Page 63 of Dare To Take

I snort. “Yeah, right.”

“Believe it or not, I actually like you.”

Pressing a hand to my chest, I widen my eyes in fake surprise. “Gasp, the horror.”

“You’re different.” He laughs and waves a hand from my head to my toes. “I also like the whole Queen of the Damned thing you’ve got going on.”

I ignore the compliment. “I’ve grown up a lot. I’m not the same as before.”

“I can see that.” His look seems thoughtful. “Have you seen Miles yet?”

The question burrows under my skin, reminding me of the one friend I’d had in this place. “No, he dumped me.”

“I know,” he replies softly.

“No scathing comeback?”

“It’s tempting, but that particular Prince Charming wasn’t for you, Princess.”

I grit my teeth. “Don’t call me that.”

Silence laps over us. Kellan escorts me to the edge of the tree line and stops before the expanse of grass.

I halt beside him and pull the sides of my coat more securely around me to keep out the bite of the icy cold. “Let me guess. The stalking only counts if I’m in the woods?”

He shoves his hands deeper into the pockets of his jeans. “That’s where the monsters usually do their lurking.”

“You’re such a fucking weirdo.”

He gives me a wink. “Weirdos are cool.”

I roll my eyes at him before walking away toward the dorm.

Chapter 41

Eli

I bring my car to a stop outside the house. It’s been two weeks since I’ve been home and yet it feels like a lifetime. My dad is leaning against the doorframe, face expressionless, as he watches me climb out and walk around to the trunk to take out my suitcases.

He doesn’t offer to help, and I don’t ask him. While he looks healthier than he did the first few days after his heart attack, he still needs to take it easy. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t argue overly hard about him sending me away for the rest of the Christmas break. That, and the knowledge I would not have been able to stop myself from forcing Arabella to face me and listen to what I had to say. It would have caused far too much tension, and I didn’t want to be responsible for him having another heart attack.

When I reach the top step, he moves to one side so I can drag my suitcases through the door.

“How was the drive?”

“Barely any traffic, so I made good time.” I look around, noting that the Christmas tree is gone, and the entrance hall is back to its original state. “Where’s Elena?”

“She should be home soon. She took Arabella back to Churchill Bradley this morning.”

The school reference tightens my nerves. “Has a decision been made?”

“Not yet. Arabella doesn’t want you there, obviously.”

I glance over at him. There’s a note in his voice that I can’t read.

“Once the initial shock of what happened wore off, Elena is still quite adamant that you’re not behind the video or photograph.”

I turn to face him. “Why? The comment with the photograph makes it clear it was me.”

---