Page 15 of Deadmen's Captive

“Really? Guess I got lost. Easy to do on this campus.”

He continued to smile down at me and I got another flutter at the realisation he’d walked this far out of his way just to talk to me. No, this was crazy. I knew my mother had high aspirations for me, but guys like Tristan Blackwood didn’t notice girls like me. I might have dressed the part, but I didn’t have the confidence to pull off society girl, much to my mother’s constant frustration.

“So, um… look, talking of crazy, you might think I am, but…”

“Paige! You’re back! Awesome. There’s a few of us ordering pizza and planning to binge watch the new… oh, sorry, am I interrupting?”

Kate looked up at Tristan, a smile spreading over her face, and by looked up, I mean she very obviously scanned his body on the way up to his face. I felt a jolt of annoyance as she looked coyly up at him.

“Tristan, isn’t it?”

“You got me. And you are?”

“Kate Davenport, Paige’s friend.”

“Charmed. Well, I guess I’d better leave you to it, Paige. you sound like you’ve got a fun evening planned.”

“Oh don’t leave on my behalf,” said Kate.

“No, it’s fine, I was heading off anyway. I was just going to ask what Paige’s plans were for Halloween.” He looked back at me, his smile widening.

“Halloween? That’s a month away. I have no idea.” I shrugged, not missing the way Kate rolled her eyes behind his back.

“It is. Well, I might ask again closer to the time,” he said. “Good night, Paige. See you round.”

“See you,” I echoed as Kate wrapped her arm around mine, dragging me through the doors into the reception area as Tristan walked away.

“What do you mean, you don’t know what you’re doing for Halloween?” she hissed at me as we made our way to our corridor.

“What I said, I have no plans for Halloween. It’s weeks away."

“I forget you only started at Blackvellyn this year, so you don’t know anything. There’s a huge ball held every Halloween at Blackvellyn hall. It’s organised and paid for by the Deadmen’s Club, and everyone goes. I think Tristan was going to ask you to go as his date.”

“His date?” My eyes widened. “Kate, I don’t really think I’m the type of girl Tristan Blackwood would be interested in.”

“Why not? You’re young, attractive, and I know your family aren’t up there with that lot, but they’re still society.” She grinned at the face I pulled. “You can’t come to Blackvellyn and not have everyone figure out who you are and who you’re related to, Paige. It’s one of the givens at a place like this.”

I gave her a mock glare. “I am not my parents, and I do not want to be known and befriended or dated because of who they were. So if that’s what Tristan wants, then like I said, wrong girl.”

We reached Kate’s door, and she took out her key to unlock it.

“Why don’t you forget what Tristan wants and think about what you want? You might not want the popularity and status you’d get from dating a Blackwood, but at the same time, the guy’s hot as fuck, and you seemed to be getting on well with him. He’s the best out of the lot of them.”

“The best out of who?” I asked, searching for my own keys in my bag.

“The Reapers, of course.”

“Tristan’s a Reaper?” I was surprised. Darkness and secrets didn’t seem like Tristan from what I’d seen, though I supposed one conversation wasn’t much to go on.

“Paige, any guy who’s family is society is in the Reapers. They’re ok on their own, but Tristan is one of the few harmless ones. He’s gorgeous, and from what I’ve heard, he’s dynamite in bed.”

I stared at her and she laughed. “You must know his reputation by now!”

“I knew he slept around,” I muttered. “Which is why I’m not interested. I don’t want to be another bedpost notch.”

Kate grinned. “Why not make him a notch on yours? You’ve been here nearly three weeks, and I’ve not seen you drag any guy into that bedroom of yours. You must be craving some action by now.”

I felt my face turn bright red, and I glared at my friend.

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