He hums noncommittally. “She’s no concern of mine. But if you’re asking if she’s safe, then yes. She is waiting patiently for our return, in a manner of speaking.”
Right. I’m sure Gemma is the picture of patience while her table mates hallucinate in front of her.
Drawing a breath, I do my best to block out the illusion’s power and return to my body, but this particular brand of magic always distorts my sense of reality. “I don’t like illusions,” I grumble.
Callum’s eyes glitter in the false afternoon light. “Then let’s make this quick, shall we?” Taking a step back, he rakes his hands against the tall grass, further heightening my sense of hearing. The reeds rustle, and a twig snaps beneath his foot. “Tell me what the Dire wolf has done to vex you, and we can go back.”
I open my mouth, but Callum holds his hand up to interrupt. “Ah, but let’s move past your unfortunate run-in on the balcony the other night. I already heard the details from Xavier.”
“And Xavier is?”
“The first-year vampire missing an arm,” he clarifies, scarlet eyes glittering. “For what it’s worth, I had nothing to do with his dismemberment. He lost it in the fall.” Tilting his head, Callumstudies me closely. “I would have preferred taking both arms, but as a fellow student, my hands are tied.”
Students can’t directly harm each other outside of Mating Games.
I focus on another detail from Callum’s story and fish for information. “He lost an arm? Are you telling me that vampires aren’t as impervious as they are in legend?”
“Lately, no.” He doesn’t elaborate and swiftly changes the subject. “But we’re not here to talk about Xavier’s miscalculation. We’re here to talk about Alistair Dire.”
My heartbeat skips, and I frantically claw it back down to a steady rhythm. “I don’t want to talk about him.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s—” Confusing, aggressive, a fucking menace on my mental health?—
My fated mate.
Callum’s tone becomes gentle. “I can’t help if you won’t tell me about what’s bothering you.”
I scoff. “As if you would help me without strings attached.”
A small smile graces his lips, annoyingly perfect in its symmetry. As a vampire, Callum is already wickedly attractive on account of needing to lure in his prey, but when he was alive, I bet he was just as handsome as he is now. The man would break hearts in any century.
He inclines his head. “It’s not in a vampire’s nature to be altruistic, no. But with you, I’m feeling . . . generous.”
“Forgive me for not believing you.”
His eyes flash as his temper takes hold. “What would make you happy, Sienna? Shall I rip out Alistair’s deceitful tongue? Or pluck out his eyes? It can’t be comfortable, having him watch you so closely.” His eyes glitter menacingly. “Of course, I’m partial to cutting off his cock, but I’m willing to compromise if that’s not to your liking.”
My face heats at the memory of that very same cock pressed against me. I resist the urge to squirm beneath Callum’s intense scrutiny. He hasn’t blinked once.
I take a steadying breath. There’s one thing the others won’t give me—but a vampire with nothing to lose and everything to gain? He’d be a fool to not to.
“I want the truth. Why are you helping me?” The lingering question ofwhy do you want to mate with merests on the tip of my tongue, but I rein it in.
I don’t want to seemthatdesperate.
Rather than tease me for asking something so simple of him, Callum answers without hesitation. “Assisting you helps me determine if we’re a good match. It’s alsofun.” Callum grins wickedly. “Tormenting your lover is . . .” He licks his lips. “Exquisite.”
He’s doingwhatto Revyn?
“Wait, I never said—” I blink and Callum is suddenly standing inches away, unabashedly staring into my eyes. I startle but am held perfectly in place by whatever magic he uses to keep the illusion going. While I’m here, I’m trapped within his whims. Anything he wants, he could make happen with a snap of his fingers.
A shiver courses down my spine.
“I’m eager for your company tomorrow night.” Callum uses my stillness to his advantage and teases the inside of my wrist. “I want to know how the full moon affects you. What it does to your—” He inhales sharply. “—inhibitions.”
Lingering shame over my moonlit kiss with Alistair last night makes me blush. Maybe it’s Callum’s honesty that spurs mine, but I find myself telling him the truth.
