Page 56 of The Unraveling

That gets a limp chuckle from Dr. Smith. “Fair. There’s nothing exciting, I fear.”

“You don’t do more interesting experiments?” Raoul asks, though there’s a dry hint of humor attached. “Perhaps how to create . . . stronger vampires? Surely such data could be useful for that?”

Dr. Smith scoffs, clearly too burdened to shoulder a single laugh more. “I’m a doctor, not a mad scientist.”

A wry smile tugs at the corners of Raoul’s lips. “That’s a good distinction to make.”

Dr. Smith looks beyond my bedroom door like he needs a break from the interrogation.

Raoul doesn’t give him one, saying, “You may be fit for relocation to the castle. Viorel has recently become interested in studying and understanding cure blood. He confiscated a few centuries’ worth of data from . . . less than ethical sources. Trustworthy doctors—trustworthy vampires—are rare assets. Your research could be sanctioned.”

My pulse leaps at the mere thought of being left behind, and Dr. Smith’s head snapping toward me makes me believe he’s had a similar thought.

“I have too much on my plate to consider standing in front of a council right now,” Dr. Smith mutters. “Sorry.”

Raoul’s brow furrows. “Council? We’ve never had one of those. Viorel alone makes all decisions of importance.”

Dr. Smith stares at him and tightens his arms across his chest. “I’m turning Daisy imminently. My priorities are her, not further research.”

“It won’t be decided right now,” Raoul says, adjusting the cuffs of his sleeves. “Besides, necessary arrangements can always be made.”

Does he mean arrangements for me? Though Raoul isn’t being outwardly threatening, I can’t help but wonder if Dr. Smith would truly be allowed to say no, if each reason for his denial might find itself mercifully fixed.

Receiving only a tired grunt from Dr. Smith, Raoul smiles and turns his attention squarely on me.

His eyes lock with mine again, trapping me. His voice comes soft above the quiet hum of items shuffling and conversation downstairs. “Is there anything else you wish to tell me? Anything I should know?”

Panic pounds in my chest, my own tongue betraying me as I choke out, “I have videos of Isla and Victor where it’s clear they’re vampires.”

His brows lift with curiosity, but his eyes remain gentle as he frees me from his mental hold. Sweat drenches the nape of my neck, nausea rising in my gut.

“I would love to see,” he says. “Show me, please.”

I can’t help my tears as I take my phone from the drawer and hand it over with a weak hand, apologies tumbling from my lips as Dr. Smith begins to explain on my behalf.

After it turns on, Raoul opens the folder of videos and studies the thumbnails, only clicking ones that took place in Victor’s study. I have the suspicion that it’s not the videos themselves he cares about as he zooms past Isla and Dr. Todd’s positions on screen to take closer looks at the counters and desk.

He watches the final video of Isla playing Juliet before holding the phone back out to me. I stare at it like it’s a trick until he waves it ever so slightly. I take it.

“Would you believe that I saw the original production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet?” Raoul murmurs, eyes bright as he studies my face. “I had no idea it would be so popular centuries later.”

I can sense he’s trying to dazzle me out of my terror, but my hot tears still run, and I can’t wrap my mind around his words when the thought of him snatching my phone and smashing it loops through my mind.

“We’re not in trouble?” I choke out. “I don’t have to delete them?”

He shakes his head and overlaps his hand on the phone still cradled in mine, gently pushing it closer to my body. “Just keep them to yourself. Victor’s entire office is far more dangerous to our secret than a bunch of home videos of you and your friend.”

“Thank you,” I sob, hugging the phone to my chest.

Dr. Smith blows out a breath and rubs the back of his neck, as if he hadn’t thought that so much data collection could be viewed as problematic.

Raoul pats my shin through the blanket before gazing off toward the moonlit window. His averted gaze feels purposeful as he says, “Is there anything you wish to ask me, Daisy? I know it can be uncomfortable having someone root around in your mind with hypnosis, so you’re welcome to prod at mine. I won’t lie if I cannot answer your question; I’ll simply say as much.”

I draw in a deep breath and study the moon peeking from behind clouds. My throat tightens, tears stinging my sore eyes as question after desperate question piles on my tongue. Though my voice shakes with the terror of an unfavorable answer, I ask, “I know someone on the phone told Dr. Smith that nobody knows what caused Bradley’s ability, but that doesn’t mean Dr. Todd didn’t, right? It just means you don’t know for sure?”

My breaths heave as I try to align my core question coherently. Raoul turns his head, peeking at me before studying the items on my bedside table as if he’s attempting to listen without overwhelming me with his stare.

My heart hammers against my ribs, choking me until I cough the sensation away. “Do you think Dr. Todd’s preferences for drinking immortal blood triggered Bradley’s ability? Do you think Dr. Todd caused this? Does evidence point to it?”