Cursed Hearts (A Crossroads Novel)

by Light

  Christian clenched his jaw, sliding down to the floor.

  “I don’t have any parents,” he said numbly.

  Rome rubbed a hand over his mouth, glaring at the tile. “Well… you’re not alone in this, okay?”

  Christian didn’t reply.

  Rome knelt down in front of him, grabbing his face and tilting his head up. “Look at me,” he said. “I’ve got your back. Just stop going after Ariahna, alright? Do that for me, and I’ll help you through this.”

  “I… don’t think I can do that.”

  “Why not? You don’t even really like her.”

  “Don’t try to tell me how I feel,” Christian huffed.

  “So you do like her? It’s not just some game?”

  “Are you going to help me or not?”

  “…Come on, stand up,” he said, dragging his limp body up off of the floor. Christian batted him away. “God, you’re just as stubborn as I am. Look, we can’t choose the cards we’re dealt. I get it. Life is a raging bitch that will fuck you up every chance she gets. But you have to pull yourself together. No one is going to make your life easier if you keep acting like a brat. I’m offering to help you, all you need to do in return is listen to what I have to say, and trust me enough to know that I won’t steer you wrong.”

  “Why? Why would you help me?”

  “Because I think I understand you now. And it would go against everything my mother ever taught me if I left you to fend for yourself.”

  “Besides,” Rome said, “wolves were meant to run in packs.”

  Chapter 19

  There was something unnerving in the air – the sensation of being followed. It hadn’t gone unnoticed by Kaleb. It had been with him ever since that night at the cemetery. When Rome and he had been traipsing through the evening air together, the heaviness of eyes and the quiet whisper of movement had been present. He’d felt it then, and he felt it now. Rustling and murmuring noises that lingered along the edges of his perception. Quick breezes at his back, like someone had rushed past. Kaleb didn’t scare easily, but it was enough to raise the hairs on the back of his neck and leave goosebumps all over his skin. He was being watched, and he didn’t like it.

  The fourth floor was lousy with teachers, red-eyed and sipping on their morning coffee. Most seemed too tired to acknowledge him as he passed. Rome was already stepping out of the nurse’s office before Kaleb could reach the door. He must have been released, he thought with relief. After Rome had collapsed the other day, the nurse had all but banned him from the infirmary. Short of injury or death, she’d said. Admittedly, he’d been contemplating the former just so he could see Rome.

  But it seemed there had been other visitors in his absence.

  That girl from the other night stepped out of the nurse’s office after Rome, smiling at him gently. Ariahna, he remembered. Kaleb clenched his jaw as the skin on his face went tight. They were talking softly and he couldn’t bring himself to listen in. Rome cradled her face in his hand and kissed her cheek. Her heart was beating so fast Kaleb could smell her blood from where he stood over by the Dean’s office.

  Disgusting, he thought.

  That girl was cheap plasma – or so he tried to tell himself. His stomach growled fiercely and suddenly cheap plasma wasn’t sounding so bad. Kaleb hadn’t eaten since he’d arrived at the school. Not regular food, and certainly not blood. He was too proud to lower himself to drinking pig’s blood, and moreover, it was as flavorful and nutritious as ash.

  That girl, though… she actually smelt divine. It was jealousy and spite that had him denying it. The scent coming off of her was almost as tantalizing as Rome’s. He wanted to let her loose in the woods and chase her through the trees. Something in his gut whispered that she’d be a thrilling hunt. Kaleb shook the thought from his mind as she left Rome’s side, crossing the floor and disappearing down the stairwell.

  Rome’s eyes latched onto Kaleb from across the room. He’d written off yesterday’s visit as curiosity, but he couldn’t ignore the hint of concern reflecting on his face. That wasn’t the only odd thing, though. Jealousy was an easy emotion to sense. It bubbled along the skin like a blistering heat. The only thing more apparent was the hunger wearing away at Kaleb. It wasn’t just the kind that he provoked, either. This was starvation.

  Rome wandered over to him slowly.

  “You look like you could use a bite to eat,” he grinned, cutting to the chase. “Seriously, you look malnourished.”

  “Screw you,” Kaleb said irritably.

  Rome chuckled.

  “Come on,” he said, grabbing his arm and pulling him down the stairs. He ducked into a bathroom on the third floor with Kaleb in tow. “Alright, let’s make this quick.”

  Kaleb narrowed his eyes at him in confusion.

  “Eat,” he said, unbuttoning his shirt sleeve and rolling it up to his elbow. He held his arm out to Kaleb who looked at it longingly. “I said I owed you, alright? Just, no funny business.”

  A predatory look passed over Kaleb’s features, splitting his face in a frightening smile. He closed in on Rome, ignoring his arm and backing him into a stall. Rome growled in response, teeth slightly bared.

  “You’re offering to let me feed off of you, willingly?”

  The thought of that seemed to excite him.

  Rome was thinking about rescinding that invitation when Kaleb’s hands fell to his hips. His back was against the wall, shoulders biting into the metal as he tried to put some distance between them.

  “Kaleb,” he whispered warningly.

  “I’ll be gentle,” he crooned with a wicked smile. He lowered his mouth to Rome’s neck, brushing his lips softly over warm skin. His tongue traced a pounding vein as his body tingled with desire. Rome stood rigid and unmoving as he teased at his pulse. “Are you scared?” Kaleb whispered. “Your heart is beating so loud it’s almost deafening.”

  Rome swallowed audibly, clenching his eyes shut and removing himself from this moment. He was just helping out a friend, he told himself. That’s all this was. In truth, the anticipation was killing him. Just when he thought his heart was going to burst, Kaleb slid his fangs smoothly into his neck. It was a sharp sting followed by a sense of bliss. Rome’s hands clenched in the back of Kaleb’s shirt, his breathing turning ragged as his head and heart started to pound in sequence.

  Kaleb moaned as the rush of Rome’s blood crashed over his tongue. He was slowly coaxing it out of his veins and into his waiting mouth, savoring the moment. It was like lava – scalding-hot, white fire slipping past his lips and down his throat. Indulging in Rome was more intimate than anything Kaleb had ever experienced. His blood was a delicacy, spicy and strong, and smooth like rich, dark chocolate. Kaleb could taste the arousal in Rome’s blood, he could feel it rushing under his skin and pulsing in his veins.

  Rome knew in this moment that he was more than sustenance. What he didn’t understand was the connection he was forming between them, the bond of sharing his unique blood. Kaleb’s hand glided up his shirt, fingers dipping into the hard contours of his body. Rome was too far gone. He couldn’t even stop the gasp that left his lips or the soft breathy moans that followed it. His head fell back against the metal, lips parted and trembling. Every gentle sucking sensation or brush of Kaleb’s tongue left a swelling heat surging through his limbs. Kaleb had him pressed back against the stall with the weight of his body.

  “Ah, god,” Rome panted, wrapping his fingers around Kaleb’s hips. This wasn’t what he’d signed up for, and he was trying to tell himself that he didn’t want it. His eyes slipped shut, and despite his fear, he wasn’t pushing him away. If anything, the strength in his grip was suggesting that he wanted him to escalate the situation. Kaleb certainly wasn’t stopping. He was moaning and grinding against him feverishly while stroking a thumb over his nipple. It was almost enough to keep Rome in the moment. Almost. He ripped Kaleb’s hand out of his shirt, shoving him back against the other side of the stall. They stared each other down, breath
ing like wild dogs getting ready for a fight. “What is wrong with you?” Rome mumbled. He wasn’t talking to Kaleb, he was talking to himself. The door to the stall beside them squeaked, and Rome’s eyes grew to the size of tennis balls. He rushed out just in time to see the bathroom door sweeping closed.

  “Motherfucker,” he remarked.

  Kaleb sauntered up behind him, curling himself around his body and teasing at the back of his neck with blunt teeth.

  Rome shivered and pulled away.

  “I thought I made myself clear about that kind of shit,” he said.

  “Hmm… no. You said one thing, and then did another. It’s not my fault if you don’t know what you really want,” Kaleb smiled.

  “Look,” Rome said, “I respect your life choices, I really do. It’s cool, but I’m not like that. So I’d really like it if you’d back off and stop trying to confuse me.” He turned to look at the puncture wounds in the mirror. Kaleb’s silence drew his attention, and by the dark look on his face, he knew he’d said the wrong thing. “You know what I mean. I’m straight, and nothing is going to change that. I swear, I know I’ve never really had a friend, but I don’t think it’s supposed to be this difficult.”

  Kaleb shrugged. “Do you want me to close those or not?” he asked, pushing back the wicked curve playing at his lips.

  “Won’t that like, bind you to me or something?”

  “No,” he said in amusement. Kaleb pricked his finger on a fang. “You’re not going to drink it,” he explained, pressing the drop of blood to Rome’s neck. The wounds closed instantly. “As sexy as the thought of you walking around wearing my mark is, I don’t think we should flaunt it.”

  Rome stared blankly back at him in response. Kaleb was teasing him, and he didn’t find it funny. He checked to make sure the bite marks were healed and then hurried out of the bathroom without another word. Kaleb was five steps behind, drifting after him like a persistent shadow.

  He locked eyes with Christian in the hall, and they watched each other uncertainly as they passed. They didn’t know it, but they were sharing the same thought: Was this for real?

  It was a valid question, even if it was one they already knew the answer to. Rome just couldn’t believe his life had honestly gotten this complicated, this fast. Christian, on the other hand, was already starting to warm up to the idea. What scared him was the possibility that this was all just a big misunderstanding. Being a werewolf didn’t exactly sound ideal, but finding a piece of himself only to lose it again sounded worse.

  Christian’s phone buzzed in his pocket just as Adam raced up and grabbed him by the shoulders. He looked happier than a lark.

  “Did you get it?” Adam said excitedly.

  “Get what?” he asked, sliding open the lock screen on his phone. A photo of Rome and Kaleb was staring back at him, practically slapping him in the face. “Oh my fucking god,” he smirked. “Did you take this?”

  Adam nodded.

  “Dude, they were practically fucking in the boys’ bathroom.”

  “I can see that,” Christian mumbled. “…You can’t send this to anyone else, alright?” Adam shot him a puzzled look.

  “And why the hell not? I thought you’d be thrilled, dude. Your only competition is a cum-guzzling cock monkey. Besides, I already sent it to everyone in my phone – which is everyone.”

  Christian grit his teeth.

  “Seriously, what is with you? I thought you hated this guy?”

  “I do.” That wasn’t entirely the truth, but it wasn’t a lie, either. “It’s just complicated. And do you have to say shit like that?”

  “No, you’re making it complicated. You want to fuck this girl’s brains out, right?” Christian sighed and shook his head. “Then you do it by any means necessary. It’s a dog eat dog world; you don’t get head by playing it safe.”

  The irony in Adam’s words left Christian fumbling with the combination on his locker. “Don’t you mean you don’t get ahead by playing it safe?”

  “No, I mean head,” he laughed. “The instant she sees this pic she’s going to be like putty in your hands. But I’m warning you now, if you don’t pop that girl’s cherry by the end of the week, I’m going to get myself a piece of that action and show you how it’s done.”

  “She’s mine,” Christian breathed. “You so much as fucking touch her, and you’re dead.” He hid behind the door to his locker, missing the bewildered look on Adam’s face.

  “Jeez, what did you have this morning, a bowl of scary for breakfast? Calm your shit, I was only joking.”

  “So was I,” he lied, flashing him a nervous smile.

  Honestly, he had no clue where that had come from.

  “Whatever,” Adam said. “I’ll see you at lunch?”

  Christian nodded.

  First period came and went, and Christian was so excited to see Aria in Alchemy class that he practically jogged there. She was even sitting alone. He smiled widely and sauntered up the aisle towards her. He was one step away when Scarlet, of all people, slipped in in front of him and stole the seat. Christian clenched his jaw, glaring at the back of her head. He took a deep breath before sitting down directly behind her.

  “Hey there,” Scarlet smiled.

  Aria glanced over at her, timidly returning the gesture.

  “So, about the other day… we didn’t really get a chance to talk because you took off so fast.” Scarlet paused, fiddling with her textbooks. “I realize now I may have come off a tiny bit rude in the auditorium, and I wanted to offer my apologies. You’re right – it’s nobody’s business who you see but you. And if he breaks your heart, I promise not to gloat. So what do you say, forgive me?”

  “Sure,” Ariahna replied. She was flabbergasted that Scarlet was even talking to her again. Twice in one week – that had to be a record of some kind. “I know you just said what you said out of concern. And I’m sure when it comes to boys and the ways of dating that you’re much more knowledgeable than I am. Friends?” she asked, shrugging her shoulders uncertainly.

  Scarlet offered her a clever smile.

  “Friends,” she agreed, grabbing her hand and setting it in her lap.

  Christian tilted his head, raising his eyebrows at the two girls. Now there was something he’d never considered. He hadn’t had either of them before, and now he couldn’t stop thinking about having them at the same time. God, how do I make that happen? he wondered. The thought slipped from his mind when Jesse sat down beside him.

  “Hey,” Christian whispered, “get her attention for me.”

  Jesse pointed to Scarlet and Christian frowned, shaking his head.

  “Her,” he said insistently, pointing at Aria.

  Really? Jesse mouthed. Christian gave him an annoyed look and Jesse raised his eyebrows, shrugging. “Okay…”

  Ariahna turned when she felt a gentle tapping on her shoulder.

  “Do you need something?” she asked.

  “Uh, no. He wanted to talk to you, I think?” Jesse said.

  Christian smiled, shooting her a little wave.

  Aria looked disinterested.

  “I came to see you this morning,” he said, “but your bodyguard wouldn’t let me in. How are you feeling?”

  She sighed, glancing back at the teacher. She couldn’t help but wonder why everyone kept calling Rome that; first Dallas, and now Christian. “Now isn’t the time to be having this conversation,” she replied.

  “Well, when is the time? Are you even going to talk to me again?”

  Scarlet turned around in her seat, giving Christian her most condescending smile. “Sweetie, even I can tell she doesn’t want to talk to you. Take a hint and shoo.”

  “Yeah, shoo,” Jesse chimed in, turning a playful smile to Scarlet.

  Christian narrowed his eyes at Jesse’s unwanted commentary, but otherwise ignored the two of them. “I’m sorry about the other night. That’s not how I wanted things to go.”

  Aria lowered her eyes, turning away.

&n
bsp; “Let me make it up to you,” he pleaded. “I’ll take you on a real date, a proper one. How about Friday night?”

  Mr. Caldwell squatted down beside Christian’s desk, propping his head up in his hand and smiling sarcastically at him. “I’m flattered,” he said, “but instead of dinner or a movie what I’d prefer is if you’d pay attention in my class. Do you think you can do that, Mr. Reed?”

  Christian leaned back against his chair, giving the teacher a somber look. “You missed your calling as a comedian,” he mumbled.

  “Why don’t you go up front and complete the diagram on the board?”

  Christian sighed, striding up to the blackboard as Mr. Caldwell stood to watch. A large Venn diagram was drawn on the board, with several plant species listed off to one side. The point of the exercise was to identify those that were poisonous, those that were safe, and ones that were poisonous but could still be included safely in tonics or potions to produce a beneficial effect. Christian smirked at the assignment.

  “Aria,” he said, turning around and crossing his arms confidently over his chest. Ariahna lifted her textbook slowly into the air to hide her face, and Christian raised a finger, nudging the book magically back onto the table. “I’ll make you a deal,” he said, smiling once he had her full attention. “If I get every one of these right, you go out on that date with me. If not, I’ll leave you alone.” A few quiet snickers circulated through the room as they waited for her reply. Even the teacher seemed interested in what she had to say to that.

  “How about I save you the trouble and solve it for you, and you leave me alone right now?” she said softly.

  “You look at me, and all you see is a shallow, albeit sexy, air-head of a guy who just wants to get in your pants.”

  The teacher cleared his throat, loudly.

  “You said you wanted to see something real,” Christian continued. “But you’re never going to if you don’t give me the chance.”

  “Give him a chance!” Jesse exclaimed, thrusting a fist skyward.