by A. Vers
Her eyes narrowed into a look of pure hardened steel. “Nothing that concerns you or finding Eliza’s killer. I will talk to Headmistress Harrington and ask to have Ames made your ambassador.”
I scoffed and peered around the column. Ames was at the front of the class with Professor Wilcox. His jaw tilted at a haughty angle as his eyes met mine.
“Mr. Tall, Dark, and Arrogant?” I quipped. “No thanks.”
“Ames is perfectly respectable,” Morgan assured me.
I gave her the look that statement deserved.
Her frown grew imperious, frustrated. “Ryder—”
I didn’t have time to appreciate how she rolled my name. One minute she was in front of me, the next someone hauled me out of the shadows by the shoulders.
And I didn’t go quietly.
My whole body whirled, going under the hands grasping me to come up with both fists raised.
Professor Wilcox frowned. “I do not believe that violence is the proper response, but you need to find your seat.”
I slowly lowered my hands, aware I had drawn quite a few gazes. “Sorry, Professor. Just wanted a quick word with my ambassador.”
Wilcox’s ruddy face colored more. “Be that as it may, class is beginning.” He stalked off back to the front of the room where Ames was waiting next to an empty chair.
He looked beside me, one brow raised. Morgan walked past, her shoulders tight.
She sat in the empty desk and faced forward, leaving me with nothing to do but find a seat of my own. And hope I could get her to see reason after class.
Chapter 13
Morgan
Ames practically drug me from the room as soon as the bell rang. I stumbled after him, but he took the first corner we came to, shoved me before him into an alcove, and stood unbreathing in the shadows at my side.
My lips parted to speak, to demand answers. His palm was hot as it pressed over my mouth. He gave a small shake of his head.
I peered at him in confusion.
Until Ryder strode past the small nook, his gaze searching up and down the hall. My heart flipped.
Was he looking for me? Why didn’t Ames—
Ryder disappeared from view, and Ames pulled me back out of our secluded spot toward the stairs for the vampire dorm.
I hauled back on my arm.
His grip tightened for a moment, but he let me go with a warning look. Though I remained confused, I fell quiet and nodded. He went up the stairs, leaving me to follow.
Ames surprised me by passing the hall to the rec room completely. At the last riser, he ducked under the sill for the attic and went inside.
I slowly entered behind him.
He crossed his arms, and his expression was hard when he spun to face me. “What did the human want now?”
I blinked. “Harrington told him I could not be his ambassador.” I shook my head. “What is all this about—”
“Why would she do that?” he cut in.
My grumble was audible. “I have a theory if you would like to hear it.”
“Yesterday dispelled all of that, Mor. So why is she warning him off?” He peered at me, waiting. “Why keep you out of the program when you are one of the smartest in our year?”
Heat washed up my cheeks at his words. “I don’t—”
“Yes, you do.” He stalked closer, his arms falling back to his sides. “Harrington was on the committee to pick every student that came here. Maybe she isn’t warning him from you.”
Something like unease filtered through my insides as I really thought about it.
The Headmistress knew each student that crossed the threshold. Did that mean that Ryder could be dangerous?
He had sure moved smoother and faster than any human I had ever seen earlier.
And why was his initial response to fight?
My eyes raised and met Ames’ gaze. “He’s a human, Ames.”
“I know. I can smell his humanity.”
“Then what danger does he pose to me?”
His features contorted. “I don’t know yet, but I want you to promise not to be alone with him. Not until I do a little research of my own.”
“But—”
He flitted across the floor; his long body blurred, and he was suddenly just inches from me, cupping my face in one agile hand. “No arguments, Mor. I look into him first.” He didn’t wait for my answer.
His head bent. He feathered a kiss over my forehead before flitting from the room and closing the door behind him.
I stood in the center of the attic and wrapped my arms around my waist. I did not understand his concern, but I also could not deny Ryder was different compared to the other humans.
He had moved so well in class earlier. So fast. Not as quick as my kin or even the shifters, but the motion had been practiced, easy. His questioning too had been more knowledgeable than I had expected.
And why was Harrington trying to keep us apart? I had proven myself by walking into the dawn, proven my innocence on so much. On things that even now made me question the last four years and my presence at Lokworth.
I respected Ames for trying to protect me. But I could not live in the shadows forever. Nor did I want to.
Ryder seemed to know how to find the real killer. And with or without Ames, I wanted to help.
I needed to.
I walked to the door and gripped the knob. It turned under my grasp.
Riki stood on the other side, her blonde hair as carefully styled as ever. She blinked at me. “Mor?”
My jaw flexed. “Riki.”
Some of her confusion faded on a hint of anger. “You’re avoiding me.” It wasn’t a question, but she was too smart not to have noticed.
“I have nothing to say to you right now.” I started to move past her.
Her fingers closed over my arm, holding me in place. “Mor, I’m sorry. But you have to understand how it looked.”
I wrenched away. “Why does everyone keep saying that?” I snapped. “I found the girl. I wasn’t crouched over her with my fangs in her neck. I was across the infernal room!”
She shrunk back. A small part of me felt bad. But the larger part …
“I did not hurt her, Riki. And for you and Roman, my two best friends to think otherwise …” I trailed off, shaking my head. “You never seemed to buy into my past. Never pushed or pried. But the moment I needed you both, where were you?”
“Morgan—”
I glared. “No, Riki. I don’t want to do this now. I needed you both, and you let me down.”
She remained silent, merely watching me from so close. “You are my best friend, Mor. And I am sorry. But shutting me out isn’t right either.” She spun on her heel, long blonde waves flying. But then she stopped. Her blue eyes pierced me from over her shoulder. “Be careful, Morgan. Some people still don’t believe you’re innocent. And I’d hate for something to happen to you because you pushed everyone else away.”
My blood turned cold. But she merely walked back down the steps without another word. Soon the soft click of her heels faded into the quiet, leaving me alone again.
I fisted my hands at my sides and fought not to huddle inward. Riki’s words circled in my head.
Had they been a threat? Or an observation?
What did she know that I didn’t?
I needed to find Ryder, and we needed to find Eliza’s killer. Because until we cleared my name once and for all, I had no idea what would happen.
Chapter 14
Ryder
I walked out of first meal without a single bite of food and casually took the first turn I came to. Morgan was still absent. As was Ames. Not that it mattered over much. Morgan had been an easy cover for my exploration of the school and a fount of knowledge. Now I would have to learn about Lokworth the old-fashioned way.
The main hall was dark, as were many of the others in the old gothic-style school. Though the occasional lamp offered a soft amber glow, there were too few for me to rely on them. So I peered int
o open doorways, creating a map in my head of obstacles, exits, and floor plans in the dark.
It was second nature now. It had been for years.
“Ryder.”
I turned, eyes wide.
Morgan stood in a doorway down the hall, her hair once again free of its braid and left long down her back. She watched me with a simple brow raise. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking around.”
Her lips curved, like maybe she thought I was joking. “Aren’t you supposed to be at first meal?”
I shrugged. “Wasn’t overly hungry,” I admitted. “What’s your excuse?”
She flushed in the dimness. “I ran into a ... friend. Then wasn’t so hungry anymore either.” Her eyes dropped from mine.
There was something about the way she stood just then, beaten down. Downtrodden. It was painful to witness.
“Want to give me a tour?” I asked.
She lifted her gaze. “I’m not supposed to be around you, remember?”
“Ah. But some rules are made to be broken,” I said and couldn’t help my grin.
That earned me a frown. “Rules exist for a reason, Ryder.”
“Oh god,” I groaned, walking toward her. “Spare me that lecture.”
Her cheeks were rosy the closer I got, soft looking.
“I just want to see what Lokworth has to offer. I’m not asking you to help me vandalize the school.” She nibbled at her bottom lip. Heat scorched through my insides so fast, it left me light-headed. Her mouth was full, plump.
I shook my head.
Why was I thinking about her mouth?
“So show me some statues and some art, tell me a bit about the history, and we will call it the grand tour.” I waited.
“In order for you to really see what Lokworth is, you can’t do it wearing that.” She gestured at the nearly empty backpack on my shoulder.
I had crammed a single notebook and a few pens inside for appearance’s sake. Hell, I wasn’t even sure the pens worked.
So I casually let it drop from my arm before reaching around her to drop it inside the doorway of what appeared to be a small archway. Stairs led off from one side and the other directions opened into doorways like the one she stood in.
Where had she been?
I rocked back on my heels.
Morgan was staring up at me from much less distance than before. I had unwittingly but myself right against her. But I couldn’t move back. Her lilac eyes spun softly, glowing with little flashes of silver in their depths.
Her scent was soft, feminine. Like flowers and sunlight.
Did vampires wear perfume?
“Where do you want to start?” she asked with a soft exhale.
I moved away. “Wherever,” I said. “You can show me whatever you want.”
She nodded and slipped past me without another word. For a moment, when she made sure she did not touch me, I wondered if she could be afraid of me.
But vampires didn’t fear humans.
We feared them.
***
Morgan’s tour was more than sufficient. She pointed out each dormitory, who resided where, and even where the teachers stayed during off hours. It seemed Lokworth was their home year round.
On the outskirts of the woods that lined Lokworth, she peered at me almost shyly. “Ames warned me to stay away from you.”
Of course he had.
“You probably should,” I told her.
She snorted. “You’re a human,” she said, almost imploringly. “Why should I fear you?”
If only she knew.
I shrugged. “Maybe he’s worried for other reasons,” I suggested.
Though her cheeks flushed, she did not remark.
We walked in silence toward the assembly hall. Soon the sun would be up. I had no doubt first meal was long over. But she seemed in no hurry to return to the school and I wasn’t either.
Then again, being cooped up with a horde of supernaturals was not my idea of fun. Not that I had fun.
Not anymore.
She gave me another sideways glance. “You must think being here is rather boring.”
I shrugged. “It’s ... different.” I stuffed my hands into my uniform pockets. “There’s no tech. Little light. But the food is normal enough.”
“We all eat. As for technology … Technology and magick don’t mix,” she said carefully. “It is too volatile. One cannot exist if the other does.”
“So how do you guys keep up with the outside world?”
She put her hands behind her back as she walked calmly at my side. “We read.” I arched a brow, and her smile was almost teasing. “Newspapers and magazines mostly for current events.”
She turned sideways a bit to look at me. “I am partial to modern comics and novels. Ames likes the classics. But through the written word we have learned a lot about humanity. Your cultures and traditions.”
Didn’t seem so odd when she put it that way.
“That seems like an unfair trade,” I said.
She stopped walking. “Why do you say that?”
“Well, there’s little literature about your kind. Or any of the supernatural races. We know what we’re told. What stories our elders have passed down. But there are still gaps. Holes.”
“What would you like to know?”
That would take too long.
So, I jerked my shoulders gruffly and said, “I’ll make a list and get back to you.”
She chuckled. But as she looked towards Lokworth, her smile faded. “We should get back before anyone realizes we are together.”
It was logical. After the attack on Eliza, I understood her worry. Her fear. But I didn’t fear her. Not like I was supposed to. Like I should.
But I nodded and followed her back to the school.
We had barely slipped through the wooden doors when a strong hand grabbed my collar. Someone wrenched me sideways. My back met a solid wood frame, and I growled.
“Ames. Let him go.” Morgan’s voice was furious. Outraged.
I looked at the male vampire.
His eyes glowed gold and his fangs were descending even as I watched. “You weren’t in class. And didn’t I tell you to stay away from him?” He never looked at her. His focus was all for me as his hands clenched in the front of my suit jacket. A true predator.
“We went for a walk, Ames. That was it.” I waited for her to tell him she had been giving me a tour, but her mouth remained obstinately closed behind him.
Ames’ irises flashed, and he peered at her. “What if Harrington had seen you? What if someone took it the wrong way? You cannot walk around campus with a human for a pet.”
My lips curled.
Morgan glared at him. “I am his ambassador, Ames. And until Harrington officially removes me from that position, I will remain his ambassador.”
Ames released me abruptly. I straightened my clothes as he whirled to face her. “Why would you put yourself in such a position, Mor? For him?”
She crossed her arms, and her chin tilted upward at a stubborn angle.
This was Morgan with a backbone. And if I was being perfectly honest, she needed to use it more.
“I’m done talking about this right now, Ames.”
“Morgan—”
“Later,” she said, tone brokering no argument.
He snarled, low and long. But he squared his shoulders, ran a hand through his hair, and stepped back. “Fine.”
I watched them.
There dynamic was still hard for me to grasp. He was protective, like a brother. Or maybe a boyfriend. But they did not touch or kiss. At all. The tension between them was palpable and could be cut with a knife. And Ames damn near gave off ‘do not touch Morgan’ vibes.
But whatever was between them, it was old history.
I peered at Morgan. “Thanks for the walk,” I said mildly.
She nodded. “Of course. Come. I’ll take you back to class.” She started off.
Ames watched her go, hi
s expression blank.
I gave him a smirk as I moved to walk around him.
His hand flew out, gripping my bicep hard. He snarled. “I don’t know what you’re up to, human,” he said, voice a lethal hiss. “But I’m going to find out.”
Wrenching away, my smile grew colder. “It really was just a walk.” I winked at him. “Don’t worry so much. She’s grown.” I moved away.
“I know,” he muttered so softly I was sure I was not meant to hear it. “That is why I worry.”
I didn’t stop. Instead, I hurried to catch up with Morgan, leaving Ames in the foyer alone. But when I peered over my shoulder, he was already gone.
He could worry about me all he wanted. Morgan was finally coming around, and she seemed more than willing to work with me. I would deal with Ames if I had to. But she was hiding something. Something big.
Now I just needed a way to get more out of her than what was just surface deep.
Time for phase two.
Chapter 15
Ryder
I didn’t see Morgan or Ames for the rest of that morning. So when it was time to leave, I begrudgingly followed the guys onto the bus and dropped into a seat near the back.
Stacy and a handful of others were bent over a notebook in her hands, but I didn’t bother to ask what it was about.
My focus was on going back to town, changing out of the stupid uniform, and doing some light recon of the school while the others were asleep.
Dad and Aunt Joe were in the front room when I walked into the safe house. Weapons were strewn all over the table, and they stopped talking as soon as I entered.
Dad peered at me. “Anything new to report?”
I set my backpack by the door. “Harrington is riding my case.”
He raised a brow at that. “Why?”
“They have an ambassador program. One supe for each human. The one I was paired with ... Harrington doesn’t want us working together. But the vampire ... I think she knows more than even she realizes.”
“All the more reason for you to grill her for information.” He went back to cleaning the rifle before him. “Whatever Harrington tells you not to do, you do the exact opposite.”
