Page 7 of Just One Bite
Her lips don’t move, but it’s like I can hear a voice. Likely all me and my growing desire to know what her skin feels like.
As a hybrid, it takes more effort for me to get a read on the emotions of others. Well, at least for me. Gavin introduced me to a hybrid upperclassman who wasn’t even an alpha but just really good at everything. Smell. Blood drinking. I was a little jealous, but he had his dad to help him. And mine’s a professional dick, so that was always out of the question.
“When you’re a second-year, you get the secret code to bypass the maze, or you can become a scarer. Plus, no harm will come to you here. Name’s Zant. I’m on the council, and I’m one of the nice ones.”
The shorter blonde with pink hair rolls her eyes.
“I told you my name. Will you tell me yours?” Zant asks, moving closer to her and twirling a piece of her hair.
“My name is Emma. Evangeline is the oldest—” She’s pointing to the other taller blonde one beside her whenmygirl stops her.
“You don’t need to tell him, Em.”
I swallow at the sound of her voice.What is wrong with me?
Zant smirks, and I feel his gaze but can’t stop looking at her.
The longer I stand next to her, the more I sense. Unlike the other two who are filling the air with anxiety and fear, the girl from the hallway isn’t scared. Even when I inch forward, something in her scent leaps. It’s different. New. A sensation I don’t think I’ve identified before. That’s not uncommon for me, but this is desire.
She wants me closer. It’s humming under my skin, urging me to please her.
My heart kicks my ribs so hard I ball my hands into fists.
“I will if you will.”Oh, stars above, her voice.
She’s talking to me. She’s actually talking to me. Wait, what was the question? Oh. Name. Right, I need her name.
“You first.” I aim to keep my tone level.
Her heartbeat speeds when I speak, and a flush of pink spreads beneath her skin. She takes a step back, and her eyes taunt me.Closer. Get closer.
Now I’m imagining touching her again. Just her hand is enough or maybe her cheek. The need to know what her skin feels like pressed against mine has me licking my lips.
“What’s the council?” Evangeline asks, brows furrowed.
“Oh, you’ll see. The council is how this school is run. There are three ruling factors here—the board of directors, the dean, and the council that’s entirely student run. The dean oversees the university and makes sure everyone is playing nice, but the council is what decides which programs get the most funding, events, rules—”
“So if you’re on the council, that means you’ll help escort us out of the maze.” Evangeline perks up. “Right?”
“I’ll give you ten seconds to run, and I promise I’ll chase you till you reach the end of your destination.”
I’m glad Zant is doing what he’s best at—talking. For once, it’s useful.
“You coming?” Zant shrugs at me before moving back to my girl.
“In a minute,” I say.
Emma runs first, and Zant trains his eyes on Evangeline, who is still hiding behind her sister.
“You should run,” I say, staring into her violet and gold eyes.
She doesn’t flinch, and I wonder if she is waiting for the same thing I am. One brief touch. That’s all I want.
“Come on!” Evangeline grabs her arm, but my girl stays still.
Zant tears after Evangeline with playful laughter and a chant that echoes in the trees.
Then it’s just me and the girl from the hallway in the silent chaos surrounding us. Screams and laughter flutter through the air.
