ARINA'S MATE (Shifters of the Bulgarian Bloodline Book 2)

by Dalia Wright

  Becky blew out a deep breath running her fingers through her hair, pushing it out of her face. She pushed herself to run faster. Faster.

  Her legs ached and she was out of breath but she didn’t stop. She ignored the cramp in her gut.

  “Becky!”

  Becky skidded to a stop and turned to the voice. Why were they talking to her? They knew better than to bother her when she was running.

  Ashley waved her friend down. “There you are! Aren’t you coming out to dinner with us?”

  Dinner? Right. She’d agreed to go try out that new restaurant with her and her friend. Wait. “Us?”

  “Yea.” Ashley beamed, her green eyes glowing in the dusk. She was a foot taller than Becky, with long brown hair. Actually, she’d been the reason Becky decided to grow her blonde hair out. “There’s a small group of us going out.”

  “Oh.” Becky tried to hide her disappointment but knew she’d done a dreadful job. She forced a smile over her lips. “Alright, well just let me get cleaned up.” Becky and Ashley headed over to where Becky kept her backpack, she slung it over her shoulder and they headed back to their dorm.

  The two girls had met each other a year and a half ago. When they started going to college together they had been assigned the same dorm and quickly they realized that it was a blessing. They’d quickly become best friends, and the fact that they had the same basic body shape didn’t hurt either.

  Becky showered quickly, careful not to get her hair wet. When she turned the shower off and stepped out, wrapping a towel around herself she wasn’t surprised to see Ashley in the bathroom, applying makeup.

  “I set out an outfit for you.”

  Becky raised an eyebrow in disapproval. She was more than capable of picking out outfits for herself, but Ashley was passionate about fashion. She wanted to make that her side career; so Becky played Barbie and let Ashley pick out her clothes.

  The girls changed quickly, Becky applied a little makeup when Ash was out of the way, and the two girls each slipped into their favorite heels. Becky looked herself over in the mirror.

  A black high waited skirt, with a wide belt to accent the smallest part of her waist; along with a green silk blouse. She had her 5 inch black wedges on, and her blonde hair hung straight. A soft grin spread over her lips as she turned away from the mirror and grabbed her purse. Knowing Ash she would be overdressed, but at least she would be the best dressed person there.

  “I’ve got some friends coming to pick us up.” She said as they walked down the hallway, the sock click-clack of their heels echoing around them.

  Becky nodded.

  She took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves. She didn’t like going out in large groups very much, much less when she only knew one other person there.

  There were three others besides her and Ash. So all in all not too bad, but it was hard to find them a seat for all of them.

  “Excuse me,” The waitress said to a man. He looked up at her. “Would it be alright if they took one of the tables?” She motioned towards the two tables that made up his seating area.

  “Of course.” He smiled. He looked at them, his eyes resting on Becky. A soft smile spread across his lips. He motioned to the free table.

  Becky could feel his eyes on her. Her heart skipped a beat. She lowered her head to the ground, looking up between her lashes at him.

  He had short blonde hair, and piercing blue-green eyes. Becky’s heart skipped a beat. She tried not to stare at him, but she couldn’t help it.

  “Thank you.” Ash’s voice snapped her back to reality. Becky watched as Ashley stepped forward and held her hand out to him. “I’m Ashley.”

  “Darian.” He shook her hand with a tight smile.

  “Do you go to school here?” She looked him up and down as the waitress moved the table over, creating enough space for all of us at one seating area.

  Yes. He did. I’d seen him around from time to time. Normally on Thursday nights.

  “Every now and then. When I’m in the right place at the right time,” he said it as if there was a joke that only he got. He looked past her. His eyes locking on Becky again.

  “You’re in the Vampires course, aren’t you?”

  Becky’s cheeks flushed. She’d been in a vampire craze when she started it. She knew it was childish but she couldn’t help wanting to take it, plus it was an easy credit.

  “Uh, yea. I wanted to try out one of the mythology classes,” she said. The school also offered Greek, Celtic, and werewolf mythology, pretty much as an easy extra credit for anyone who needed one and didn’t want to do too much work.

  It wasn’t hard to notice a couple people in the group thought it was silly. Becky’s cheeks darkened.

  “I personally really enjoyed the lecture they did… what, three weeks ago? About the different cultures and their take on vampires.”

  “Yea.” Becky felt a wave of relief, thankful that he wasn’t going to make fun of her. She’d never noticed him in the class. How had she missed that?

  Darian motioned to the spot beside him. Silently inviting her to sit there. “I’d love to hear your take on the most recent reading material. What do you think about the professor not assigning Dracula?”

  Becky slipped past her friend and sat down beside him, totally aware that she had gotten in the way of her friend’s flirting. I need to find a way to get Ash in this conversation. She thought.

  “I thought it was a really interesting move on his behalf. I mean, everyone would have expected it; but assuming you went to high school, and did your homework, you’ve probably already read it,” she noted.

  A wide grin spread over Darian's face.

  “I don’t believe I have the pleasure of knowing your name.”

  Becky’s heart skipped a beat as he spoke. There was something about the way he said it that made him sound old fashioned.

  “Becky.” She held her hand out to him.

  His eyes sparkled as he took her hand in his. It took all she had not to pull away from him his hands were so cold.

  He raised the back of her hand to his lips and placed a soft kiss against her. The action sent a chill down her spine. It took effort not to pull away from him before he let go of her hand.

  “Actually,” Becky cleared her throat. “Ash and I were just talking about the most recent assignment.”

  “What?” Ash perked up. I gave her a wide grin. “Oh, yea.” She realized what Becky was saying. “Beck likes to bounce ideas off me when she does her homework. I don’t really listen though.” She turned her attention to Becky, giving her a wide grin and a small nod.

  Becky’s brow furrowed. She stared at her best friend. I thought you wanted him. She said silently, not that Ashley could hear her. But she turned her attention away from Becky and Darian. The waitress came back, handing them each a Manu and everyone a glass of water.

  Becky took hers, smiling a quick thank you to the girl before looking down at the menu.

  The place was new, and known for its strange burgers. IT was a collage cafe, just a few blocks away from the college and with good prices so everyone could afford to come here- plus it was open almost 24 hours a day.

  “Have you been here before?” Becky asked, anyone who would answer really.

  “No. This is my first time. How about you?”

  Becky looked up to see everyone deep in conversation, except Darian who was watching her closely.

  One girl shot a look over her, her nose wrinkled and she looked away quickly.

  Becky felt her heart skip a beat. What was that about? She wondered. Then turned to Darian.

  “First time too.” She gave him a smile. “What did you order?”

  “The Elvis burger.” His eyes sparkled, as if he wanted to say something but didn’t.

  “I thought about that one, but I’m thinking the poutine burger.”

  His eyes sparkled. “How adventurous of you!” he laughed softly. I’ve noticed so many people are just ordering simple things, it
’s nice to see someone who wants to take a risk.”

  The waitress came back quickly to give Darian his order, and boy did it look good. Becky stared wide eyed. She took their order, and Darian was right- most people were ordering simple things. Becky was the only one who had ordered something interesting.

  The burgers were good, the company- at least the people Becky had come with- on the other hand was lacking.

  She tried several times to take part in the conversation, and it’s not that they didn’t welcome her; it was just that the conversation was boring. She found herself drawn to the man beside her. Maybe it was just because he was new and interesting.

  Nonetheless when he pushed himself out of his seat and left he gave her a soft smile, telling her he would see her tomorrow night- and it sounded like a promise.

  Becky finished her meal, her mind on Darian the entire time. The way his lips had felt against her still felt a rush through her body.

  By the time Ash and Becky got back to their dorms it was past 10:00.

  “I think that guy liked you,” Ashley said.

  “I thought you liked him?” Beck challenged her. She shrugged.

  “No point in trying something that won’t work. I think the only thing he was interested in was you.”

  Becky’s brow furrowed. She didn’t like the way that sounded. It’s not like she was a meal or something. But she didn’t say anything. She thought about the man she’d spent the night talking to. Despite his cold touch she’d had a lot of fun talking to him- and the idea that he would be interested in her made her heart skip a beat. She didn’t want to admit just how happy it made her to think that he had been interested in her. Suddenly, the idea of class tomorrow night was thrilling.

  Chapter 2

  The next day passed slower than most.

  Becky tried to ignore it, she tried to tell herself that it wasn’t true. That all days felt this slow. When she came home from her run she changed quickly, not willing to admit just how much effort she had put into her outfit. Today it was a pair of jeans with a simple black tank top that might have showed a little bit of boob. She covered it with her light brown pleather jacket and grabbed her school bag. She tied her hair up in a bun as she walked from her dorm to the classroom, and applied a little red lipstick.

  I’m not going to go out of my way to look good for him. She told herself, but still she couldn’t help hoping that he would think she looked good.

  She grabbed something to eat for on her way to class and headed there as fast as she could, silently hoping she’d meet up with him before classes started.

  She didn’t meet up with him at the beginning of class, but he did pop out of the blue just as they were all making their way into the classroom.

  “Hey.” He whispered touching the small of her back.

  Becky’s heart skipped a beat. “Hi.” She said breathlessly, his cold hand still touching her. Her eyes locked on his for a fraction of a second.

  A lopsided grin spread over his face and he gave her a nod towards a set of chains.

  “Did you miss me or something?”

  “No.” Becky said a little too quickly.

  “Shame,” He whispered in her ear. “I missed you.”

  Becky’s heart skipped a beat. She took a deep breath, hoping he couldn’t tell how flustered that had gotten her. She took a deep breath and sat down in the chair he’d motioned to.

  He sat down beside her and pulled out an old fashioned journal from a bag Becky hadn’t noticed hanging at his hips. He pulled out a pen and turned to her.

  “How’s it going?”

  His eyes sparkled as he looked at her, giving her a once over.

  Suddenly Becky wished she’d have put a little more thought into her outfit.

  “About as good as it can be for an overtaxed student I’m guessing.” She gave him a wicked smile. “And what about you?”

  “Better than I’d expect.”

  He stared at her during the entire lesson. He was hardly paying attention, even though this was one of his favorite classes to attention. The wonderful thing about being who he was, is that he could go to as many schools as he wanted and he could take as many classes as he wanted. And he loved it. Over the years he’d watched the teachings change. He could still remember the days when they taught that the earth was flat, of course that was a very long time ago and while it may seem crazy for people to think that the human race actually believed it at one point, it had been a wonderful time.

  Although, Darian was sure nothing could beat the late 1800’s. That was his favorite time, and the Old West; that would always hold a place in his heart.

  He turned to the girl beside him. She was staring ahead at the profession as he spoke about vampires and how they’ve been represented in the 2000’s. Some of them minded. Darian didn’t.

  There was no doubt it had become easier for us over the past 100 years, and the idea that we could be accepted, even loved and desired- well, that made Darian want to know more. It made him want to keep living.

  She caught his eye. A smile flashing across her lips. Darian’s heart skipped a beat.

  Unlike what most people thought, they did still have hearts- that they still had a way to fall in love.

  “Do you believe in fate?” He asked as they stood.

  “Yes.” Becky admitted, her cheeks flushing. “Do you?”

  A soft, sad, smile touched his lip. “I do. I believe that we have no choice in it. And that one way or another it will happen.” He sounded lost in thought. Lost in the past as he grabbed his school bag. “Would you allow me the pleasure of walking you home?”

  “Um, sure.” Becky pulled out her cell phone, and sent a quick text to Ash letting her know that if she didn’t arrive soon to be worried. She tucked her phone away and followed Darian out of the classroom. She couldn’t help noticing the way people looked at them as they walked out together.

  “When did they get together?” She heard someone whisper.

  Her heart did a double take. Oh god, people think we’re together?! She had no clue how she was supposed to deal with that! She didn’t want him to feel awkward about it.

  Becky cleared her throat trying to think of something to say. “So, I don’t see you around very much.”

  “I just take a couple classes. For fun more than anything else.” He shrugged. “Something to keep track of the time.”

  Becky raised an eyebrow, waiting for more but nothing came as they made their way across the parking lot.

  “So do you live around here?” She asked.

  The night wind whipped around them and for a split second she was thankful she’d gone with a bun, otherwise her hair would be all over the place.

  “Sometimes.”

  “Sometimes?” She repeated. How the hell? It’s like he’s trying not to make sense. She thought.

  Darian shot her a grin. “Why? Do you want to hang out or something?”

  Becky returned his grin, but for a couple seconds she didn’t say anything. “Are you asking me to hang out with you?” She raised an eyebrow but her heart skipped a beat, worried about how he would answer her.

  He turned to look at her and laughed softly, not answering her question. They made their way closer to Becky’s dorm. Her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach. She had been hoping he would say yes, or at least imply that he wanted to see her again, but he hadn’t so much as said a word about it. He’s probably not interested. She thought, and he was just trying to be polite by not saying anything. She’d been there before she knew what it was like.

  It doesn’t matter. She told herself. And it was true. It wasn’t a big deal if he wasn’t interested in her. They would see each other every now and then on Thursdays, but he would probably go back to not noticing her. Then why did he seem so interested in me last night?

  Darian walked beside the woman, he moved closer to her without an effort; it almost looked like he was gliding to most people he was sure of that. He’d seen the way others like
him moved. He knew how effortless it looked from the outside.

  There was something about her. He’d known it the second he’d seen her. Now it was all beginning to make sense. He’d been traveling last night; but not to this time last. So why had he showed up outside that cafe?

  It wasn’t abnormal for him to show up somewhere he often went, so he hadn’t put much thought into why it was here and now that he’d gone to, as opposed to the 1980’s to catch a Nirvana concert.

  It was her. Well, not really her doing it. That wasn’t how this kind of thing worked, but it was her that had brought him here. Sometimes if he was supposed to be in one place at one time everything would get all wonky and work on its own.

  He’d once gone to sleep in Paris at the height of the 1940’s and woken up in Japan in the 1800’s. Thankfully he’d been able to steal clothes before anyone took notice of him, though he found that a simple black jacket and jeans did him well in most times it was always best to be safe and know where you were going before you got there.

  Darian took a deep breath of her, the scent of blood mixed with coconut, vanilla, and life. Life has its own scent. Some find it disgusting. The decaying of the body, the rebuilding of it. Personally he found it wonderful. He find it beautiful, to Darian it is part of the beauty in life.

  Darian looked around them. There was something going on here, something he didn’t fully understand but he did understand that she was part of it. That we were part of it.

  Darian needed to see her again and I knew it, but what would be the cost if she had to see him again? What would happen to her?

  Darian had had his life taken away from him when he was just a boy. The girl walking beside him was just a girl compared to so many, but he knew the signs. He’d heard about the attraction. The feeling. The urge.

  The lust.

  That’s what it was. It was a lust for her blood. Just her

  s. He could walk into any room and not give a person a second glance, but when you found your one you knew it; because you wanted nothing more than to taste them.