Page 12 of Dragon Unleashed

I back out the doorway, Camille’s jeering merging into the background hubbub. The moment my feet hit the walkway outside, I bolt. I pound down the quaint cobbled paths of the academy, darting and weaving through the students. My feet take me to Chano’s corridor.

Leaning against the wall, my lungs burn and sweat plasters my shirt to my back. I must look, and smell, like the hobo Camille calls me. That utter witch…I’ve never been so thankful she exists. I could have seriously harmed a student just for nudging past.

Eventually I bang on Chano’s door. Silence. I try again. Cursing comes from deep inside the room, and after another minute Chano’s roommate answers. He scowls ferociously. His hair stands on end like he’s just woken up. Like I’ve just woken him. Without a word, he swings the door wide, showing me Chano is most definitely not here.

“Um, where…” I try to stare anywhere except at the guy’s morning wood “…where is Chano?”

“Gym,” he mumbles. “Not that he needs more muscles.”

Right, of course. His run-gym-coffee routine. Every damn morning. I turn on my heel and head back out.

“You’re welcome,” the guy yells after me, before slamming the door.

Way to make friends, Lorelei.

I slink into the cardio room, keeping to the walls. It’s quieter than normal, thank the goddesses. My eyes land on my hunk of tattooed man in the corner. He steps off the treadmill as it stops, grabbing a towel and wiping glistening sweat from his toned abs. Simply seeing him settles something in me. The steady influence of his emotions washes down our bond.

I lean against the wall, content just to watch.

“You like what you see?” Chano flexes, giving me time to admire his muscles, before striding over and gathering me into his arms. Big, sweaty arms.

“Get off,” I grumble.

His wood-smokey scent intoxicates me. I nuzzle into his chest, my protests dying away until a giant drop of warm sweat splashes down the back of my neck. Squealing, I shove him off.

“Shower, now. Then we can go listen to Dean Emrick give his sleep-inducing welcome-back speech.”

Chano smiles wolfishly, boxing me in against the wall, leaning down into my face. His smell does all sorts of bad things to my resolve, and I lean into him.

The thudding of his heart slowly intensifies, until it’s all I can hear. I swallow, ducking under his arm. I do not want a repeat of the cafeteria.

“Hey, little chica, why are you running?” He prowls after me.

This is not what I need right now. I back up, glancing toward the door.

“Want me to chase you? My demon likes a chase.” He halts suddenly. “What’s wrong, Lore? Why are you panicking? I canfeelit, down our bond. You’re not flirting, you’re—”

“It doesn’t matter, Chano. Just shower.”

He shakes his head and scowls. “You don’t get to shut me out, little mate. What’s wrong?”

I hang my head, peering up at him through my white hair.Well, here goes nothing. He’s going to be disgusted.

“I—I…um…I’m having a little problem with my vampire side.”

He folds his arms and raises one eyebrow.

I swear that pose makes his abs look even bigger.

Concentrate.

“Fine. Now I’m on campus, it’s a big problem. I can hear every single student’s pulse and it…” I take a deep breath. “It makes me hungry. Starving. I’m about to lose control, do something stupid.”

He barks a laugh and wraps his arms around me. “You’re not the only vampire in the academy. Accidents happen.”

“You don’t understand! I attacked a random girl in the cafeteria, and I didn’t even get a damn coffee.”

“That’s the real problem then. No coffee.”

---