We sit in our usual seats. This time, Julien follows Manni and squeezes himself between her and Emily. With Bianca gone, he must be trying to integrate into our group. The long face and distant look in his eyes suggest he is doing it so we take him with us on our next run.
“Did you drink enough water today, Feeder zero-zero-nine?” Gloved hands try to expose a vein on Cole’s arm. Flushing red, he doesn’t make eye contact with the Bleeder.
My hand goes up to tell them I will give double when Jax’s voice cuts in. “I will give Cole’s share,” he says.
My jaw clenches, and my nostrils flare. Wondering what Jax is playing at, I shoot a look at him, but my heart skips a beat.
He is smiling, and it isn’t just any smile. It’s one that has often sparked heat between us. So, he isn’t as annoyed with me as I thought.
As the Bleeder gets him set up, I lean against the armchair and say, “You didn’t have to do that. Cole is my responsibility.”
“Ours,” he corrects. “I’m his brother-in-law.”
I stare blankly at him. “We aren’t together.”
“Situationship,” Emily coughs loudly from behind us.
Jax must not have heard her because he lets out a laugh, kicks his feet up and stretches out. “Not yet. Besides, thosebloodsuckerscan gag on my blood.”
“You’re fresh blood,” I remark, sitting up straighter in my seat. “It’ll taste sweeter to them since they haven’t had it as often.”
Jax grins lopsidedly. “My blood’s anything butsweet.”
I roll my eyes and shift my attention to Cole. He has his head down, avoiding my gaze. “Sorry, Saya,” he murmurs. “I promise tomorrow will be different.”
“It will,” I agree.
CHAPTER TWELVE
PSEUDOLOGIA FANTASTICA
Children cannot be Feeders.
— Serun’s Law
Orange light pales,fades and grows warmer as I lie in bed. I touch my arm at the itchy sensation where the Bleeder drew blood. Another bruise.
Another one to hide.
Another one to remember.
Another one tohate.
With a sigh, I close my eyes and focus on the sounds around me. A hissing noise emanates from the toilet. Springs creak as Cole tosses and turns beneath me. Emily wheezes in her sleep, a deep, resonant snore with every breath.
Cole turns again. This time, the strained springs sink, and he exhales a final weary breath before drifting into a steady sleep.
I sit up and press on the vent above my bed. It tookme months to figure out how to open it when I first tried. The screws were tight, so I spent hours pinching the screw head until it finally loosened against the grip of my shirt.
After I scramble inside, I crawl towards Jax’s room. As I round the corner, my focus settles on the busted light, when the entire airshaft shudders, vibrating against my fingertips and creeping up my arms, sending a chill over my skin.
Lights further ahead flicker, interrupted by the sudden disturbance. My fingers clench at the thought of a nightwalker in the vents. But if itwerea nightwalker, they couldn’t hurt me. Under Serun’s—wait, I’m part nightwalker, so would they even care?
I let out a shaky breath and crawl to the busted light marking Jax’s room. The vent lifts with ease, and after I set it to the side, I slide down until I’m sitting beside him. He doesn’t wrap his arms around me or try to steal a suck like he usually does.
My hands press against the springy mattress as I lean into him, hoping a kiss will diffuse the tension, but he jerks his head back. In the dim light, his bright blue eyes appear as dark as a storm-weathered night.
Jax lifts his chin and looks down at me. Not like a lover. Not like a friend. Like an enemy. “Why did you lie to me?”
