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“What?”
“Act like it isn’t a problem.”
“It’s over now.” Blaire rolled the legs of her pants back down, feeling overexposed.
“It shouldn’t have happened. It won’t happen again.” Lukas stood. “You don’t have to go back to that. Ever. Stay here.”
Riley turned back around to face them, tilting her head. “I thought we’d established Blaire wasn’t leaving.”
“I just… need to hear her say she’s staying.”
Blaire pursed her lips and looked down for a moment, recalling her meeting with Professor Sinclair, before looking back up to meet his eyes. “Are you asking me or telling me?”
“What?” Lukas wrinkled his forehead in confusion.
“Are you asking me to stay… or are you telling me to stay?”
“What’s the difference?”
Blaire sighed. She couldn’t be frustrated with him. She had her own confusion about the difference before too. “Are you telling me what to do?”
“No!” His brows shot up and his eyes opened wide.
“Then you’re giving me a choice.” She moved a hand to her hip.
“Well, yeah. Of course. But I hope you’ll make the choice to stay.”
Blaire smiled and looked at Riley, who was beaming.
“Yeah… I’m staying. But first, I need chocolate.”
14
NIGHTMARE
Fierce winds blew the trees and flowering bushes in the dark courtyard. The moon hid from view behind ominous clouds that moved quickly through the sky. The landscape maintenance team would have a lot to do tomorrow when the storm finally passed.
Lightning flashed across the sky in a sideways streak, and despite anticipating it, Blaire jumped with a yelp as loud thunder echoed through the deserted courtyard.
She didn’t remember coming outside, or why she came.
“It’s time to come home, Blaire,” Caleb said from behind her.
Blaire froze. How did Caleb get on the academy grounds? She slowly turned to face him, and he stood with his hands in his pockets, grinning at her like he always did before something went his way. A full-body shudder passed through her.
“What are you doing here?” she whispered.
“Oh, sweetheart. Aren’t you happy to see me? I came all this way to take you home. I heard how awful things turned out for you here.” He looked at her with pity before waving his hand. “I mean, attacked by vampires, Blaire… vampires. Bloodthirsty monsters! You can’t stay here.”
“They’re not vampires,” Blaire whispered.
Caleb started walking toward her, and she couldn’t move. Her feet felt glued to the cobblestone. How did he know they weren’t human?
“Besides, that thing doesn’t want you, anyway. Come home where I can take care of you.” He grinned again, and she shivered. “I promise things will be different.”
“H-how?” Blaire stammered as he finally closed the distance and stood in front of her, looking down at her face.
“Well, for starters…”
