“I didn’t go inside, but Finn kind of caught me sneaking.”
My heart rate doubles. “Oh my God, did he threaten you? Did he hurt you?”
He makes a face, like he’s trying to put words to it. “Well, he certainly doesn’t like me being around you. He tried to say I smelled diseased or something. Then he tasted my blood.”
“He—What? Did he cut you?”
He rolls up his sleeve and shows me a miniscule cut across his arm. Clean and precise. Finn’s damn knife work.
“I’m going to give him hell for this,” I say.
He takes my hand. “Bianca, it’s okay. He mostly just told me to stay away from you. It’s just, before that, he tasted my blood and called me ‘spawn’. Does that word mean anything to you?”
“Spawn?” I rack my brain. “I’ve never heard a vamp use that word. I’m sure he was just trying to—”
“You weren’t there,” he cuts me off. “I think he knows something about me. About what I am. Maybe there are more people like me.”
“I’ll try and find out more,” I say. “But you have to promise me that you’ll never go back to the Night House. Don’t talk to Finn. He’s slippery, and I don’t like what he’s saying about you. I really don’t want him to cut you again.”
It takes him a minute to nod. “I promise.”
Then I let all my breath out in a rush. “I feel lightheaded.”
He rubs my back, and I realize it’s not just the emotional weight of the day.
“Are you going to be okay?” he asks.
I glance at him, not wanting to admit the truth—but he deserves to know. Another deep breath. “It’s the nauth. I guess I’m feeling the withdrawal. Stress will do that.”
Just saying that to him makes me feel gross. James slowly wraps his arms around me.
“Tell me what you need.”
I lean my head against him. “Just this…”
He pulls me back until we’re lying down on his bed. It’s bliss, just being in his arms. I run my fingers down his arm, over his wrist and across his hand. As I study his skin, I see them: the unmistakable little lines of healed scars.
“Hey,” I say quietly. “What are these?”
He opens his eyes and sees what I’m looking at. “Oh.”
“Yeah,” I say to him with a smile. “How old are these?”
“Oh, they’re pretty old, I guess,” he says. “I had no one to talk to about what was happening. This was the only way to get rid of other people’s emotions in my head. But it almost killed me.”
“You tried to—”
“No,” he cuts me off. “It wasn’t about suicide. It was just trying to manage my ability. Pain was the fastest way into my own body. But Ally and Shiloh have changed everything for me. They helped me stop. Gave me new ways to deal. You help me, too, you know.”
He smiles, and I find myself returning it. He’s staring at me without shame. I think this is one of those moments, the kind I read about in books. My chest is tight. A mixture of terror and exhilaration laces through me. But I don’t know how to move forward.
Luckily, James is here. He touches my face and pulls me closer.
“I can feel your emotions. But I have to ask anyway.”
I can feel his breath on my face. He’s practically already there. Our noses touch.
“Is it alright if I kiss you?”
“Just do it.” I grab his shirt with a smile.
James
Kissing her is even better than I imagined. Her lips are perfect—I can think of no other way to describe them. Soft and warm and everything feels good. Bianca’s hands migrate from my shirt to my face, pulling me closer, and my head starts to spin.
I’m dizzy with the feel of her, and now I’m feeling her own joy mixing with mine. I’ve never been drunk, but I think this is what it feels like. My whole body rings with how good I feel. Time slows down and speeds up all at once. She’s got her hands in my hair, and I have no idea where I am. Nothing exists outside of us.
I’m going to pass out.
I pull away, taking a huge breath.
“Are you okay?”
I nod. “Better than okay. Amazing. Euphoric. It’s just a lot to handle.”
She touches my hand. “Just one more?”
“Yes, please.”
Part Three
Burned
Bianca
This is the first time I haven’t walked into the Night House and felt a terrible relief. I didn’t come to get bitten. And yet, my entire being yearns to run into the nearest room.
I’m so close. I feel an itch in my wrists and a churning in my stomach. I shut the door to my room and hug my pillow to my chest. I feel James curled against me for a moment, and a bit of the pain eases.
When it gets so bad that I want to scream, I hold Micah’s pin and hope that he’s still okay. I pray for the strength that James sees in me. I just need to get through this night.
Someone knocks on my door. I’m getting ready to yell at Finn, but it’s Alex who opens the door a crack.
“Hey, you,” she says quietly. “Heard you snuck out when you promised me you wouldn’t.” Her smile fades when she takes me in. “Oh, honey. You’re exhausted. I’m telling you, it’s time to quit that side job. It’s bleeding you dry.”
“Alex…” My eyes burn. “Everything’s so screwed up.”
“Baby.” She comes to my side and pats my hair. “Just tell me what’s going on.”
It takes a while to get it all out, between the hyperventilating and the crying. But I spill the whole story of Jeremiah’s obsession and what he’s done to Micah.
When it’s over, Alex stares vacantly at the wall. “Bianca, this is nuts.”
“I know.”
“What are you going to do?”
I wipe some of my tears away. “Haven’t figured that out yet.”
“You have to talk to Finn. He might be able to help you.”
I nod. “I will.”
She tucks my hair behind my ear. “You’re a hell of a girl, Bee. You might be a little rough around the edges, but you’re strong.”
“I always thought you were the strong one.”
“I just know how to put on a good face. A beautiful and good face, I might add.” She fluffs her hair.
“Can I tell you one more thing?”
“Anything, baby girl.”
So I tell her about James. Not of his ability; she doesn’t need to know that. But I tell her how much he’s done for me in just a few days. How crazy I thought he was at first, and how I’ve never felt this way about another person.
She runs her fingers through my hair. “No wonder you’ve been so pale. It’s always harder when there’s someone you love.”
I hold my breath. Alex has never mentioned another person in her life.
She lies beside me, staring at the ceiling. “Especially when that person has a gift for getting into trouble. I don’t think I told you about my little brother.”
I am afraid to speak and scare her away from telling me.
“He was a little monster. I became his guardian when I was seventeen. My dad had passed away, and I was already working two jobs. School wasn’t in my future. Medical bills will do that. But my brother wasn’t a big believer in taking orders from people. He didn’t want to just work minimum wage for the rest of his life. I don’t blame him. I wasn’t living a glamorous life, but I was the oldest and I just wanted to take care of him.” She laughs softly. “I guess he saw it the other way around. He wanted to take care of me. He just made the wrong choice. Wound up getting on a certain vampire’s bad side.”
“Finn?”
“Ash,” she answers. “You did me the biggest favor of my life when you got her fired. She tormented us, you know? Taunted us and drank from us whenever she wanted. My brother didn’t know what she was, but he wound up getting involved in one of her side businesses. Until he had a debt he couldn’t
pay. So I came here, to keep him safe. I got him out of Philadelphia and gave Ash my paycheck. Until you came.” She pinches my cheek. “Now I send him my money. Help him stay in school.”
“Where does he live?”
“Boston. When I had to come and work here, he went to live with our aunt. She straightened him out good.”
“Do they know what you do?”
She waves her hand casually, like I asked her about the weather. “Oh no. I couldn’t do that to them. If Jon found out, he’d go after Finn with a baseball bat. It wouldn’t be pretty.” She grins, and I can tell how much she loves him in that moment. Despite his mistakes, she loves who he is.
“Hey,” she turns onto her side to meet my gaze. “Come back. When this is all done. Come back.”
“I’ll see you again, Alex.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
I want to ask her more about her brother, but there is another knock on the door.
“Bianca,” Finn calls to me. “We need to talk.”
James
The three of us are at the Vegan Tree—Ally’s idea—and we’re having a roundtable discussion on the word “spawn.”
“I have no clue,” Shiloh says. “Maybe that’s just a vampire insult for humans?”
“Maybe you’re a demon,” Ally suggests, shoving spring rolls in her face. “You know, like hell spawn.”
“Something tells me that’s not it.” Shiloh pats her shoulder. “But good effort.”
“I’m sure he’s just using a derogatory word for whatever it is that I am.” I remember the shock on his face. “He was totally caught off guard. Like he knew, but he didn’t want to know.”
“Well, ‘spawn’ usually refers to having unpleasant parents,” Shiloh says. “What if he knew your folks, and he just didn’t like them?”
“What if your parents were hunters, like Bianca’s?” Then Ally gasps. “What if you guys are actually brother and sister?”
“Good theory, except that Bianca doesn’t have a brother, and we look nothing like each other.”
“I’m just spit-balling here,” she says. “Don’t mind me.”
“Hunters might make sense, but that doesn’t explain my ability.” I can’t help but feel disappointed about it all. I thought I’d finally have answers, but now I just have more questions. Damn Finn.
“Seems like your only option is to ask the guy who said it,” Ally concludes.
“I don’t really want to get that close to him again. He scares the hell out of me. Besides, it would upset Bianca.”
“She’s got her hooks in you pretty bad, huh?” Ally wiggles her eyebrows up and down.
I shove some sweet potato fries in my mouth. “I don’t know what you’re implying.”
“Come on, you’re so in love, it’s stupid. Have you even kissed her yet? For real?”
I feel the embarrassment coming on. “That’s none of your business, you nosey little—”
“You have!” she screams, gasping for air. “You would have said no if the answer was no. I need to know everything.”
Shiloh shoves Ally’s arm lightly, but I see the surprise on his face. “Give the man some space. That’s private business.”
“Besides,” I say, “you are way too interested in this. I might start to think you want to kiss her too.”
She sticks her tongue out.
“So you guys are getting pretty serious?” Shiloh asks.
“Yeah, I guess we are. She’s just so different from anyone I’ve ever met before. It’s hard to believe I haven’t even known her a week.”
“Sometimes people are special enough that time doesn’t matter.” He is much quieter when he says this, and I know he is thinking of Ally.
She starts going off about how Bianca and I are soul mates, and I lean back in my chair and soak this in. This is the first normal moment we’ve all had since I met Bianca. This is how it should be: the three of us joking around. But I know, with a heavy heart, that this might be the last time we can do this. Tomorrow, everything will be different.
Bianca
It’s time to face Finn.
I’ve fantasized about this moment: the moment I tell Finn I’m not his. As I walk to his office with him, I wonder what took me so long. The nauth? The thought that I deserved to be there? I was weak. But now, I don’t feel quite so weak.
He opens the door for me. I’ve only been in here once before, when Finn first took me in. There is an empty desk positioned in front of the door, guarding Finn’s office. It takes me a minute to realize whose desk it is: Ash’s. He fired her right after he hired me. I wonder now if it was because she tasted my blood.
Finn sits down at his desk. I go to the lone chair in front of him, but I can’t sit down. Before I can say anything, Finn speaks.
“Since you have agreed to be joining Jeremiah tomorrow, I feel I should let you know what you’re getting into. It is his coronation. He has been elected the King of the Northeast. His power extends beyond this state’s border now. You thought he was needy before, but now it will be worse than ever.”
He doesn’t sound too happy about this. “I’m guessing he didn’t get your vote.”
“I’m telling you this for a reason. Jeremiah wants your blood all to himself, because he thinks you’re an heir to the original St. Germain.”
This information is dizzying, and now I have to sit down. “So what if I’m some dead person’s heir?”
Finn sits up a little straighter. “The St. Germain tied into our history wanted humans and vampires to coexist. He used his aptitude for alchemy to try and create an alternative to blood that vampires could live on. It was said that during his experiments, he changed his own blood by mistake. Created a new blood type. Humans can’t detect it—it merely shows up as AB negative on tests. But to vampires, it’s the rarest blood type. It was desired by many important vampires, and he was forced into hiding. Certain vampires have spent many years searching for the true heirs of St. Germain.”
I take a deep breath, wondering if I can trust his words. “So Jeremiah wants to live on my blood because it’s a rare type? Does it taste different?”
“It does not simply taste different. St. Germain’s blood was said to make those who consumed it more powerful, faster, and stronger. Jeremiah wants that power. He wants to become strong enough that no one can challenge him. He plans to rule us all, and he has already put his plan into motion. You’re a key part of that plan. He’ll steal you away and keep you locked up.”
When I speak again, my voice is too quiet. “I thought you said I was safe here.”
“You agreed to go with him. It was your decision, and now once you leave here, you’ll be his.”
I’m back on my feet, legs shaking under the weight of his words. “I can’t believe you. You could have told me!”
He leans back in his big chair, folding his fingers together. “I didn’t think I had to tell you. How did you think this was going to end? It was out of my hands, so I made the decision to profit off your stupidity.”
I’m going to be sick.
“Tomorrow night, security will be at its peak.” He taps a pen against his desk, punctuating his statement. “Everyone will be checked for weapons. And, as the circle master will be in attendance, the future king will be abstaining from drinking any tainted or enhanced blood. Certainly, no garlic for him. He must have full control for his big night and not be a bumbling mess.”
I’m so angry, I can barely handle his voice grating on my nerves.
“No,” Finn goes on. “It would certainly be afterwards, in the privacy of his own home, that he might indulge himself. After all, he wouldn’t want to make a fool of himself in front of his audience.”
And now, I see he is trying to tell me something. To warn me, in his own way.
He still wants me to have a chance.
James
Ally and I are walking home. I keep her close because I
need her to steady myself. A long meal in a crowded restaurant makes me a little unstable. Not to mention that I can sense a building anger, even rage, inside Bianca. It weighs me down.
“Something’s happening with Bianca.”
Ally frowns. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. But I think she’s on her way here. I’ve never felt her this mad.”
“Come on.” Ally pulls my arm, and we hurry down the street. I feel Bianca heading straight toward me. As we turn onto our street, I see her walking toward us.
“What happened?” I ask her.
Bianca sighs. “Long story.”
“Come inside with us.” I go to open the door but she flinches.
“Can we stay out here for a little while?”
“Okay…”
Ally pats me on the shoulder. “I’ll be inside if you need anything.”
Bianca and I sit on our front stoop. She leans her head against my shoulder. I’m starting to forget all my problems. Then she kisses me. No, there’s nothing wrong with this world.
When the kiss ends, it all starts to chip away until I’m staring back at the mess our lives have become.
“Tell me,” I urge her.
She lets out her breath. “Jeremiah wants to keep me. For good.”
Bianca tells me about the original St. Germain, the alchemist who accidentally cursed himself with special blood. How Jeremiah wants to own her, and how Finn played his little part.
“Finn could have stopped it from happening,” I say, “and instead he just…” She pushes her fingers into her hair, gripping it tight.
I feel the pull on my scalp. “It’s not that simple.” I take her hands in mine. Her eyes are overflowing with emotions that keep spilling into me. “Finn is a monster,” I tell her. “He sells human women to vampires, to bleed them dry. He gets women killed and only ever thinks of it as a business problem. You could have died working for him. He’s the reason this is all happening. From the start, he’s done nothing but help your downfall.”
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