“I know.”
He reaches for my wrist and for the first time I flinch before giving it over. But he sees it, he notices.
“It isn’t always noticeable,” Leif whispers. “But right here,” his fingertip rolls over the smallest of moles beside my right thumb. “Tells me just how special you are.”
“A mole.” I snatch my hand back. “A mole.”
“A birthmark,” he argues. “A half-moon-shaped birthmark. And even if it weren’t there, I’d still know. There are other ways.”
“What does that mean and know what?” I’m getting frustrated with them.
“You are a Bride,” he says simply.
I laugh. I can’t help it. Laughter echoes all around us. Bouncing off the walls. Echoing back to me. “A what now?”
Leif sighs as though he’s annoyed at my reactions.
“When a Coven is complete, they can sense a Bride,” Davi explains. “Unlike me.”
“You aren’t a Bride?”
“Just a donor.” He shrugs. “A blood bag. Though I’m not sure I’ll ever transition.”
“Davi,” Enzo warns.
Oh, he’s said too much. He’s my way in to get more information.
“Hadley.” Leif turns back to me. “Be our Bride.”
“No.” Now this is diving into weird territory. “I need to get dressed,” I say suddenly, feeling too damn exposed while naked. I don’t even understand their words or this bullshit Bride claim.
“We wouldn’t hurt you,” Davi says, his brown eyes serious for once. “Never you.”
“You’ve been lying to me for two years,” I snap back, realizing I need to walk to the locker room, naked, to get my dress.
Fuck it. I walk back naked.
“Not lying,” Leif tosses at my back. “Omitting.” They follow me. Wonderful, they can get one last view of my perfect ass before I cover it up.
“That’s a distinction without a difference.” My voice shakes slightly.
“Hadley,” Davi calls to me and I don’t know why I almost stumble when he says my name.
“Why now?” I ask, finally. Swinging open the locker room door. I find my bra first and snap that on. My panties are ruined just hanging around my waist. Spotting my dress, I grab it carefully and face the three men who just walked in, holding it in front of me like a shield.
No.Vampires.
Which I’m still not sure I believe is real.
It’s just so impossible.
Leif swallows as though he is weighing his words very carefully. “A Bride becomes insatiable near a,” he pauses.
“Just tell her.” Enzo steps into his pants, zipping them and leaving the top button undone.
I won’t tell him how hot that is.
“Tell me,” I challenge Leif as I step into my dress. I can’t get it completely zipped and I’m not asking them. So it’ll stay partially open.