I’d always thought Wyatt would be the first person to see me like this, and when I was young, I dreamed of the swoony and romantic things he’d say. About how I was beautiful and perfect. How he’d trail his fingers down my skin and?—
I shake the thoughts away. My dreams of Wyatt were nothing but a figment of my captivity and an overactive imagination. It wasn’t reallyhimI dreamed of. It was those deep, sapphire blue eyes that belonged to someone else…
Wesley.Wyatt’sbrother.
The thought warms my insides, my mind tornbetween the idea of Wyatt I’d created, and the man it appeared I was truly dreaming of, though I hadn’t heard anything about his brother, nary even a name.
I’d always been raised to believe I was meant to be offered to the Castorian prince, to Wyatt, himself.
Perhaps there was a reason I didn’t know about his brother. Perhaps there was a reason his name had been removed from all my teachings and the Castorian family.
The thought makes my stomach twist, and not in a good way.
I don’t wish to think of Castorian angels and demons, not now, and certainly not when I am naked and exposed.
That is a recipe for disaster.
I find the shower easily and step in, letting the water rush over me. The warmth is like a balm to my soul. I close my eyes and bask in it momentarily. So much has changed in the course of a day, I can barely keep up. I know it’s eventually going to hit me, but right now, all I want is to focus on the warm water, the momentary bliss before I have to leave and engage the academy. Because I know I can not stay locked in my room forever. I must find a mate, and time is of the essence. But how am I going to do that? I can’t very well just waltz up to the hottest vampire I see and ask if he will marry me.
This isn’t some corny human romance tale, this is my bloody life!
I squirt some shampoo—it smells far too floral for my tastes—and lather my hair, washing out the sweat as best I can before the water runs cold. I manage to get theconditioner in my hair and rinsed as well as my body clean with the overly-floral shower gel just as the water turns to ice.
If I had not reveled so much in the sanctity of my shower, perhaps I would have had time to dry my hair. But alas, I must endure it wet because the next class is coming in and Chloe and I need to leave. So I hurriedly dress in my undergarments, then my dress. I slide my pearls back on and slip my feet into my heels, dropping off my gym uniform in the locker room hamper.
“Are you hungry?” Chloe asks, pulling her golden and violet streaked hair into a high ponytail. Apparentlyshehad time to dry her hair because she showers faster than a hummingbird flies.
I still at her question. At its implication. I have only just started my bloodheat, and it dawns on me I have yet to feed, which makes me feel more than anxious, all things considered. At home, father would usually deliver me my blood in a crystal pitcher, seeing as hunting had become more problematic in my most recent years. It was barely two years ago when I’d hunted a man and nearly killed him in the process, but that itself wasn’t what garnered me a cuff on the wrist.
It was truly the one and only time I’d ever kissed anyone. It was only a kiss—a bloody kiss that I’ll never forget, but it was enough to drive the wedge between me and my hunting trips.
Ptaris told me it was alright, that I hadn’t done anything wrong. I was a vampiress, and it was in my nature to feed during my bloodheat. And desire, heexplained, was tantamount to my bloodlust. I’d wondered if it was the fact he was human that set my father off, but Ptaris assured me my father was not mad at me. He was just trying to protect me.
Or rather he was trying to protect my purity. Hisoffering.
A lot of good that did, for Wyatt refused me anyway, and here I am.
“I have not,” I say carefully, worried about what she will say next. If she will ask to hunt or if she will simply suggest something of the human variety.
“There’s this lovely little restaurant next to Phantom’s, caters to all sorts of supernaturals and they have the best bloodcakes you’ll ever sink your fangs into.” Chloe’s green eyes sparkle, and I can’t help but feel fractionally better.
“Bloodcakes?” I raise an eyebrow. Chloe nods. “Uh huh. Moist, blood-drenched chocolate is the fucking best.”
I smile, nodding in response. “Sounds lovely.”
Chloe grabs my arm again as she grins. “Sweet.”
And with that, we saunter off from the gym, towards the delectable restaurant.
I am not sure what I expected upon arriving atNight Craving,the supernatural cafe and restaurant off campus. But the last thing I expect is for it to look so… normal and unassuming. I swear the place could pass as a human cafe, had it not been for the evident stench of magic.
The inside is all dark walls and an ornately designed bar, the tables simple and black with wooden chairs.
I follow Chloe up to the bar as she takes her seat, slapping the cushion of the stool next to her. I sit without a second thought.
“Ah, some new blood, I see.” The bartender approaches us, showing a hint of his fang. He’s a gangly looking vampire, scrawny build, even stringier dark hair, but his facial features carry that timeless look all vampires have and his eyes are deep and vast. I get the feeling he could channel his powers and be very alluring to the right prey.
“This is Ivy,” Chloe says with a grin. “Ivy, this is Chad.”
