Page 53 of After Darkness Falls

"You'll have answers sooner than you think. And when you do, remember this: I'd bleed you now if I could."

Then, he was gone.

I'd bleed you now if I could.

She was right to mistrust him, right to be careful around him. But at the same time, he hadn’t done anything to her, which meant that for whatever reason, he couldn't, and wouldn't hurt her.

For now.

Overall, Levi's appearance did end up helping. She realized that she wasn't safe here in Oldcrest any more than she had been in NOLA. This was his domain, and although she felt strangely comfortable around him, he was saying he wanted to hurt her. He'd spelled it out to her practically each time they'd met.

He wanted to kill her. He hired a bodyguard to see that she was safe. He looked at her like she was dinner. He sent her sleeping draughts.

Nothing about Levi De Villier made sense. And under the hot stream of the shower jet, Chloe reminded herself that it didn't matter. He didn't matter. She liked her life here. She had friends aplenty, loved her lectures, and adored the food. He wasn't relevant.

Hewasn't.

Chloe wasn't convincing anyone, let alone herself, but thankfully, she was quite gifted in the art of distracting her mind.

And she had a trip to London to look forward to.

They had two seven-seaters, and twelve of them were traveling, so they had two spare seats. Chloe hesitated at the door.

"Jack?" she called through the open window of the driver’s seat. "Do you mind if a couple of people tag along?"

Feeling eyes on her, Chloe guessed Mikar and Cat were observing her from somewhere in the shadows—probably the Wolvswoods. She wasn't sure how they intended to travel south, but they might as well drive together. It was kinder on the environment, and besides, the huntsmen would probably notice vamps on their trail. Chloe didn't want to know what would happen if they ended up fighting each other.

Jack lifted a brow. "Sure, I guess. Who's that?"

She shrugged. "I heard there were vamps going to London this weekend."

His expression darkened dangerously. Jack was ripped, fast, and his every movement said predator, but before anything, he was a team leader. He even looked the part of a businessman or politician in his suits. Chloe had never been able to picture him as a huntsman.

Now, she could.

"I mean, I'm sure they can find their own way…"

"It's…fine. If there are suckers on the road, I'd rather have my eyes on them."

Now, she recalled him telling her during their trip to town last January with Tris that he wasn’t fond of most vampires. Now she understood that might have been a euphemism. While Jack didn't have a problem with his cousin, despite her being a fledgling, he seemed tohatevampires.

She wished she could take the words back, but a breathtakingly beautiful blonde with long wavy hair stepped out of the woods, Mikar by her side.

"Joy," she said, with the most unfriendly, fake smile Chloe had ever seen. "Riding with blood bags.”

Oh dear.

25

An Engrossing Tale

Aterrible idea didn't cover it.

"So, you're huntsmen in training, is that right?" Cat asked, batting her long lashes.

"Fully trained huntsmen," Bash amended. "We're in the Institute because furthering our education serves the order."

"I see. So, you've all murdered immortals and other sups already. Good to know."

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