Page 6

Tilting her head, she says nothing, just staring, as if I’m some sort of puzzle and she’s trying to work out where the next piece is to be placed. She takes a step toward me, studying me closely.

An obnoxious bang startles me.

‘Hurry up!’ a drunk man slurs, and my heart feels like it has jumped into my throat.

The vampire is gone when I look back. With my heart racing, I unlock the door and spill out into the hallway, ignoring the man who yells after me as I stumble toward the stairs, my legs trembling.

She was so close to me, she could have killed me within the blink of an eye, but she didn’t. What did she mean by my blood smelling different? How could it? Why would she say something like that, and then leave?

This day is getting weirder by the minute.

‘Hey!’ I jump, my nerves shot to hell. Jace plants a sloppy kiss on the side of my head, leaning so hard into me, I almost fall. ‘Where have you been?’

‘Nowhere,’ I say.

Glancing over my shoulder, my heart seizes. The vampire is watching me. The corner of her mouth twitches in a taunting way that has goosebumps zinging across my skin. I’ve been told countless times that vampires love to make a game out of hunting people.

Why me?

Vampires are an enigma. The more I attempt to understand them, the more confused I become. Researching, reading about them, and listening to what the witches say is different from seeing one in person. I thought I’d seen one before, but I don’t think I have until this moment. At least I know how to recognise them. To me, she stands out like a thorn on a rose.

I’m missing something. Something important. What about my blood has piqued her interest? What am I not seeing?

‘Jace, I think I—’

‘—T,’ Jace pokes his finger into my cheek, cutting me off.

‘Come on.’

When my eyes drift back to the doorway, she’s gone again. Shaking off the eerie feeling pulsing through my body, I allow him to guide me to the dance floor. He drags me close, and I loop my arms around his neck, enjoying the feel of his body close to mine.

Fatigue settles through me, and my stomach clenches. I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten all day, I’m running on very few hours of sleep, and the one drink I’ve had seems to have made my fuzzy head even foggier.

Tristan strolls up to us, handing us each a drink. A cigarette is stuck behind his ear, which he plucks out and lights up in the middle of the dance floor. The cloud of smoke wafts toward me, and Jace leans over, taking a long drag from it. Turning, he releases it into my face and I turn away from him, wrinkling my nose.

Beads of sweat dot across his forehead. He and Tristan both have glassy eyes. I exhale heavily. They’re up to their usual tricks.

‘I feel like going for a hunt,’ Tristan drawls, and his voice is so low, I’m not quite sure I heard correctly.

Hunt?

Jace raises a brow. ‘Serious?’

‘Deadly serious,’ he replies, staring almost challengingly at Jace.

‘Right now?’

‘Yup.’

Jace blows out a breath, running a hand through his hair.

‘What are you talking about?’ I ask, not liking the sound of this or the way Tristan’s standing ramrod straight, his jaw tight, like he might start swinging at someone in a minute. Tristan is well-known for his short fuse. He’s in trouble more often than not.

Expecting to be dismissed, or ignored again, I’m surprised when he faces me, leaning in so close, I can practically taste the potent alcohol laced in his breath.

‘Vampire hunting. You in?’ His words are dark, a violent edge to them, his mouth slanted into a half-smirk, half-sneer, as if daring me to say no.

My mouth feels dry. I blink at him. ‘Vampire … hunting?’