21
Val continues sitting with Tina after I get to the room. We stay clear of talking about anything personal—including the fight he just had with Nico. Instead he politely thanks me for telling him about Tina being sick, and I fill him in on Fern’s plan.
It’s all sorta stilted and awkward with both of us aware that even sick, Tina would kill me if she knew about that kiss.
Finally, not wanting to draw any suspicion upon Tina, Val leaves to go about his normal routine. I promise to let him know if Tina’s condition changes.
That night, in her delirium, Tina tells me more than she ever would if she were well.
“My father, the hypocrite, always told us that being pureblood vampire was important. That we could never, under any circumstances, let anyone know the truth.”
“What is the truth?”
