Chapter 49

VALERIA. Everything around me seems to start melting. The walls, the floor… everything. I find myself staring at the golden doorknob in front of me, waiting for it to blend into the background, into a muck of color and odd shapes, so I won’t be tempted to go inside the dorm room. But it stays there, bright and sharp, as though it’s telling me to grab it so I can see them all. The problem is, I can’t move. I don’t think I can even breathe. Something is blocking my airways, and I think it’s white-hot anger. “Investigate?” Auric repeats incredulously, like he’s waiting for the two to tell him that they’re both kidding. “You want to investigate Valeria, our friend?” “Yes,” Stefano says, and I don’t know how to feel about the fact that he doesn’t seem entirely convinced with his words. Should I be relieved and thankful or should I be livid? Because why on earth would he say these things if he doesn’t believe them? “She’s important to us, and that’s why we have to do this. For her.” Au