by J. N. Colon
His lips twitched and he crossed his jean clad leg over the other. He began rolling up the sleeves of his navy collared shirt, revealing tanned, muscled forearms. “Do you know what my name in Russian means?” His accent filtered through thickly.
“Idiot?” I offered.
Demyan leaned close again, a dark smile twisting his lips and a scent of earthly amber floating off him. “It means to tame.” He touched his chest. “I’ve tamed the animal inside me. Mostly.” He reached out to touch my hair, but I swatted his hand away. “I saw you dancing with Mac.” His violet eyes traveled the length of my exposed flesh until I was flushed deeply. “You definitely have a wild side I’d love to tame.” His studded brow arched and fingers slowly crawled across my knee.
My heart was racing just a little. I pretended it was because I was angry and nothing else. I loved Mac, but it was hard to deny that Demyan was hot in his own dark, mysterious way. I cleared my throat. “Well Demy, if you don’t get your fingers off my knee you’re going to get introduced to my boyfriend’s wild side as he rearranges your face.”
He chuckled, but removed his hand. “I heal fast. It might be worth the risk.”
I rolled my eyes. “Why don’t you go bother someone else?”
“No one else peaks my interest.”
I scoffed and smacked his hand when it tried to find its way to my arm. “And don’t try to scare me or freak me out anymore either.”
His studded brow arched questioningly. “Why would I try to scare you? What are you talking about?”
“Earlier tonight on the other side of the brick wall—you weren’t hiding in the bushes?”
Demy looked taken aback. “No. Why would you think that?”
“There was rustling and then something growled…?”
“Why were you on the other side of the wall?”
I shrugged, my cheeks heating from embarrassment.
Demy’s expression turned serious, his violet eyes scorching. “Rubi, it’s dangerous out there for you.”
I averted my gaze and fumbled with the hem of my dress. “There haven’t been any hunters spotted.”
He unexpectedly grabbed a lock of my hair, twisting it around his finger. “There are a lot of other bad things besides hunters that would love to get ahold of your pretty head.”
I expected his violet eyes to be joking, but they were dead serious. Was he one of those things?
***
Professor Allan was teaching a health class this semester. She was the sweetest teacher at Highland, but once again her assumption that all students enjoy group work was her downfall. Even now when I had lots of friends—or at least people who wanted to be my friend because I was dating McCollum Davenport—I was still stuck looking around the room like an idiot.
Natalie grabbed Aspen before I got the chance. Unexpectedly Vera chose Jackson. I didn’t even know they were friends. My face burned with embarrassment as I chewed my bottom lip.
“Need a partner?” I glanced up to see Travis Darcy taking the seat in front of me with a grin splayed across his slender face.
“You don’t have to,” I blurted. I cringed inside thinking he felt sorry for me. “I mean if there’s someone else…”
Travis tilted his head, throwing his pale blonde curls in his mischievous amber eyes. “Are you kicking me to the curb?”
“N-No. I just…” I shifted uncomfortably.
He laughed and motioned around the room. “I don’t really know anyone else.”
I reframed from pointing out he didn’t know me either other than we were both members of the not-so-human club. “We can be partners.”
Travis turned his desk around, meeting the front of mine. “Good.”
We made small talk as we worked on our discussion questions about the endocrine system. “Do you like Highland so far?” I asked, finishing number three.
“Yeah. It’s okay.” He leaned forward to whisper. “Some of the girls are a little stuck up though.”
I snickered. “They aren’t like that at your school in Savannah?”
“Not this bad.” He held his palm horizontally in the air. “I mean some of these girls are on a whole other level of bitchiness.”
My brow rose. “I doubt they’re mean to you.” Travis was pretty hot. All the supernatural beings at Highland were. He was shorter than Demy, but taller than Jared. His body was very sleek, every muscle coiling gracefully as he moved.
He smirked. “Not directly, but I like my ladies drizzled with honey not vinegar.”
Laughter from the back of the class caught our attention and I glanced behind me to see Jackson and Vera play fighting over a pen. My brows shot up. Are they flirting?
“Oh yeah. They’re definitely flirting.” Travis was watching with amusement.
My face scrunched and a streak of protectiveness lit my insides. I motioned a finger over my shoulder. “Does she do that a lot?”
He shrugged nonchalantly and chewed on the bottom of his pen. “Vera’s—friendly. Why? You know him?”
“Jackson and I are friends.”
His amber eyes lit up. “Jackson Haynes? Is that the guy you dated before Mac?”
I grimaced. “We went to one dance.” I held my finger in the air. “One.”
“Yeah but he’s the guy who was competing for your heart against Mac.” He fluttered his eyelashes dramatically and pressed his hand against his chest.
My face reddened and I playfully kicked his shin. “Not true,” I lied unconvincingly.
A roll of giggles echoed out of Vera and she ran her fingers through Jackson’s dark auburn hair.
“She giggles?” Vera looked way too tough to giggle.
Travis smirked. “Oh yeah. She can be girly.”
My gaze scrutinized them. I’ve never seen Jackson flirt with any girl besides me.
It’s harmless, I thought, reluctantly turning back to my discussion questions. Vera’s not seriously into Jackson. She probably likes big tough shifters.
***
I ran across the grounds at Highland, the darkness thick and impenetrable. Fog was visible in the distance, obscuring the path. Something was right on my heels, chasing me.
The clouds parted, revealing a full, ruby colored moon. It illuminated the fog, tinting it red like blood vapor. I tripped, falling face first in the misty blood. Before I could scramble up something heavy pinned me down.
A black wolf hovered over me, crushing his paws against my chest. Fear rolled through me, choking and oppressive. A snarl ripped out its mouth, showing sharp, jagged fangs. Blood and saliva dripped down onto my neck.
The wolf began to shift above me and suddenly Demy was lying on top of me, staring down with hungry eyes. “So tasty.” His voice was deeper, sending chills over my flesh. “I could just eat you up.”
I cried out in horror and he only laughed, his violet eyes melting to red.
Madison, bloodied and dead, appeared behind him. “You really are stupid.” She stabbed him through the chest with a silver steak.
A scream tore from my mouth as hot blood poured out his wound, downing me in an ocean of crimson.
I woke up to find myself sprawled out on my dorm room floor, tangled in sheets. Aspen was snoring in her bed, oblivious to the horror I just experienced.
What the hell was that? I thought, struggling back in my bed and trying to shake the images from my mind.
In the dream Demy’s motives seemed more sexual than murderous. Is this my subconscious telling me he wasn’t really a killer? And why did Madison call me stupid? Is she trying to tell me I’m jumping to the wrong conclusions again?
I twisted my hair away from my neck as I lay back on my pillow. Or maybe my mind is seriously screwed up and these nightmares are nothing more than nightmares. Why would I being getting messages from beyond the grave from Madison or any type of prophetic dreams.
That’s just crazy!
Chapter 12
Another week passed without incident. No one was following me around ca
mpus, I hadn’t found any dead bodies, and no one tried pushing me in the indoor pool.
I still get the willies thinking about that giant communal tub.
No hunters showed up, but the guards remained, keeping to the shadows.
The only unsettling thing was the news report I caught on television the other night. Several animals were slaughtered at a wildlife preserve in Vermont by another animal. The attacks were vicious, leaving deep gouges in the carcasses and surrounding areas. The animal responsible was not found.
Goose bumps spread across my skin and ice dripped down my back the moment I heard this. It reminded me of the stories about the camper and also the missing family. Could they be connected? Or am I just being paranoid and reaching again?
My stomach growled as we passed yet another restaurant, the scent of warm, delicious food drifting toward us. Aspen shot me a glare when I groaned again.
“But we’ve been shopping forever,” I whined. “I’m starving.”
She scoffed and readjusted her Coach purse. “We’ve been to two stores and it’s only been two hours.”
It felt like a lifetime.
“And you’re always hungry.”
Rufus and Daedalus exchanged looks behind us, not even attempting to hide their smiles.
I sighed. How did I get stuck shopping with Aspen in Salem, trailed by two royal vampire guards?
She tricked me, that’s how. She made it sound so tempting, getting off campus for a while, lightly browsing a few stores, grabbing a bite to eat before heading back.
Liar! I should have known.
I thought Whitmore would deny my request to venture off campus, but surprisingly he approved as long as Rufus and Daedalus accompanied us. Mac did not approve. He demanded to come along until Aspen whispered something in his ear. He smirked and suddenly backed down.
Now I know why. He knew better than to go shopping with Aspen Vanderguild.
I am going to ring his neck when we get back.
Rufus compelled Aspen to think nothing of the two guards shadowing us. She was aware of them, but in her mind it was all normal.
Aspen halted so abruptly I almost smacked into her. “Let’s go here.” She gripped my wrist and tugged me toward a boutique that looked exactly like the last one we stopped in.
I whimpered and shuffled through the door, the warmth from the heater slamming me in the face. Stack and racks of clothes I’d never buy—at least not before I became important in the vampire world—crowded me. I glanced back to ask the guys if they thought I should buy some nicer clothes when I only spotted Rufus. “Where’s Daedalus?”
Rufus leaned against a wall not far from me. “He had to check on something.”
My eyes widened and heart jumped in my throat. “Hunters?” I glanced around for any sign of them.
“No.” He reached his long arm out and squeezed my shoulder. “Nothing like that. I promise,” he assured in that voice steeped lightly in an English accent.
A sigh of relief flitted out my mouth and I slumped against the display of cashmere sweaters.
“Rubi,” Aspen pranced over with a cream colored sweater dress in her hand and held it up to my body. “This would fit you perfectly and go so good with your skin color.”
“That’s not a good idea.” An image of me eating while wearing it flashed through my mind.
Aspen arched an auburn brow, confused. “Why not?”
I shot her an incredulous expression and pointed to it. “It’s almost white.” Right on cue my stomach growled.
Aspen sucked her teeth. “Right. Maybe a different color then.” She waved over an attendant who was hovering a few feet away. “Start us with two dressing rooms please.”
The stylish woman in her mid-thirties nodded and walked toward the back of the store.
Oh man. I’m going to starve to death.
Fifteen minutes later I collapsed on a pink frilly chair outside the dressing room, wearing yet another outfit Aspen stuck me in. Apparently she thought I was a life-sized dress up doll. This time it was skinny jeans and an off the shoulder red chiffon top with tall black ankle boots.
“Aspen, I think we have enough now,” I hissed through gritted teeth. “And someone else might want to use the dressing rooms.”
She poked her head out the pink and white curtain. “Look around Rubi, no one else is in here.”
My brows knit and I peered around the corner, noticing the lack of customers. My gaze met Rufus’s. “What’s going on?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “I thought it would be easier to watch things without other people getting in the way.” He leaned closer with a humorous glint in his chocolate eyes. “Besides, I thought you’d finish up quicker if the attendants didn’t have any other customers to wait on.”
“I heard that!” Aspen called.
Rufus winked.
Aspen twirled out of the dressing room in a navy mini dress. “What do you think?”
“It looks good.”
She huffed. “Just good?”
The door in the front of the store jingled and the scent of food wafted in. I whimpered as my stomach yelled for sustenance.
“Aspen can we please…” My mouth snapped shut when Daedalus appeared around the corner with two takeout containers in his giant hands. “What’s that?” My tone was bordering on desperate.
A grin laced his lips as he handed over a very hot, very heavy box to me and a lighter one to Aspen. “We figured you might be shopping for a while and thought it would be easier to bring food to you.”
I walked backwards and collapsed on the chair again, opening a steaming box of meaty, cheesy, saucy raviolis that smelled as good as it looked. “Mmmm.” I was so happy I could have cried.
“I made sure they were extra meaty for you,” Daedalus said, tucking his sandy brown hair behind his ears before leaning against the doorjamb.
“Thanks.” My smile probably reached my ears.
Aspen sat in the chair next to mine and opened her colorful salad. “Oooh thanks.” She elbowed me and giggled. “Having bodyguards is awesome.”
An attendant sauntered into the back. “Is there anything else I can get you ladies?” She pointed to a rack full of discarded clothes. “Are you finished with those?”
I glanced at the nice ensemble I was wearing and down at the messy food in my hands. No one should trust me around new clothes while hungry. “Are we allowed to eat in here?”
She waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Of course. Go right ahead.” She winked. “You young ladies are getting the special treatment today.” She scurried over and grabbed the hangers and glanced back at us. “Would you like some champagne?”
Aspen immediately perked up, but Rufus derailed her. “Ah, that won’t be necessary, but thank you.”
She nodded and marched back into the middle of the store.
Daedalus handed over a fork, soda, and whole stack of napkins.
“Thanks.”
He did a dramatic bow. “Your wish is our command. We live to serve and protect you.” He stood and held his hand over the royal crest on his black jacket.
Rufus mimicked his motions with a very serious, stoic expression.
My cheeks tinted pink. “Very funny guys.”
They both cracked up. At least they had a sense of humor and didn’t lurk in the shadows like stalkers.
As we dug into our food several attendants came in and out, setting up racks for clothes we were purchasing. Mine was almost as full as Aspen’s. I’m not sure how that happened. I don’t even know where I’m going to put all this stuff.
While trying to figure out how she managed to get me to buy so many things Aspen nudged me. “So…” An impish expression lit her face. “Have you and Mac—you know—had sex yet?”
I nearly choked on a ravioli. My eyes flickered to Rufus who was staring forward attempting to tune out our conversation. But he was a vampire and had super hearing.
Damn. So embarrassing.
I shook my head with
the tiniest movement.
“No?” she hissed and I cringed when Rufus bit his lip to keep from smiling. “Why not?”
I took a very long time chewing my food and even longer to swallow. “I dunno. It just hasn’t happened yet.”
“But you want to, right?”
“Yeah, eventually.” The right time hadn’t presented itself yet. Plus we’d been separated for months! Give us a break.
A grin twisted her lips. “Brant and I have.”
I rolled my eyes. “Duh.”
"Hey.” She pouted, looking offended. “I’m not a slut.”
I laughed and shoved another bite of food in my mouth. “I know. You guys are always all over each other. I just figured you had.”
“Oh.” She pushed the salad around in her bowl. “It’s wonderful and I think I love him, but…”
“But…?” I waved my hand encouragingly in the air.
“I think he’s keeping things from me.” Her amber eyes turned somber, a sight unfamiliar with her. “What if he’s cheating on me or something?”
I gave her a serious look. “Believe me Aspen, you are the only girl in Brant’s life. He’s not cheating on you. I think he’s afraid.” Our conversation from the party floated through my mind. He sort of admitted his feelings ran deeper than he let on. “Just give him time.”
She flashed a hopeful smile. “You think?”
I nodded. “Yep.”
She looked down at her salad as a happy smile curled her lips, washing the somberness from her expression. “You are a much better friend than Paisley ever was.”
The mention of Paisley Collins dampened my mood. “What do you mean?”
Aspen shrugged. “She always said Brant was using me until the next best thing came along.”
I grimaced at Paisley’s harsh words. Maybe Brant had been using Aspen in the beginning as a blood source, but now there’s no doubt in my mind he’s fallen for her. “She was wrong.”
“I hope so.”
I chewed on my bottom lip, contemplating the girl who swore revenge on Mac and me. “Your parents and Paisley’s are friends right?”
