Clarity: A Young Adult Paranormal Vampire Romance (Blood Haze Book 4) Read Free Page B

However, this is how it must be. There is no alternative.”
    “Liam, I’m the Chancellor, now,” I said. “I don’t even really understand what that means, but I do know that it means I can’t run from every little thing that comes along. I basically have the fate of our race in my hands, and I can’t shirk that responsibility.”
    Liam sighed heavily, and with his head hung in defeat, he relented, “Then we need a plan.”
    “I agree,” I said. I looked at Alexi and asked, “What can we do?”
    Alex i looked pensive. His eyebrows furrowed deeply as he lost himself in thought. His eye twitched slightly. I brushed a strand of his long, white locks away from his face. Alexi had been keeping his hood down around me since our wedding, but only around Liam and me. He was still very sensitive about his scar, and I guess nothing I could have said would have made him realize how beautiful he was to me.
    “We take the fight to Dmitri,” Alexi answered.
    Liam’s eyes lit up, and a slight grin twitched upon his lips. He nodded faintly, his face taut with thought. His smile widened.
    “Yeah,” Liam said. “Yeah, exactly!”
    “Wait, what are you two thinking?” I asked.
    “Look, Alice,” Liam explained quickly. “Dmitri almost certainly thinks we are either going to run in order to p rotect you, or we’re going to hole up in the compound in order to meet him on our turf.”
    “That does seem like the smart thing to do,” I said. “Home field advantage? What am I missing?”
    “Right, it technically would be the smart thing to do in your average situation,” Liam said. “But, and I’m sure Alexi will agree, this is not an average situation. Dmitri has… well, he’s lost his mind. We have to do something he won’t expect… throw him off guard.”
    I was starting to understand what he was saying, but I also kn ew the danger involved in leaving the area in which we were familiar and comfortable.
    “Are you sure that’s best?” I asked Alexi.
    “Not entirely, but I believe it is worth discussing,” Alexi said.
    “We can’t discuss it for long,” Liam said. “If we’re going t o act, it needs to be ASAP.”
    “I have an idea that may help us,” Alexi said. “If you will excuse me, I will attend to it at once.”
    “What’s the idea?” I asked him.
    “I do not want to get your hopes up in case it does not go as I hope,” he told me, brushing hi s hand lightly over my hair. “Please, just give me a few hours and then I promise I will let you know what I discover.”
    I sighed, but nodded my understanding. He kissed me on my forehead, bowed politely to Liam, and left the room in a billow of cloak and h air.
    “I swear, it’s like he thinks I’m incapable of understanding anything,” I lamented.
    “He means well,” Liam shrugged.
    “So, back to training?” I asked.
    With renewed vigor, Liam leaped to his feet. “Let’s go!” he agreed.
     
     
     

Chapter Two
     
    It had been hours since Alexi had dismissed himself to see to this mysterious idea of his. Liam and I had been training until we were both physically and mentally exhausted, so we retired to the cafeteria for something to eat.
    “I wish we knew Dmitri’s motivations,” I muttered, mostly to myself than anyone else.
    “Hmm?” Liam muttered absently, chewing a bite of the sandwich that he was concentrating on blankly.
    “I was saying I wish we knew what was compelling Dmitri so powerfully,” I said. “I mean, he’s gone crazy, obviously, but there has to be something causing him to behave this way.”
    “Maybe he’s charmed?” Liam suggested , his voice horribly muffled by the ridiculously large bite of bread and peanut butter.
    “Oh, god, Liam, at least swallow befo re you talk,” I groaned.
    “Sorry,” he muttered, crumbs flying from his mouth and landing on my shirt. I sighed heavily and he meekly laid his sandwich on his plate, taking a long swig of milk. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and I tried to