Dimitrovich?"

Nika was on her feet in a flash. Ren-along with the

rest of the audience--jolted at the rage that

seemed to pour out of her, hot as molten iron. She

was half-wild, this novice. Ren wondered if Markos

might have found her in some far-off land because,

in this moment, she seemed more jungle-cat than

girl.

"No!"

The word boomed through the Hall of Valentine,

and yet, Rostova didn't shy away. She raised her

hand out before Nika and turned to her purist

allies.

"This is why those with tainted blood don't

deserve to be in the Vigil. How can we trust

halfbloods to protect us if they're cozying up to the

enemy?"

Ren saw Nika's restraint withering, and he

wondered if she might have attacked. Jungle-cat

indeed. But before any violence occurred, Emil

Kovac bolted out of his seat and quickly wedged

himself between them.

"Irina, need I remind you that Nika is one of the

most promising novices at Konstantin Academy?

She's in the top ranks of her Nefili class. She's

proven herself to be a skilled fighter, and she's

passed the psychological exams without a single

red flag"

Misha was tense at Ren's side, leaning over the

balcony railing so far that Ren thought he might

have fallen off if he wasn't careful. There was

fleeting thought to push him, just to see the looks

on the Ministers' faces. But he only elbowed his

friend and the young man took a step back.

In the pit below, Emil held his arms out, either to

shield Nika or to hold her back. "I think I'll

continue the questions from here," he announced.

A moment of tension followed, a silence Ren could

almost touch. Then Rostova ascended the platform

to her emblazoned chair and gracefully tooka

seat.

Nika sunk down again as Emil turned to face her.

"On the night of the attack," said the High Keeper,

"did you see the Volkari take Luiza Lazarov?"

Misha leaned forward again, and Ren didn't bother

warning him this time. Even if they were like

brothers. Sometimes, Misha had to learn from his

stupidity.

Nika opened her mouth, then hesitated, brows

furrowing. "I think s0."

"Please explain."

"There was a woman with bright red hair. She

appeared out of nowhere, then took Lu and ran

into the woods. Three of the wolves followed her"

"And was this woman a Volkari?"

"Maybe. She didn't shift, and her eyes were blue.

Not gold. Ijust assumed..."

Emil looked like he was thinking, trying to solve a

puzzle. But Ren wondered why he'd begun with

the attack. It wasn't like Emil to disregard

something as important as the journal thief.

Perhaps it was because of Azzara's connection to

the Vigil.

"Do you think it's possible that this woman isn't a

wolf? Perhaps she was working alone."

"I don't know" Nika replied, shaking her head.

"Dante said he needed one of us. It seems unlikely

that the red-haired lady wasn't there to help him."

"Unlikely, but possible." Emil shrugged. "Perhaps

the wolves didn't have anything to do with Luiza's

kidnapping"

The moment Emil had said it, Misha turned around

antechamber, where she made a direct route to

the restroom. She held herself over the sink,

inhaling and exhaling again and again. If she was

going to vomit, it would have to be here, because

she didn't think her trembling legs would carry her

safely to the toilet.

Quickly turning on the faucet, Nika splashed water

onto her cheeks, eyes, and forehead. The coolness

of it immediately soothed her, and she huffed in

relief that she wouldn't plunge into a breakdown.

After cutting off the water, she gathered a handful

of paper towels to dry her face, then scrutinized

herself in the mirror. Dark circles gathered beneath

her eyes. Her skin was pale, dust-gold braids

looking like they'd been caught ina hurricane.

She didn't know how long she stared at herself,

trying to forget all that had been said and done in

the interview, before the walls spoke.

"Feeling ill?"

Nika whirled toward the door to discover that the

voice hadn't come from the walls, but rather a

man. She might have exclaimed what the hell he

was doing in a ladies' restroom, if the sight of him

hadn't stolen her ability to speak.

His princely figure leaned against the door, and a

devilish smirk hung off his chin. Not a single word

could describe the harmony with which this man's

face shaped itself into one entity. Skin as golden as

the sun possessed a subtle, glowing halo. The

inner light of an angel.

Nika was struck dumb.

When she finished gawking, the recognition

clicked. This was Viktor Kostopoulos-the Rogue

Minister and the only person with a more

scandalous reputation than herself.

"Tell me, Nika." His voice was as slick as the rest of

him, and his eyes, amber in color, shimmered

seductively. "What's it like, being the world's most

infamous halfblood?"

The word rocked through her like a slap on the

cheek. "What's it like being the world's most

infamous Minister?" she bit back.

Viktor's smile grew. "I think you could use a night

of fun," he said in a dangerous purr.

Nika assessed him for a moment, then said, "As a

matter of fact, I could"