Page 115 of Mortal Shift
He laughed, but the sound was full of scorn, like a tree had just announced it was a dragon…or the other way around, maybe.
“Humans only come to Darkveil for one reason. And I haven’t seen you in the feeding dens.”
“I’m not a feeder. I’m a student.”
He looked at me like I’d lost it.
“You’re either a liar or deluded.”
I decided not to dwell on the fact that I might well be both. Definitely the latter for thinking this had been a good idea.
“It’s…complicated. But I promise you, I’m a student here. And I’m not trying to drag you off anywhere else in the academy. I just want to talk to you.”
Scorn turned to suspicion on his face.
“I’m not going to tell you anything about the vampires. If you want to know anything, ask them yourself.”
I shuddered delicately. “Trust me, I know everything I want to about vampires.”
He snorted. “I doubt that.”
“You’re awfully snarky for someone who’s just been fed on. I’ve never been that together after being drained.”
His eyes sharpened, spearing me on his gaze. “So youarea feeder, then.”
I shook my head. “No, I’m not. I’ve been fed on, sure, but that’s not why I’m here. More like…an unfortunate side effect. Seriously. How are you this sharp right after being fed on? Do you build up some kind of immunity? Because I would really like that.”
He looked at me like I’d lost it, and then shook his head.
“He didn’t feed on me.”
“Really? Because if you’re naturally this pale, you need to get more sunlight.”
“There’s no natural sunlight in Darkveil. Clue’s in the name.”
Huh. I guess so. And lexicology really wasn’t what was important right now. “Why didn’t Thaden feed on you?”
The human shrugged. “They don’t answer to me.”
“Well, why did Thaden tell the others he didn’t want to feed on you?”
“He didn’t. Vampires can do some pretty impressive things, but as far as I’m aware, talking whilst unconscious isn’t one of them.”
My breath caught in my throat. “He’s still unconscious?”
Shit. There went my hopes of him telling everyone who had really attacked him.
“Wait, if he’s not conscious, then why did they want you in there?”
He shrugged. “Guess they hoped the scent of my blood would trigger his instincts. Like I said, they don’t explain themselves to me.”
I narrowed my eyes, searching his face and recalling the tick in his jaw earlier. “Yeah, and you just hate that, don’t you?”
He tugged at the collar of his shirt. “I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to.” I glanced up and down the hallway, but we were still alone. Lessons weren’t due to break up for a while yet—Astor had kicked me out of her office much faster than I’d anticipated. “Look, I’ve been trying to speak to one of you ever since I found out about the feeding dens. It’s just you and me now, okay? And I swear, I’m not going to go running off to the vamps and tell them whatever you tell me. But I need you to tell me the truth. Are you here against your will?”
He laughed, and the booming sound made me jump and jerk back.
