by J. N. Colon
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said in a dry tone, but I caught the slight glint of embarrassment in his expressive violet eyes.
“Awe,” I teased. “Hey Vera…” My voice cut off the instant Demy’s body tensed.
“Laney?” His expression, even his eyes, was suddenly guarded. “What are you doing here?”
I glanced up to see a stunning girl with milky skin and honey hair framing shining gray eyes, high cheeks, and rosebud lips. Her legs went on for days which only appeared longer in her tartan skirt. A smile lit up her features as if she was standing in a golden spotlight manufactured especially for her. The hot, campfire scent lacing her fruity perfume told me she was a shifter.
“I thought you were in France.” His arm tightened protectively around me.
Was he protecting me from her?
A smile curled her perfect lips. “Well, it’s nice to see you too Demy.” A sweet, lilting southern accent highlighted her voice.
“Laney Cavanaugh?”
Her gray eyes shifted to Vera. “Hey. Long time no see.” She hugged her gently.
As Vera pulled back her dark eyes ping-ponged from Laney to me several times, tension thickening the hot air around us.
A sudden sinking feeling hit my stomach. What the hell is going on?
Laney’s gaze finally fell to me—and I do mean fell because I was a Land of Oz munchkin compared to her—and her cheeks dusted with pink. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. Let me introduce myself.” She extended her hand. “I’m Laney and you must be…” Her sentence drifted off as she spotted someone behind us, gasping as her eyes glazed over with longing.
The moment that gasp excited her mouth electricity crackled up and down my spine, a suspicion I did not like forming in my mind.
My head shifted until I could follow her line of vision—right to Mac strolling up, disbelief hitting his expression when he noticed the blonde shifter.
“Mac!” She ran passed us…and right into his arms.
“Oh shit,” Vera mumbled.
Shock bitch slapped me so hard I was stunned, giving Demy a chance to wrap his other arm around me, securing me to his side.
“Laney, what are you doing here?” Mac asked, forcing her back.
She laughed. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?” She ruffled his hair. “I’m going to school silly. Why are you?”
A low growl built in my chest, clawing its way up my throat. It was obvious this Laney was very familiar with Mac—my Mac—and not in the plutonic Emmaline way.
“Chill Rubi,” Demy mumbled under his breath. “You can’t flip out.” He motioned his chin toward a group of students a couple feet away. “Not in front of humans.”
My fingers dug into his side I was gripping. “Who. Is. She?” I ground out between clenched teeth.
“Nobody anymore.”
“Ex-girlfriend?” I already knew the answer.
“I’ve missed you so much,” Laney crooned, clinging to his arm as he walked toward us. “What are you doing here instead of Highland?”
Mac’s jade eyes were on me, an apology radiating from them. “It’s a long story.”
“Well, maybe we can get together later and you can tell me all about it.” She pressed her body against his and ran a hand up his chest. “I’d love to catch up. Alone.”
My vision burned red and I had no doubt my eyes were pure silver. Anger erupted through my veins, my canines tearing through my gums with a sharp pain.
That slut had her hands all over my mate. Mine.
To hell with the humans!
My lips curled back as a vicious snarl snaked out, christening my vampire status.
Terror lit Mac’s wide eyes and leached the color from his cheeks. He swiftly pushed Laney off and snatched me from Demy before I could attack. “Rubi calm down,” he whispered as he crushed me against his chest. “You know I only want you baby.” I felt his lips in my hair.
I knew that. I breathed in his scent, trying to calm my raging jealousy—that I could only blame on my vampire change.
After a few moments of snuggling the fury began to melt, draining onto the lush green grass like toxins. I was surprised dead, brown spots weren’t left behind.
I pulled back to peer into Mac’s face. “I’m okay.” His brows rose unconvinced. Maybe because my fangs were still out and I could see the glint of silver from my eyes reflected in his. “Well, I’m better.”
Mac moved me until I was pressed against his side, keeping his arm tight around me. Vera shifted awkwardly. Demy was next to her with a deadpan face, but his lips twitched, fighting a smile while humor danced in his violet eyes. Confusion creased Laney’s expression as she looked between Mac and me.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her gray eyes blinking. “Isn’t she Demy’s girlfriend?”
“She wishes,” Demy said.
I rolled my eyes.
Her blonde brows knit. “So, this is your girlfriend Mac?” Disbelief was prevalent in her perfectly symmetrical face.
My gaze narrowed at her underlying insult no one else seemed to notice.
“This is Rubi.” Mac laced our right hands together, showing off our rings. “Actually, she’s my mate.”
Disappointment filled Laney’s face.
Chapter 10
Mac hadn’t said a word about Laney Cavanaugh since I almost ripped her stupid pretty face off. I had a sinking suspicion he was worried whatever he would say might send me over the edge.
He still hadn’t broached the subject while we sat in English class. My eyes absentmindedly wondered over the room, finding the structure a lot like Highland with wooden floors and desks only a few shades lighter. A green chalk board ran the length of one wall with the professor’s desk adjacent. A book shelf sat along the wall near the door, so full it looked like it might spit a few novels out. An antique poster advertising the play, Oedipus the King, hung on the wall next to an original painting of Mark Twain. I saw Mac eyeing the Mark Twain one enviously.
Professor Allen’s smiling face suddenly popped into my mind, clenching my stomach. My throat closed thinking about the murder of my last English teacher. Her shredded, bloody body and lifeless eyes flashed through my brain. I shivered remembering the foul stench of death and those creatures, their crimson gaze hungering for flesh. More flesh. They killed Professor Forsyth then Professor Allen and still wanted more. Me.
I really hope I don’t stumble on any dead bodies this semester, I thought morbidly. Mossgrove may not have the dense fog and relentless eeriness as Highland, but that didn’t mean murders couldn’t occur. Plus the place is still ancient, something that crawled out of the olden days. A long history lingered, swaying in moss from trees and visible from beneath the honey colored wood.
Demy whispered something to Mac and my ears perked up, hoping they were talking about Laney. Disappointment settled inside when I realized they were planning a party for Friday night instead.
Ugh. Parties.
While Mac was distracted I tapped Vera on the shoulder.
“Yes little fanged one?” she asked.
I leaned forward to barely whisper in her ear so Mac wouldn’t hear—or at least hoped he wouldn’t. “Do you think this Laney girl really didn’t know Mac had a girlfriend?”
“Oh honey, you are much more than his girlfriend. You’re like practically married.”
I waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Beside the point Vera.”
She tapped her chin in thought. “I don’t know. I suppose it’s possible. If she was a vampire then hell no. Every vampire in Whitmore’s kingdom knows his son has chosen his mate.”
My cheeks burned. Thank my lucky stars there aren’t things like tabloids in his kingdom. “Is she nice?”
Vera shrugged. “I’ve never had a prob with her.”
Not what I wanted to hear. I wanted her to be a stuck up snob, worse than Paisley Collins pre-hunter and pre-spy. “Were she and Mac serious?” Jackson told me Mac only date
d shallow girls, but I’m guessing that’s who he dated at Highland, not during summer vacations.
Vera shook her hand in the air as if to say kind of. “They hung out during the summers.”
“Summers? As in multiple?”
She nodded.
A sick feeling twisted my stomach and the blood I sucked down this morning threatened to shoot back up right along with the massive steak omelet. I knew Mac had gone all the way with only one girl besides me and Laney Cavanaugh was not her, but I couldn’t get the image of the two of them together out of my mind. Her milky skin and honey hair mixed with his dark beauty.
Ugh. I swallowed hard to avert my gag reflexes.
Vera nudged me. “Quit freaking out. Believe me that boy doesn’t picture anyone naked in his bed besides you.” She clawed her fingers through the air and made a seductive purring sound. “He likey Rubi.”
Someone cleared their throat and I was shocked to find Professor Holland looming next to us with a bemused smile on his face. “Girls, I hope you are discussing the assignments for this term,” he said, pointing to the syllabus on our desks.
He was a tall man probably around early thirties with short sandy blonde hair, hazel eyes, and two rows of perfect white teeth. Something about him reminded me of Roman in that sexy older guy way. By his smell I could tell he was a shifter.
“Oh yes Purr-fessor Holland,” Vera drawled. “We were talking about the ass-ignment.” She motioned her thumb over her shoulder at me. “Rubi was also saying what a nice ass-ignment display you have.”
My mouth nearly hit the top of my desk. “I did not.” Heat flared up my neck and face, burning me with embarrassment.
The girls around us giggled while the guys snickered.
Professor Holland simply shook his head as he walked away, trying to hold in a chuckle. “Oh Ms. Luciano, always the class entertainer. How about I add a few detention assignments onto your list?” Before she could open her mouth and accept he continued. “And they would be with Professor Johnston instead of me. I’m sure he’d love to let you prep the animals for dissection.”
Vera’s face turned a sick shade of green as she shivered. “You got me there.” She pantomimed zipping her lips shut.
Solid, familiar hands squeezed my shoulders. “If you want to know about my relationship with Laney you could have simply asked me.” His warm breath blew on the back of my neck, spilling delicious tingles across my flesh.
Damn. He heard me. “What would be the fun in that?”
He chuckled and released me. “I’ll show you fun later.”
My stomach fluttered at the thought and I bit my lip to keep from pleading for him to show me fun now.
I pulled the syllabus front and center, reading the lesson plans Professor Holland laid out for this semester. A sudden stream of whispers tickled my ears, distracting me from the words on the paper. It was similar to what I heard in my room last night, voices talking over each other, fighting to be heard.
My gaze traveled around the students to see if I could detect the origin of the soft murmurs, but each conversation I picked up on was coherent. I could follow the lines of each student unlike the symphony of mumbles.
I closed my eyes, thinking maybe I could heighten my hearing if I cut off another sense, and tilted my head in different directions. But the whispers were simply like the sound of dry, rustling leaves against cement, a complete mystery to me.
Mac tapped me on the back. “You okay? You seem tense.”
I shrugged. “I can’t concentrate from all the faint whispering.”
Mac’s brow arched. “I don’t hear any faint whispers.”
My ears perked up as it started again and I motioned a finger in the air. “It’s like a spsss, spsss, spss, sound. You don’t hear that?”
He tilted his head and strained to find the source of my annoyance, but he eventually gave up. “Nothing.”
“Huh.” I bit my lip. “Maybe I’m just not used to my super hearing being this intense.”
Mac started massaging my shoulders to alleviate the tension. “Do you need to go somewhere quiet for a while? Professor Holland would understand.”
From the front of the room the professor’s hazel eyes met Mac’s and he nodded, giving the go ahead.
“No. I’m fine. Just keep massaging my shoulders.”
“As you wish your highness.”
I snorted on a laugh.
Ah. Lunch time.
You’d think now that I’m a vampire my appetite for human food would have curtailed.
You’d be wrong.
I still thirsted for blood, but as long as I had my fill my tummy wanted yummy meaty morsels.
Mossgrove Academy’s dining hall was light and open with windows framed in pale yellow sheer drapes, overlooking a garden with benches and tables. It was August in the south and still like a hundred degrees so most students opted to sit inside with the air conditioner.
Long glossy tables stretched across light honey wood floors and chandeliers draped along the arched ceilings. The school crest hung high in the center of the back wall while the names of the four dorm halls, Dawson, Jameson, Morgan, and Radcliff, gleamed on each corner with photos of prominent alumni beneath. Below Radcliff to the right was a gleaming picture of Dimitri Dragoniv. It was impossible to miss that strong jaw, those shimmering amber eyes, and even from this distance I could detect a hint of mischief glinting in his gaze that reminded me of Demy.
Students were like a sea of navy, green, and white spread out along the tables, eating and chatting noisily. Most were shifters and vampires. Humans were intermingled, oblivious to the supernatural. I wondered how they would act if they knew?
An array of varying food was displayed at several serving stations, spilling delicious fragrances of teriyaki chicken, pepper steak, meatball subs, grilled shrimp…
“Hey Rubi, you remember Allison.”
I wiped my chin in case I’d been drooling. Vera stood next to me with her best friend, Allison Hennigan. She was a senior and shifter with legs for days, thick dark brown hair to her shoulders, doey brown eyes, and impossibly cute dimples—on both sides of her face unlike me. “Hey.”
“Wow, you’re right Vera,” Allison said, her brown eyes shining with amusement. “Rubi does get hypnotized by food.”
I grimaced. “Ha, ha funny.” Gees, would my weirdness ever cease to entertain people?
Embarrassment flushed her face. “Oh, I didn’t mean anything by it Rubi. It’s just you’re so tiny for someone with a ginormous appetite. That’s all.”
I sighed and waved a dismissive hand in the air. “No big. My hunger knows no bounds. I can admit that.”
A male shifter appeared beside Vera, throwing his massive arm over her. “Vera. How’s my little vixen?” He was huge with broad shoulders, untamed sandy blonde hair, light blue eyes, and a straight nose. He rubbed his stubble coated chin on her head and purred.
She scoffed and pushed him away. “Chill out you dumb animal.” Vera straightened her messily styled locks until they were perfect again. “I have a boyfriend now Lucius who isn’t you.”
He glanced around the dining hall dramatically. “I don’t see him anywhere.” His voice was deep and rough, almost like a growl. “He won’t find out. Besides I heard he was human. I’ll fight him for you.”
Vera and Allison rolled their eyes in unison.
I scoffed and stuck my hands on my hips. “You go anywhere near Jackson and I will kick your ass.”
Lucius’s light blue eyes turned to me, surveying me slowly from head to toe, causing me to blush. He released Vera as a smile curled his lips. “Well, well, who is this vicious little vampire? You are seriously sexy.” He moved closer, a predatory gleam darkening his gaze. “I haven’t been with a vampire in a while. I might even let you bite me.”
Before I had a chance to respond a crackle of electricity zipped across my spine and a large hand gripped my hip.
Uh oh.
A deep growl snaked between
Mac’s teeth as he pulled me against him. “Watch your mouth before I rip it off Lucius.”
Recognition spread over Lucius’s masculine face and he immediately held his palms up in surrender. “My bad. I wasn’t aware this was your Princess Rubi.”
“Now you are.”
Lucius was bigger than Mac, but Mac took the torch for scare factor at the moment.
“Ah Lucius.” Demy strolled up beside us, shaking his head. “Are you sticking your paw in your mouth again?”
Everyone around us laughed.
“Yes,” Allison said, poking him in his rock hard abs before he could swat her delicate hand away. “He was hitting on Rubi.”
A smirk twitched Demy’s lips. “I’m the only shifter who can do that.” Mac shot him a warning glare he ignored. “Let’s go sit before Rubi’s stomach starts screaming for food. I know she can smell that teriyaki chicken.”
Right on cue my stomach growled.
After filling our trays we meandered toward a long wooden table in the center of the dining hall. I sat between Mac and Demy while Lucius sat next to him and Allison and Vera sat across from us. While I was busy devouring my teriyaki chicken, shrimp, and pepper steak I felt a pair of eyes on me. I glanced up to see a petite girl taking a seat next to Vera. Her glossy black hair was twisted on the top of her head in a messy bun with a green headband that matched her uniform skirt. Her skin was olive and big, round eyes light green. She was neither shifter nor vampire, but there was something odd about her.
“Oh Rubi.” Vera motioned toward the girl with her fork. “This is Celestia.”
I nodded in her direction because my mouth was full.
She stared at me with this peculiar, knowing gaze. “Hello.” Her musical voice paired with doe eyes reminded me of a Disney character.
The back of my neck prickled and I shifted uneasily.
Finally Celestia turned her attention to Allison and Vera. I shot Mac a questioning glance. “Is she human?” I mumbled.
“Sort of.” He leaned forward and winked. “She’s a witch.”
Outrage lit my insides. “You told me witches didn’t exist!”
Celestia’s light green filled with humor as they met mine. “I’m not really a witch—like as in I fly on a broomstick and turn people into toads.” She shrugged. “I’m a Wiccan, but I can still do spells and potions.”
