“Oh, it’s all princess here.” Tate sat sideways on the bench as always, his thighs crowding in around mine, seeming unable to be separated from me even to eat his lunch. His fingers brushed my hair away from my face, and his lips pressing behind my ear, making me shiver.
Trying to shove down my desire to climb into Tate’s lap right there in the cafeteria, I glanced over at the vampires hanging out to the side of the tables. “What’s up with them? Vampires eat, right? I mean, besides blood.”
Xinyi shrugged, chewing her food. “Yeah, I guess. They don’t need it, but some like the flavors. Iris doesn’t eat, not unless it’s…” Her cheeks darkened. “Recreational.”
“Ah.” I grinned. “So they just like watching everyone else eat?”
“And complaining,” Xinyi muttered, her eyes sliding to the side.
My brows rose. “About?”
Tate stiffened next to me. “We don’t have to get into supernatural politics right now.”
“But she’s supernatural now.” Xinyi pointed at me with her fork. “You’re new, so no one expects you to have much of an opinion, but you know about the hunters, right?”
I schooled my expression. “Well, I have that class with that tight ass professor.”
“Oooh.” Xinyi’s gaze turned dreamy. “Tight ass? Yes. The rest of the package? Let me just say I’d let him hunt me any day of the week.”
Tate chuckled, while my eyes slipped toward the professors’ table nearby. Julian usually sat with his back to me, but this time, he was facing me, his gaze almost fixated on me.
I lifted my hand and pretended to scratch the side of my face, flipping him off at the same time.
“So what about the hunters?” I didn’t want to stop the conversation now that it had naturally come up. I hoped Xinyiand Tate would at least point me in the direction of the dissenting voices.
“It’s nothing you need to worry about. You’re a good girl, aren’t you?” Tate kissed my cheek, his words making me shift in my seat.
“Well, some people,” Xinyi started, shooting a covert look at the vampires, “think the hunters are overstepping. They think that they should let the supernaturals police themselves and… well… fuck off.”
I chewed on a fry and mulled over her words. It wasn’t a secret that the hunters weren’t exactly popular. No one wanted to be told what they could and couldn’t do, then face lethal consequences when they disobeyed.
“And then you know… there are the councils.” Xinyi twisted the cap off her water bottle, lifting a brow.
I bobbed my head, not exactly confirming or denying it.
This time, Tate explained. “Each supernatural group has their own council. The vampires, the werewolves, and the witches. But there have been some changes lately that not everyone likes.”
Xinyi snorted. “You could say that again.”
I nodded along as they talked, even though I knew all this information already. A heavy feeling pressed on my back. My head turned slightly to the side, eyes flicking to the vampires.
Kyren was staring at me again. I shrugged the feeling off and focused on what they were saying.
“They’re all just a bunch of whiny bitches,” Tate grunted, his lips tugging down in a frown.
“So…” I twirled a fry in ketchup. “Vamps are mad cause they can’t just do what they want anymore?”
“Basically.” Xinyi shrugged. “Iris complains about it all the time. They’re always trying to get her to come to some meeting or something.”
“Really?” I tried to sound nonchalant about it, though my heart was pounding in my chest.
“Hey, don’t worry about it, princess.” Tate turned my face toward him. “Your mistress isn’t even here for them to mess with.”
I gave him a pinched smile, letting him think that was why my pulse was racing.
“Yeah, Jack.” Xinyi patted my arm. “Don’t let it get to you. They’re mostly all talk, anyway. You know, a bunch of old farts and newbies thinking they know better.”
I swallowed and nodded. “Yeah, I got it.” I pushed to my feet, taking my tray with me. “I’ve got to get to class.”
