The Cerulean (The Cerulean Duology #1) - Amy Ewing Page 0,61

wise. It was merely speculation on my part. We have no idea what—”

“Leo, will you allow Ezra to test his theory on you?” Without waiting for a response, he turned back to Kiernan. “It’s only blood, for god’s sake. What’s the worst it could do?”

Leo was not thrilled with the idea of being a guinea pig for this experiment. He wished he’d kept his mouth shut about the bruise. But he could not disappoint his father.

“It’s all right,” he said. “I don’t mind.”

Kiernan hesitated. “I don’t know. . . .”

“He said he didn’t mind,” Xavier said.

Kiernan looked as nervous as Leo felt as he took out the vial, unscrewed the top, and then carefully inserted an eyedropper into the blood. “We do not know if it should be ingested, or if a topical application will suffice.”

“Let’s try topical first,” Leo suggested, before anyone could say otherwise. He did not want to drink blood if he didn’t have to. But he knew that if push came to shove, he would do it if his father ordered him to.

Kiernan approached the bed like he was approaching a wounded animal. He held the dropper over Leo’s battered face, took a deep breath, and carefully released three drops of blood.

The effect was instantaneous. Leo could not help the moan of pleasure that escaped his lips as a soothing coolness spread across his face. He could feel the blood seeping into his wound, the bizarre sensation of his skin knitting together, the swelling decreasing until the pain had vanished completely. A crackle of heat ran through his veins, making his scalp prickle, and he heard the sound of a girl’s laugh as a familiar scent filled his nostrils—it was the one he had detected in Sera’s hair but more potent. Flowers, Leo realized, but also not flowers; the alluring smell of freesia mixed alongside the freshness of basil with an undertone he couldn’t place but that made him think of starlight. Then it was gone, and the laugh disappeared, and the heat vanished.

“Holy shit,” James muttered, staring at Leo, awestruck.

Kiernan was shaking. Leo sat up, rubbing his face. The aches were gone. He opened and closed his jaw, and it felt like it did on any other day.

“I have never seen anything like this in all my years,” Kiernan murmured. “And I have seen a fair many things.”

“How do I look?” Leo asked, and James laughed.

“Good as new,” he said. “My god. Who is this girl?”

Triumph lit up Xavier’s eyes, small torches of greed that made Leo wish for a split second that the blood had done nothing and he’d been left to suffer the pain. He could still hear the laugh in his ears; it was carefree and full of joy, and something about it made Leo feel deeply ashamed.

“That,” Xavier said, “is not our concern.” He took the vial from Kiernan’s hand and held it up to the light. “We are going to need more of this. Much, much more.”

They left him to convalesce, even though he didn’t really need to. Leo felt that they wanted to talk about all this without him being there, which shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat up gingerly, testing out his newly healed head. He walked to his vanity, staring at his face in the mirror. It was exactly the same as it had been this morning.

Incredible, he had to admit. But also confusing and a bit worrying. He felt like he’d unlocked some secret door that wasn’t his business and was best kept closed. He straightened and put his hands in his pockets, wondering what he should do now, when he felt something sharp against his palm. He pulled out the star necklace, its stone glowing like moonlight.

He held it up, deliberating. He should hand it over to his father—surely Xavier would be pleased by the show of loyalty. But he remembered how desperately the girl had clutched at her neck, the agonized wail when she discovered it was gone. The stone was cool against his hand, reminding him of the soothing sensation as her blood had healed his wounds.

His father had the girl locked in a crate in his theater. Surely that was enough.

Leo hid the necklace in the back of his sock drawer.

19

Agnes

ENEAS DROVE HER TO THE SEAPORT AFTER SHE LEFT THE Grange house.

The docks were always bustling with activity, but they were more crowded this afternoon than usual. In