Page 3 of Vile Heart

Camren didn’t deny it while clicking his tongue. “If you’re that into him, why don’t you just find the guy?”

“He’s not real,” Illya reminded them, but Ares ignored him.

“The character is a voice actor, right?” Camren shrugged. “So? Find him. Next best

thing, am I right?”

“No, that’s not—” Before he finished his sentence, Ares paused, head slowly lifting from his screen to stare vacantly across the room.

Camren narrowed his gaze, not missing how Illya cursed under his breath.

“Gotta go.” Ares headed down the red-carpeted stairs without further explanation.

“Did you seriously just do that?” Illya’s glare made Camren grin.

“What? He was going to come to that conclusion on his own eventually. I just helped him along, that’s all.”

“And when he’s on the news for kidnapping?”

Camren held up both hands and took a deliberate step back.

“You’re a real piece of work.” Illya went back to watching the students as they arrived.

Camren tried to ignore all the longing glances they were getting from

the crowd beneath them. Fortunately, they weren’t all as forthcoming as that girl had been. Praeda wasn’t exactly a secret. Everyone knew what tonight truly meant, and what it meant for them if they happened to be chosen by one of the Black Harts. That didn’t mean he wanted them tugging on his sleeve. He’d already made up his mind, after all. “Where’s Ellery? Why isn’t he here yet?”

“No clue,” Illya shrugged. There were eight Black Harts this year, and Ellery was the youngest of them. “He’ll show up eventually.”

“Oh,” Camren motioned with his chin. “Speak of the devil.”

Ellery stepped through the doors and accepted the pin from the female student

working the front counter. Then he took another and passed it off to someone behind him.

“Who’s with him?” Camren tried to catch a glance, but Ellery kept his companion completely blocked from sight until they’d made it to the side of the room to the landing of the stairwell. From the corner of his eye, he didn’t miss the way Illya straightened the second Ellery moved aside and caught the first look at the brunette at his side.

“Hey, are his eyes the same color as your hair?” Camren nudged his friend.

“Dibs.” Illya just stared right at the brunette, eyes flaring with a foreign emotion.

“Dude.” Camren grinned. “Why the sudden interest? Pretty sure he came with Ellery, so…”

“So?” Illya lifted a brow. “It’s Praeda.”

“Yes, it is.” Camren’s brown eyes flitted over the growing crowd. His friend was right. The night had begun and his prey was somewhere down here, in the lobby or any of the adjacent college buildings. Glitter balls set the otherwise dark space of the foyer in speckles of flames, the music sweeping up anticipation. It was time to search for the truth and bring it where it belonged. Clasping his friend on the shoulder, Camren straightened his black heart pin and watched how it shone brightly.

Red. the colour of blood. The colour of love.

“Well, if you’ll excuse me,” he tipped his head with a lazy grin. “Hunting season has begun.”

2

Making his way down the stairs, Camren turned over his shoulder and winked at Illyas and Devyn. “Enjoy your own hunt!”

“If you need a hand, let me know,” one of them called out, but he flipped them off.

“Nah. I won’t need any help.” Camren sauntered through the foyer. Everywhere around him, red hearts waved through the air. He was going to take back what was his and no one would stop him.

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