“I won’t.” I chuckled and closed the door behind me.
The walk through the academy felt surreal. Just a few months ago, I’d first stepped onto campus with a determination to prove myself to the Guild and my parents. I’d only been thinking of the mission.
I hadn’t expected to make friends like Xinyi and Iris, let alone find love. I’d just wanted to get in and get out.
Then everything changed.
Tate swooped in with his easy-going smile and hard-to-say-no-to puppy dog eyes. Even knowing what I knew now, about Kyren and his sire, all of it, I’d still do it.
But it wasn’t just about the mission. It was like my mom said — I’d finally found what I’d been fighting for.
I nodded and said hello to a few students on my way to the dorms. It was Saturday, so there wasn’t any class. However, I wasn’t a hundred percent certain Xinyi would be in her room. I had to check, though.
“Hey!” Flynn, the string bean werewolf, greeted me. “Where have you been? Did you get tired of being my lab partner?”
I chuckled. “No. Sorry. Had some family things come up. Did you at least get a new one, at least?”
Flynn scratched the side of his neck and grimaced. “Yea, but they’re not as good as you.”
I nodded politely, anxious to see Xinyi but not wanting to lose another potential friend. “How are things with the pack?”
I didn’t notice any new bruises on the scrawny guy, but that didn’t mean the wolves weren’t still picking on him.
Flynn’s face broke out into a wide grin. “Actually, they’re great. I finally stood up to those bullies. See, they were picking on this witch with mismatched eyes, Tabby. She’s in a few of my classes. Anyway, I waited for her to use her powers on them, but she never did. Well, I wasn’t about to let them hurt her. So, I got up in their faces and told them to leave her alone.”
“Oh really?” I bobbed my head, only half paying attention. “Did they listen?”
Flynn shook his head, lifting his hands up and shrugging. “Definitely not. I got knocked out cold. But when I came to, Tabby was there, and the other wolves had taken off. I don’t know what she said, but they haven’t bothered me since.”
Curious how a witch with no powers could intimidate a pack of wolves, but it wasn’t my business. It seemed it all worked out in the end.
“That’s really great, Flynn.” I patted him on the shoulder. “I’m happy for you. I’d love to chat some more, but I’ve got to be somewhere. I’m coming back to school soon, so see you in class?”
Flynn smiled and nodded. “Oh yeah, sure. See you there.”
I ignored everyone else as I stalked through the halls until I reached the Vampire’s Crypt. Taking a deep breath to prepare myself for the worst, I stepped inside.
The inside was exactly as it had always been. Nothing had changed, even if I had. Students loitered in the common area.Others went in and out of the coed bathroom. I bypassed all this and made for the stairs that led to the basement where the vampire dorm rooms were.
Passing by Kyren and Tate’s room, the door wide open, I locked eyes with Tate, who stood there by the door waiting. If anyone found it odd, they didn’t comment as I brushed past them toward Iris and Xinyi’s.
My heart thudded hard in my chest. My hands grew clammy. Then I was standing there before a closed door. Normally, I’d have tried to listen before knocking but the rooms were soundproof, even to me.
I had to go in blind.
Something slid along the back of my neck, more of a caress than anything. Without having to look, I knew it was Kyren’s shadows trying to comfort me, letting me know I wasn’t alone.
Taking a deep breath, I lifted my hand and knocked on the door.
It took a few minutes before the doorknob shook and then twisted open. Xinyi appeared in the doorway, sagging into the door as if it were holding her up.
I’d never seen her like this before. Her hair was greasy and messy around her face, her eyes puffy without make-up or her usual bright smile. She wore an oversized shirt, leaving her legs bare. A large white bandage covered the side of her neck.
“Oh, Jack!” Xinyi’s eyes widened, then dropped to the floor. “What are you doing here?”
I paused, staring at her for a long moment, then into the darkness behind her. “I think you know why I’m here.”
Xinyi lifted her gaze, her mouth opening and closing while she struggled to say something. “Uh… well… now’s not a good time. Maybe you should come back —”
