Page 29 of Forged in Blood

She reaches across the desk again, holding out her hand. “I’m Cadence.”

I take her outstretched hand. “Ophelia.”

“It’s so nice to meet you, Ophelia.” She giggles. “I love your hair, by the way.”

I unconsciously curl a strand between my fingers. “Thanks. I love yours too.”

She glances at my history textbook. “History, huh? Are you in Professor Drakos’s class?”

His name makes my pulse race. Or maybe it’s the image of him striding into class with his battered briefcase. How he takes off his jacket and folds it neatly over the back of his chair. Before he rolls his white shirt sleeves up over his powerful forearms. Every single time. Does the man not own a short-sleeved shirt?

Calm down, Ophelia. Just because he’s a hot vampire doesn’t mean you have to geek out at the mention of his name. “Uh, yeah.”

She pops an eyebrow. “He’s hot, right?”

My cheeks flush. Hotter than the fiery pits of hell. “I guess so.”

She lets out a dreamy sigh. “I swear I spent my entire first semester last year just drooling over him. It’s a wonder I took any notes at all.” She giggles again. “But if you have the same problem, let me know.” She nods at my textbook and taps the side of her nose. “I took that same class last year, so I have all the inside knowledge.”

“Thanks, Cadence. I’ll keep that in mind.”

She winks at me and goes back to her studying.

I go back to my textbook, pressing my lips together to suppress my giddy smile. It was one conversation—a brief conversation, at that. Nothing to get excited about. But it was a connection. The most positive one I’ve had with a person for as long as I can remember—other than Malachi, who’s technically not even a person. And she thinks unicorns are cute, so she must be both intelligent and fun.

Maybe it’s a sign that things are looking up for me.

Tippingmy face toward the fading sun on my way back to my dorm, I smile. Today has been a good day. A guy from my algebra class jogs by, his shirt emblazoned with the Ruby Dragon logo, and I idly wonder where the guys are and what they’re doing. I want to kick myself for giving them even a second’s thought, but despite their annoying presence in my life, they at least talk to me. Aside from the girl I met in the library this afternoon, they’re the closest thing I have to friends. And sure, that’s totally pathetic, but I’m not going to think about that right now.

I round the corner and come face-to-face with Xavier. He smirks at me, and my deluded heart skips a beat at the sight. Stop it, Ophelia!

“Out for an evening walk, Cupcake?”

I roll my eyes. “That’s allowed, right?”

He rocks his head from side to side. “You recall what happened the last time you went walking alone at night.”

My eyes dart to the shadows of the building behind him. The same place I first met them. “Is… Are Axl and Malachi with you? Are you keeping watch?”

He shrugs. “Malachi is indisposed.”

I peer over his shoulder. “But Axl’s back there?”

“Run along, little girl, before you get yourself into a whole mess of trouble. Again.”

I shake my head. “You guys are going to get caught dining on students one of these days. You do know that?”

His grin widens, and he inches closer, his large frame towering over me. “But you already know what happens to the people who catch us, Cupcake.” His voice is deep and dark, and it makes goosebumps break out along my forearms, which only makes him laugh. I hate that they have the ability to read my body’s reactions, especially since it seems to have a mind of its own around them.

“One day someone important could catch you.”

He cups my jaw, tilting my chin so he can stare into my eyes. My breath hitches when he dips his head. “Are you not important, Ophelia?”

“You know I’m not,” I whisper. “Now take your hand off me and let me get home.”

“I can hear your heart racing, Cupcake. I think you like my hand on you.” His husky tone goes straight to my core.

“I do not,” I say, but even I hear how weak it sounds.

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