by E. M. Moore
I reached out to him, but he pulled away. “I know better. Jesus. Why don’t I just put a freaking neon sign outside your door?”
“It’s not—”
He turned toward me, his eyes blazing. “If you say it’s not my fault, I’m going to…going to…” He searched his jeans’ pockets and came up empty. “Where’s my phone?”
I pointed toward the bed.
He walked over and tried to turn on the screen. It was then he noticed it was off and then pushed the power button so hard, the tip of his finger turned white.
“It vibrated. You didn’t wake up and you looked so peaceful that I turned it off. I didn’t want it to bother you.”
He held a hand up to me. “None of this is your fault. Just let me think.”
The phone finally came to life and Christian scrolled through his missed calls and messages. Finally, he pushed on the screen and held the phone to his ear.
“What the hell?” a voice said.
It was Nicolai. I sat down next to Christian on the bed, trying to hear all the conversation. Christian moved over and angled away. My heart sunk.
“Are you there?” Nic asked.
“Yes.”
“I thought we all agreed—”
“We did. I messed up, okay? Damnit. How do I get out of here with no one noticing? We can’t let anyone know I was here.”
“You should’ve thought of that last night. You don’t think Samuel smelled you? What the hell, Christian?”
Christian stood and paced the room. I wanted to go to him, put my arms around him, but I knew it wouldn’t be welcome right now. He was so furious with himself. I should’ve been furious with me, too. If anyone knew he was here, we’d only bring attention to ourselves, to all of us. The Council was forcing that guard to get an abortion, what about a trainee? Would they do something worse to me?
I rested my elbows on my thighs and held my head in my hands as Christian and Nicolai made a plan. I heard the words ‘window’ and ‘lookout’ as if we were in some sort of heist movie. Finally, Christian hung up the phone. I didn’t dare look up. Afraid of what I might see on his face. Tension strangled the air around us. The tips of his shoes moved to just in front of mine. Then, he crouched in front of me. “I’m so sorry, Ariana. Samuel covered for us this time, but—”
I raised my gaze to meet his. He pushed the strands of hair that had fallen into my view around my ear. He tried to smile, but it was a poor impostor for his usual genuine grins.
“We have to be more careful,” he said. “Today of all days, too. There’s a party at the main Fort house tonight. The daughter of the Rajyvik family is bringing home her new son. Any vampire who’s anybody is going to be there and I’m sleeping here in your room putting you in jeopardy. All the members of The Council and their families will be around.”
“Do your parents know?” I croaked out.
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. Nicolai said they made something up about me going out early this morning to train. It was only Samuel who got suspicious, which means we’re being entirely too obvious. The others probably want to kill me right now.” His phone vibrated in his hand and he looked down. “I have to go.”
“But—”
I tried to reach out to stop him, but he threw open the window, leapt up onto the frame, and then jumped.
No! I ran toward the window, my heart skipping a beat. We weren’t super high, but we were high enough that he could get hurt. What the hell did he do that for?
I rested my hands against the frame and peered down, my body halfway out the window myself. He wasn’t sprawled out on the ground below. In fact, he wasn’t anywhere in sight. I looked from one edge of the campus to the other. As far as I could see, there was no Christian Ravana.
With a groan, I heaved the window closed once again and turned immediately for my phone. Just as I was reaching for it, the screen lit up with a message. Christian.
I tapped on it and it came up. I’m fine. I’m so, so sorry.
I swiped away from that one as soon as I read it. I didn’t care that he’d apologized. There was no need to in the first place. It was both our faults. Looking through the rest of my texts, they went from excitement for my accomplishment at able to reach the top of the rope climb to worry about where Christian was. I had missed calls from all of the guys, but I was too embarrassed and a little hurt to call them all back right now. Even after all that talk about not showing our feelings for one another in public, I’d went and done the most stupid thing. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to regret being that close to him all night. We’d bonded in a way we never had before. With the story of his turning, I felt closer to him than ever.
I put the phone back down and hurried into the bathroom to start the day, hoping the hot water would wash away all my worries. Since it wasn’t magical water, I was sure it wouldn’t work, but a girl could dream, couldn’t she?
Chapter Twenty
The morning was relatively uneventful. I ate breakfast with a few other guards, making sure to make my presence inside the guardian building known. No one looked at me funny or whispered about me behind my back. I heaved a sigh of relief after Liv and Shannon sat down and we started making plans for the day. I figured the guys would be busy since their parents were in town so it would be up to me to find something to do to take my mind off of everything today.
In the middle of our conversation, Evan joined us. “Hey, Ariana,” he said, slipping into the seat across from me and next to Liv. “Are you feeling better?”
I gave him a confused look until it dawned on me. Then, I wanted to punch myself in the face. We’d told my friends I hadn’t been feeling good the other day and that’s why I’d left the bridge jumping party early. “I am,” I said. “Thanks.”
“Good,” he said, beaming at me. “Got any plans for today?”
Nerves pricked my insides. I motioned toward Liv and Shannon. “That’s what we were just talking about. Got any ideas?”
He looked at the two of them, not able to hide the disappointment on his face. “I was actually kind of thinking we could go out for lunch.”
Liv and Shannon both turned away, their hands coming up to hide their smiles. They were evidently getting joy out of this. I faced Evan again. What could I say? ‘Sorry, but I like the Ravanas. I know I’m not supposed to and it will probably only lead to tragedy, but at this point, I could really care less?’ That just seemed like a mouthful for a simple date invitation. “I-I don’t know,” I said, my nerves getting the better of me. I turned toward Liv and Shannon. “Would you guys want to do that?”
Shannon acted as if she weren’t paying attention. She looked around, her eyes widening like she hadn’t realized Evan had even joined us. “What’s that?”
“Evan wants to go off campus for lunch. Would you guys want to do that?” I asked, pleading with my eyes.
Evan was resilient however. “No offense, ladies, but I was thinking it could be just me and Ariana this time.” He looked back at me with his eyebrows raised. “What do you think?”
Flustered, I peered at all three of them. Liv and Shannon were looking away and Evan just looked too willing that it almost broke my heart. I was almost happy for the distraction to see Samuel come into the cafeteria and stride right up to Zeke. He handed him an envelope and they exchanged a few words. Samuel moved on to other trainees then, handing some of them simple white envelopes.
“Lucky,” Liv muttered, her voice laced with jealousy.
“What is it?” I asked.
“They’re being invited to the vamp party tonight. Natalie Rajyvik is bringing home her new son. They do this every time a member of the elite brings home a vamp baby.”
“Them?” I asked, watching Zeke as he tossed the invitation next to him and continued to eat the food on his tray. “Why?”
“Their parents are guards of the elite,” Shannon said.
“Zeke?” I asked, my voice rising in surprise. I guessed I should’ve known considering he was
at the top of our class. It would make sense that his parents were also.
“Yeah,” Evan said. “His mom is guardian for the Nicholson clan.”
I watched Zeke, clearly unaffected that he’d been invited to a vamp party. He hadn’t even given his invitation a second look as he talked and laughed with his friends. I was so engrossed in staring after him that I hadn’t noticed Samuel make his way toward me. “Ariana,” he said.
I jumped in my seat, tearing my eyes away from Zeke and then up and up, meeting Samuel’s intense gaze. “Yes?”
He had one white envelope left in his hands. He offered it to me. I glanced at it and then back a him without taking it. He shook his head. “It’s for you.”
“Me?” I questioned, eyebrows raising.
“Yes.” He forced it into my hands.
Sure enough, my name was scrawled elegantly in the middle of the envelope. I stared down in disbelief, and then back at him.
He glanced at my table companions. “Might I have a word with Ariana alone?”
Each of them gave me an apologetic look, though Liv’s was also tinged with jealousy, then they stood from the table and walked away. After Samuel made sure no one was within hearing distance, he leaned over. “Isabelle Ravana specifically requested your presence. If I were you, and you’re serious about taking up the position available with the Ravana clan, I’d be on your best behavior.”
My tongue felt thick in my mouth. I stared down at the envelope and traced my fingers over the beautiful handwriting wondering if Isabelle Ravana herself had written it. My fingers started to tremble. Could I seriously go to a vampire party? What was I supposed to do? Make small talk?
I glanced up to find that Samuel had already left the room, and Liv, Shannon, and Evan were making their way back. Evan stood across from me. “I guess this means you won’t be able to do lunch.”
I blinked up at him. That was one bright side, I thought to myself. I wouldn’t have to turn him down. “I guess not. Sorry.”
He shrugged. “Some other time then.”
He left, and Shannon elbowed me. “You’re having a good day. Evan asked you out and you’re going to a vamp party. Dang.”
Evan was the furthest thing from my mind. Did the princes know about this? I excused myself from the table and ran to my room. I shut the door behind me and turned my cell phone screen on. There was one message from Nicolai, a warning that I’d be getting an invitation. Jeez, I wished I’d had this with me. That way I wouldn’t have looked so stupid.
As I held the phone in my hand, another one came in. Check your closet.
I whirled around and slid the door open. I didn’t know if I expected to find him in there—or Christian—but no, it was neither one of them. There was a dress bag hanging off the rod. I slipped my phone into my pocket, took the hanger down, and turned around to lay the dress down on my bed. I lifted the bottom, rolling it up until the red silk fabric fell out. My breath caught. I pulled the bag up more quickly, revealing a full skirt and a heart-shaped, strapless neckline. It was the most beautiful dress I’d ever seen.
Attached to the hanger was a note: For you, Princess. I can’t wait to see you in this.
My heart lifted. Connor. How thoughtful.
I pulled the dress off the hanger and held it up to my chest. I ran to the bathroom mirror and even though I could only see the neckline, I was in love. Heat built behind my eyes. In the other room, my phone started to ring. I hurried up and swiped the screen to answer. It was Nic. “Hey,” I said, my voice catching on the word.
“Hell, Ri, you’re not crying again, are you?”
“No,” I said, forcing my voice to be normal. “Why would I be crying?”
“Good. I don’t know.” He sounded as if he believed me. Phew. He sighed into the speaker. “Listen, I’m sorry about earlier. Christian said you looked upset. We’ve all talked and—”
“Nic, stop right there. I love you guys and all, but for the love of God, can you please include me in discussions?” I held the phone between my ear and shoulder and started to put the dress back on its hanger. When I was finished, I put it back in the closet and smoothed it down toward the floor. “I have opinions, too, and I have a right to know what’s going on.”
He grumbled into the phone.
I smirked. “What was that?”
“Ri, we’re trying to protect you.”
Though he couldn’t see me, I put my free hand on my hip. “It goes both ways. Christian and I made a stupid mistake. Nothing happened. We just fell asleep.”
“All we need is the implication,” he said, stubbornly.
“We’ll be more careful.” Even as I said it, I doubted my own actions. It was so hard to be away from them. I hadn’t wanted Christian to leave earlier even though I knew if anyone found him in my room, it would be bad.
“We keep saying that. We all do.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear and rubbed my temples. Relaxing a little, I held it back up again and whispered, “Can I see you guys? Please.”
“See,” he said more forcefully. “None of us is doing a very good job.”
“So we can’t be together as friends, either?”
“Of course we can. The problem is, none of us think clearly when we’re around you. That’s why Stephan takes you to our parents’ house and Christian spends the night in your damn room. You’re like our kryptonite for crying out loud.”
“So, what do we have to do? Wait until my training is over, until I’m actually allowed to be around you guys? That’s even if I end up first in my class.”
His voice hardened. “You will be our guard.”
“Not according to Samuel. He says if I’m not the number one trainee, there’s no way I’ll be assigned to you. He said your parents will make sure of it and the rest of The Council will make you all see reason.”
He growled into the phone. “Trust me.” He breathed in and out for a few seconds and then spoke again, his voice much calmer this time. “Regardless, all we need to do is just be much smarter when we’re around one another. We don’t have to wait until training is over. We just have to make sure everyone else sees that we’re only worried about that. Nothing more.”
“Fine,” I said.
“Fine?” I could almost picture his face on the other side of the line. “Fine?” he said more matter-of-fact. “You are so damn frustrating sometimes.”
I was breathing heavy into the phone now. I knew exactly what he meant. The feeling was mutual, but only because I cared. I cared so much. “Maybe it’s because you feel the same way I feel. I don’t want to wait or act like we’re just friends. Sometimes when I see you, I just want to…wrap my arms around you.”
There was nothing on the other side of the line now. I couldn’t even hear Nic breathing. Then, a door closed somewhere on his side. There was another thump, and then he said, “Just wrap your arms around me? Is that all you want to do?”
His voice was husky, pricking the skin on my arms. I swallowed. “No. Not just that. The point is—”
“I know what the point is,” Nic said. “The point is, you don’t want to have to hide. I get it. We all do. You wouldn’t have to hide with Evan, you know.”
His voice was soft, unapologetic, and sincere. Huh? That was a weird twist in conversation. Evan was the furthest thing from my mind. “How did you know about Evan?” I whispered, taken aback. I didn’t care about Evan. Neither should he.
“We see the way he looks at you. Why? Did he do something?” His voice was slow, deliberate, almost carefully and painfully under control.
“He asked me to lunch today. That’s all.”
“Do me a favor?” he asked, finally. “Don’t tell me anything like that again. Even if I ask.”
“I’m sorry.”
He snickered. “You’re always quick to apologize. Christian told us you kept saying you were sorry earlier too. We’re all in this together, Ri. No matter what happens, you should never apologize.”
“Same g
oes for you guys.”
“I’m not so sure of that anymore.”
A sound came through the other side and then Nic moaned. “Chill. Let me get up.”
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Nic sucked in a breath. “I was sitting with my back against my door and Connor tried to come through it like the spaz he is. Wait, he’s holding out his hand for the phone. No,” Nic said, a little ways away from the speaker. “Call her yourself.”
“How can I call her if you’re on the phone with her?”
“Wait your turn.”
“Give me the phone.”
“No.”
I covered my mouth to keep from laughing. “What does he want?”
“What do you want?” Nic asked, repeating me.
Connor said, “I just wanted to know if she got the invitation and the dress.”
“I did.”
“She did,” Nic told his brother. Then, into the phone, he said, “I knew that already.”
“Does she like it?” Connor asked.
“Tell him I love it.”
“She loves it,” Nic repeated, clearly not enjoying this at all.
“Tell her—”
“No,” Nic said. “We’re done here. We’ll see you in about an hour, Ri.”
He hung up the phone before I could have a full blown panic attack. An hour! I really needed to look at that invitation, and now.
Chapter Twenty-One
With shaking hands, I tucked the last curl in with a bobby pin. I’d borrowed Shannon’s curling iron to do the job and even though I was freaking out inside, I thought I looked pretty nice. The dress was amazing. It was by far the most beautiful thing I’d ever worn. If only there was a full-length mirror somewhere, I’d love to see my whole self in it. Even do a girly thing and twirl around to look at my body in the dress from all angles.
When I’d finally opened the invitation earlier, there was a note tucked inside from Isabelle Ravana. Though she mentioned that a trainee with no connections being invited to a welcome party was unheard of, she understood how much I meant to her sons. No, this wasn’t a warm and fuzzy wanting-to-meet-her-sons’-girlfriend kind of a thing. It was more of an appraisal situation. I felt as if I was going up for sale on an auction block. She specifically stated she’d be watching out for me tonight, taking notes on whether or not I was fit to be her sons’ guard.