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She felt no lasting side effects to the loss of blood, for which she was thankful. When Blaire asked the nurse removing her stitches about why she didn’t feel sick like before, the nurse informed her that blood transfusions were often used as a treatment for anemia, so she wouldn’t experience the same ill effects she had with her heavy cycle.

Lukas remained withdrawn.

An uncomfortable tension lingered in the room after Blaire’s declaration about not sharing blood with Lukas. She feared expressing to him what was taking place in her heart; the potential consequence of allowing him in was huge. She’d have to accept bonding with him, which meant allowing him to drink her blood—risking her life—and she wasn’t prepared to do that. It wouldn’t be fair to let him know the feelings in her heart when she couldn’t commit to him the way his kind required.

On Friday afternoon, Lukas answered a knock on their door. Riley had visited after class every single day since the attack to check on Blaire and bring the classwork she missed. He got up from the desk where he sat doing homework and let Riley inside. He glanced back at Blaire sitting on her bed going through her little jewelry box, and then walked out the door with a nod to Riley.

Blaire figured Lukas needed a break from babysitting her. While she was afraid of what would happen if he left her alone, he probably didn’t want to be with her every waking moment, especially with the rift between them. He protested going to class when Aiden forced him.

“How are you feeling?” Riley sat on Blaire’s bed, dropping a large bag to the floor at her feet before picking up one of Blaire’s bracelets and examining it.

Blaire looked up, smiling at her friend. “I’m feeling much better. I’m honestly ready to return to class on Monday.”

Riley let out an exaggerated breath of relief. “It’s about time. Between Lukas brooding about wanting to stay with you, and Aiden’s worrying, I’ve been going stir-crazy! Like seriously, you would have thought those two were the ones injured with the whining they do.”

Blaire giggled and shook her head. “I’m happy you’re here.”

“I’m like a pet you just can’t—and don’t want to—get rid of,” Riley said with a cheeky grin.

Blaire laughed again. She wouldn’t get rid of her. Riley had become her best friend. She missed Charlotte, but she had never connected with another girl the way she had with Riley.

“So would you be up for going into the valley tonight?”

“Tonight?” Blaire tapped her fingers on her lap, wary. “I don’t know…” Even though the attack happened in her room, part of her wanted to stay in the cocoon of the dorm with Lukas as a watchdog.

“Yeah, there’s this club we all used to go to regularly before you came to the academy that I think you’d like.” Riley shrugged. “It would get you away from this place, the memories… and away from whoever did that to you.” She motioned to Blaire’s bandaged arm.

She had a point. Not a strong one, but a point.

Blaire frowned. “But what if they follow me?”

“Haven is run by Vasirian. But the clientele is a mix of both Vasirian and humans. I don’t think the Order would cause a commotion there and expose us to the humans.”

Another point.

Blaire had seen Haven on the edge of the plaza, a dark building with colorful spotlights illuminating the black brickwork. It stood out next to the sea of beige shops that made up Valley Center Plaza. Crowds lined up down the street on the weekends, but she had never gone inside.

Blaire chewed her lip. “I’ve never done the whole club thing. It’s never been my scene. Caleb never let me go to anything like that when I was invited back in high school. Not to Haven, but other bars for teen nights.”

Riley glared at nothing and set down the bracelet. “Caleb isn’t here, so you’re free to go. So yeah, you’re going.”

While her tone gave no room for argument, Blaire could refuse Riley if she wanted to. The freedom within their friendship encouraged her to take a chance.

She laughed again, nodding. “Sure, sure. I guess I can go.”

“Damn right you can.”

Riley crossed her arms in clear defiance of whatever she saw as a threat, and Blaire couldn’t help but laugh at her. She needed the lighthearted laughter Riley brought her today. The tension in Lukas’s presence had been stifling.

“It’s totally different from typical clubs, though, so it’s okay if clubs aren’t exactly your ‘scene.’ It’s this amazing gothic club with gorgeous lighting, furniture, and a huge dance floor. But there’s more to do than just dance.”

“Like?”

“Well, I only go to mostly dance…” Riley laughed. “But there are game rooms in the back with pool tables and stuff like that. And there’s comfortable furniture so you can just sit and relax with a drink and socialize if that’s more your thing.”

“Drink?” Blaire asked flatly. Her lips twisted, and her brows knitted.

“Yep!”