PROLOGUE
The dark, ominous forest surrounded us, and the winter air hugged my skin. The stars blanketed the sky above, and the wind blew through the frost-covered trees, making a hissing sound that sent shivers up my spine. He held me as if he meant me no harm, but I knew once I let him have me, I would be his forever. My blood would be his, my heart would be his, my breath would be his, and my soul his.
He was the man I had fallen in love with.
He lifted me so only the tips of my toes brushed against the snow. The breeze coiled around my feet and ankles, making my long skirt billow. I shivered, and he held me tighter against him. His hands ran up my back and through my hair, causing more shivers to climb. I knew I shouldn’t have been there, but I had no family to return to, and I had already made my choice.
I threw my head back, exposing my neck.
ONE
December 31, 2009
The clock on my car dashboard read 11:47 p.m.—Thirteen minutes until midnight, thirteen minutes until I fed. My skin felt dry and dull. My hunger clawed at me. My mouth watered as I watched the crowd of people heading toward the lake.
I stepped out of the car and closed the door behind me, not bothering to lock it. The night air, cool and crisp, kissed my arms as I adjusted the red dress that hugged my curves like a second skin. I strutted toward the group before me, mostly consisting of students from the nearby university. Their laughter, carefree and loud, blended with the music drifting through the air, a cacophony of anticipation.
I’d been on the run for a couple of months, falling into a bad pattern out west. Some detectives were probably looking for the murderer behind a few dead bodies. And by “a few,” I mean dozens. Usually, I am very careful and try not to kill anyone, but sometimes things get out of hand. And a girl’s got to eat.
I walked for five minutes toward the lake, swallowing hard. My throat was dry and tight, and I tried to quell the rising tension in my chest. I had been fasting for a few nightsto make this night a treat—or so I tried to convince myself as I sped along the desolate highways.
My unsteady legs trembled with each step. The nights of feeding on blood bags, heated on the passenger seat warmer, had done little to satisfy me.
I needed a fresh, hot meal. Somethingalive. My body craved sustenance. I could feel the weight of it in my bones. The hunger was a constant pull, a deep ache, and I knew it would soon become unbearable if I didn’t feed soon. Thus, here I was, surrounded by humans on New Year’s Eve.
The lake shimmered under the town’s lights as I drew closer, its surface gleaming like a mirror. I could see why they called this place Lakeview. I followed the park’s winding trails, avoiding the pools of lamplight that dotted the path, and slipped into the shadow of a towering oak, watching in silence.
Groups of students gathered, some lounging with drinks in hand, others smoking or snorting drugs, and dancing to music blaring from radios. I surveyed the crowd, scanning over the sea of faces, searching for my target. The gnawing emptiness inside me often made my actions reckless. Tonight, though, I planned to be patient, to take my time. I intended to stay here for a couple of nights to replenish my strength before continuing my journey.
I needed someone drunk enough to forget the encounter entirely by morning, yet not so intoxicated that their blood would be tainted. There had to be a perfect balance, a delicate moment where their inhibitions were lowered, but their pulses still thrummed with life, unspoiled by the heavy weight of alcohol or whatever other substances flowed through their veins.
I pulled my cellphone out of my purse and flipped it open. It flashed 11:54 p.m. I had six minutes before thecountdown began. In the chaos of fireworks and cheers, I could hunt undetected if I timed it right.
I stood there, still, when a creeping sensation of unease crept over me. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. There was another Vampire nearby. I could feel it—an instinct, honed over years of experience. Someone was watching me.
I spun around, my eyes narrowing as I focused on the shadows of the trees. Then, there it was, a flicker of movement. A flash of blue darted between the trunks, quick and fluid. Too fast. Too sharp to be human.
I ran after it, my adrenaline spiking as I moved quickly and gracefully, closing the distance between me and the fleeting blue streak. I silently thanked myself for my choice of boots over the red stilettos that matched my dress.
We ran deeper into the park’s trees but stayed close enough to hear the rowdiness of the crowd. The figure was fast. It halted, pivoted, then charged straight for me. My body tensed as I was too slow to react, and it collided with me, sending me crashing to the ground. My breath left my lungs as the figure pinned me down, seizing the sides of my head and slamming it into the earth. A sharp sting erupted across my skull as blood trickled into my hair. I struggled beneath their weight, my strength depleted from fasting.
I looked up and saw a woman with golden blond hair wearing a blue dress. Her eyes were feral, crazed, as they locked onto mine. Recognition hit me like a wave, and through my hazy vision, I knew her.
“Vail!” I screamed. “Vail! It’s me, Rose.”
She hesitated, pulling back and studying my face. Her fangs retracted into her gums, and her expression softened.
“Rosie?” she said, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. The moonlight shone down from behind her, illuminating her face and making her look like something out of a dream.
The last time I had seen Vail, we ended things on bad terms. Over fifteen years had passed, but the scars, the words, those never truly healed.
“Oh my god, Rosie!” Vail reached down, grabbed my arms, and helped me up. Her touch, though once familiar, felt foreign. She pulled me into a tight hug, and for a moment, I let myself indulge in it. The scent of her was comforting. But then the memories rushed back, how she betrayed me—how our relationship had ended in flames—and I quickly pulled away.
“Shit, Vail, what’s your problem?” I brushed the dirt off my legs, trying to keep my voice steady. “You scared the hell out of me. I thought you were—” I stopped myself, unsure if I even wanted to say it aloud.
“You thought I might be Draven?” she asked casually, rummaging around in the small black purse slung across her body. She pulled out a makeup wipe and handed it to me.
I would be lying to myself if I said I didn’t think about Draven. Not a day goes by that the thought of him doesn’t drift through my mind.
