Page 1 of Dead and Gone

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"Why haveyou chosen this as your investigative project, Violet?" asks Leif. "You could've picked a topic that takes us somewhere more interesting than the library or museum."

He leans across the desk, broad forearms resting on the wood as he reads the notes from my academy notepad, hair dipping across his brow to his nose as he does.

My roommate Holly, with her auburn curls and perfect uniform, sits beside the half-shifter whose shirt barely fits him and scans my notes, too. "Agreed," she says, tone not as bright as I'm accustomed to. "We don'tneedto choose a history project. There's local geography we can explore for the Humanities assignment. We should spend our time outside enjoying the summer."

"Enjoyandsummerare two unconnected words as far as I'm concerned," I reply.

"You behave like the sun will burn you alive," she retorts. "When clearly you don't, since vampires don't die in the sunlight."

"Are you unaware of the damage the sun can do toyouas a human?" I ask. "Sunburn. Heat stroke. Skin cancer."

"Here?" Leif snorts. "Unlikely. You can count the number of sunny days in this part of the country on one hand."

Holly humphs and looks to the others. I note how she chose to sit across the desk, furthest from Rowan. The witch becomes accustomed to Holly's distrust and mild dislike of him and, as usual, ignores her, lost in his research, occasionally dragging a hand through his messy hair.

"Rowan?" she asks.

He glances up, brow tugged in confusion that Holly addresses him. "Huh?"

"Don't you spend enough time in the academy library? Wouldn't you prefer to go elsewhere?" She slides a look my way. "Andnota museum."

"Like where?" he asks.

"A location for inane teenage activities, I imagine," I put in and tap my pen on the desk.

Holly pokes her tongue out. "We could look at the economics of the town. That fits with this Humanities assignment."

Rowan chokes a laugh and receives a scowl from her. "We're supposed to research a project that has links to both the supernatural and human. Since the town's economy centers around the Sawyer family, I'm staying clear," he says.

"They have a supe connection," Holly bats back.

"PreciselywhyI'm staying clear," replies Rowan.

"Were you considering the economy within the shopping mall, Holly? A study of student spending habits?" I ask. "Involving frequent research trips?"

"No. I'm just suggesting... alternatives."

Rowan laughs softly and returns to his laptop, and Holly looks disdainfully at him, brushing the front of her blazer as she stares at his. I don't understand why Rowan bothers with the academy uniform as he rarely wears the blazer, and his shirt has never met an iron in its life.

Still, that's one step ahead of Grayson, leaning back in the chair beside me, arms crossed over his T-shirt and leather jacket, black jeans-clad legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. Good grief. This vampire's constant need to adopt an edgy image isn't helpful with a vampire's need to blend in. Grayson sticks out like the proverbial thumb and creates a constant reminder of his less-than-controlled blood-drinking mistakes.

At leastIadopted the conformity of the uniform today, although I'd never blend into the background. Since I arrived at the academy, the focus on me hasn't dropped, perhaps not helped by my constant need to interfere in anything that intrigues me.

Oh, and that I'm a suspect in every murder because a) I'm Violet Blackwood with violent parentage and b) I'm a vampire-witch hybrid who enjoys necromancy—when I'm allowed.

"Grayson?" asks Holly in semi-desperation. "Youdon't want to spend hours in the library. You hate study."

"Yeah." He gestures at Rowan and me. "But they love studying. Use the situation as an easy ride to a decent grade, Holly. You know Violet will take over and do everything needed, with Rowan's help."

"Yes. And boss us around," she mutters.

"I amnotbossy, but merely an effective leader."

Rowan glances up. "Leave if you don't want to take part, Holly, but you might need to explain to Professor Argyle why you're not working on the project."

"You're not supposed to dig into theoldacademy's past anyway," she says. "Andthere's hardly any information left from when the place existed. We'll struggle to find enough to write a whole paper."

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