Snatching my bag, I hopped out of the car and slammed the door. Spring was in full bloom now, and while a chill still clung to the air, it would burn off around midday. This was typically my favorite time of year—not too hot, not too cold. Just right. But the buzzing sounds of nature reawakening were doing nothing for me today. Maybe it was exhaustion, but I just didn’t give a shit about the renewal of life right now.
Trey met up with me when I made it to the football field next to the gym. His bleary eyes took a second to focus on me, then he looked back at my car. “Where’s Little A?” he asked, his voice oddly nervous.
I shrugged. “She’s sick.” Halina and Hunter were going to have to wipe the school, erase her from everyone’s memories. Or at least blur the details. Halina had already begun doing that with Arianna. I wondered how many of my schoolmates remembered us as a couple, and how many had absolutely no clue we even knew each other.
“Oh,” Trey muttered. Looking back at me, he fidgeted as we walked. “She didn’t, uh, mention me or anything, did she?”
Puzzled, I tried to think of any reason why Nika would have mentioned Trey recently. “No. Why?”
He exhaled in relief. “Oh good. I just thought she might have mentioned…we had a…weird moment at the dance.”
Stunned, I stopped in my tracks. “You hit on my sister?”
Trey sheepishly met my gaze. “On accident. We were dancing, and she looked really good, and I felt bad about that jackass hurting her, so I kind of, sort of, leaned in for a kiss.”
Shaking my head at him, I let out a snort and started walking. He quickly caught up to me. “We didn’t, though. She took off before…” His brows condensed as he tried to put together the odd events of that awful dance. “Hey, why does everyone think a janitor found Raquel when I saw you carrying her to the parking lot?”
I sighed…Halina was going to have to fix that too. “Don’t worry about it,” I muttered.
Trey shrugged and let it go. “Anyway, I kind of feel weird about the whole thing now. I mean, Little A is practically my sister too. Is she going to be back soon?”
Knowing Trey was about to lose her as surely as I’d lost Arianna, I told him, “Yeah, I’m sure she’ll be right as rain tomorrow.”
Trey grinned and tucked a stray strand of hair under his cap. “Awesome.”
From behind us, I heard a voice call out, “Julian, wait up!” For a split second, I thought it was Arianna calling me. I snapped my head around to look, but it was Raquel jogging down the field, not my girlfriend. Well, of course. Arianna couldn’t pick me out of a lineup now.
I paused and waited for Raquel to catch up to us. How she was now in my circle of friends and Arianna wasn’t was beyond me. Her tanned cheeks were flushed with color, her long dark hair windblown. Letting out a long breath, she clutched her backpack strap and smiled up at me. “How was your weekend?”
Since I couldn’t tell her anything that had happened to me, I simply smiled and said, “It was great.” I’d have to work hard to not limp today, which would be quite a feat, since my leg ached like a son of a bitch. Tylenol was going to be my best friend today.
Raquel’s dark eyes clearly showed that she didn’t believe me. Narrowing them, she examined my face. It made me a bit uncomfortable, and I looked away. “You’re lying. You look like you haven’t slept in weeks.”
I scoffed at her. “You’re basically saying I look like crap. Thanks.”
She smacked my shoulder, then rubbed it. “I’m saying you look like something’s bothering you, and I understand how stuff can eat away at you…make you do stupid things.” She looked down at the scars on her arms hidden under her jacket, scars she believed were self-inflicted. Friendship in her eyes, she told me, “Just know I’m here, and you can talk to me about anything.”
Feeling a bit lighter, I nodded and accepted the friendship she was offering me. “Thank you.”
The three of us started walking toward our respective classes, and I instinctively scanned the crowds for Arianna. Trey was preoccupied with a group of cheerleaders keeping pace beside us, but Raquel noticed. “Looking for somebody?”
Deciding to test what my grandmother had done last night, I shrugged and said, “Arianna Bennett. You know her?”
Raquel’s forehead scrunched as she thought. “Yeah, I think I have a class with her. Why are you looking for her?” She nudged my elbow with hers. “Got a crush on her?” she asked, not a hint of jealousy in her voice. Our relationship had certainly shifted since Raquel’s “accident.”
Trey picked up on the teasing lilt in Raquel’s tone. He glanced our way and joined in the mockery. “Julian’s crushing on a girl? Besides you?” I shoved him away from me. Raquel laughed. “When did that happen?” he asked, unfazed.
Even as I smiled, sadness overwhelmed me. Halina had gotten to them last night, and they didn’t remember that Arianna and I had been together. How close we’d been, how much we’d cared about each other, how great of friends we were. Like a puff of smoke, our entire relationship was gone, and all I had were my hazy memories of my time with her. I would hold them close, though. They would get me through the dark nights until she was mine again.
I eventually had a class with Arianna. Seeing her was like being hit by a semi-truck. It left me breathless, dazed, seeing stars. It fractured my heart, and scoured my insides. And not having Nika’s comforting empathy to help ease the pain only made it worse. I was on my own.
When I walked into class, she was already there, obliviously laughing with her friends. None of them looked my way. Arianna looked amazing—vibrant, happy, full of life and hope. It was a far cry from the last time I’d seen her. Even though that had only been a handful of hours ago, it seemed like a lifetime.
I’d been procrastinating coming to class, so there were no open seats by Arianna, and I was forced to sit on the other side of the room. Most people didn’t seem to think that was odd, but a couple of heads swiveled my way—Halina hadn’t been able to get to everyone yet—just the key players. The few who still knew quickly brushed off the oddity, and went about their own business. High school couples broke up all the time. And Arianna and I were a low-key couple anyway, barely noticeable on the social scale. The two of us no longer talking wasn’t exactly front page news.
I thought about what to say to Arianna all throughout class, but I was suddenly really nervous to be around her. I felt like a bumbling idiot in her presence. In fact, all I managed to say to her was, “Hi.”
It was in the doorway, when I was stupidly standing beside it, waiting for her to leave. All her friends were clumped around her, and she wasn’t even looking my way. I was positive she hadn’t heard me, but then her caramel-colored head shifted to look back at me. Her hazel eyes scanned my face while her full lips momentarily pursed, like she was trying to place me.
“Hi,” she muttered back, before her friends pulled her through the hole. Just that brief exchange made my heart pound. She turned to leave, then she looked back at me. A soft, interested smile briefly touched her lips, and butterflies instantly took off in my belly. She was still attracted to me. Halina hadn’t taken that away. And if she was still attracted to me, then I still had a shot.
The moment she was gone, I did a little happy dance right there in the classroom. The teacher gave me a funny look, then shook her head in amusement. I didn’t care. I was on cloud nine. My girl had smiled at me.
By the end of the day, I’d gotten her to smile at me three times. Each time felt like a huge victory, and filled me with hope. I got back into my car feeling so much brighter, and I wished Nika could feel what I was feeling. Wanting to see my comatose sister, I headed out to the ranch. I knew my parents wouldn’t be happy about that, but too bad. My mind was made up. I was going to experience her conversion with her—physically, if not emotionally.
When I pulled into the circular driveway, my dad was standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. His face spoke volumes about his disapproval, and I halfway
expected him to point back at the massive iron gate marking the entrance, silently ordering me to leave. He didn’t, though. He just watched me stop the car in front of the house. When I opened my door, he sighed. “You shouldn’t be here, Julian. I thought we talked about this.”
I closed my door with authority. “We did. And there’s nowhere else I want to be right now than with my sister.” I smirked. “Besides, I can take her if she comes after me.”
Dad slowly smiled as he shook his head, then he swished his hand toward the house. “It could be a long wait. We’re not sure what time she’ll wake up.”
When I stepped to his side, I gave him a stoic nod. “I’ll wait for her as long as I have to. I’m not leaving her side until this is over, until I know she’s safe.”
Dad put his arm around my shoulder. “I know, son.” Together, we walked inside, to wait for the sun to set, and Nika to rise.
EVEN THOUGH THE sun was still lighting the Earth, everyone in the house was awake. The lower levels were bustling with activity, while we all prepared for my sister’s conversion to be complete. Halina, Imogen, and Alanna were discussing which cattle would be best for Nika. Mom and Dad were quietly holding hands, each deep in their private thoughts.
Hunter was a wreck. He was sitting on a chair beside the bed, bobbing his knees and wringing his hands. He’d been doing that for the last three hours. Watching him stress about Nika was exhausting, so I tried to tune him out as best I could. I sat on the other side of the bed, holding her ice-cold hand. Knowing it would feel good to her, I cupped both of my hands around hers.
Gabriel watched me closely. As I wished for time to speed up, he asked me, “Are you sure the bond is gone? Maybe you simply cannot feel it while she undergoes the transformation?”
I looked over at him standing at the foot of the bed. “I’m sure. It’s not just the fact that I can’t feel her…I feel the absence of her, like she’s been ripped away from me.” I looked back at Nika and sighed. “Like she’s gone somewhere I can’t follow.”
Gabriel made an interested noise like what I’d said was fascinating. I ignored it and him. He found almost everything fascinating, and had been curious about our connection since the beginning. No doubt he’d test us once Nika was out of danger.
I didn’t want to think about that part of her conversion. The scary, painful, possibly lethal part. My family would never let her starve to death, but they couldn’t do much about her immediate discomfort. It would be quick, though. Nika wouldn’t have to suffer too much.
After some time passed, both Halina and Hunter stopped moving, closed their eyes, and let out a slow exhale. Their identical reactions caught my attention. Anticipating what they’d sensed, I stood up. “The sun set. Are we moving her outside now?” The closer we could get her to food, the less pain she would have to endure.
Halina looked over at me and nodded. “It’s time.”
Moving before Hunter could, I reached down and scooped Nika into my arms. He frowned at me. “I can take her,” he said.
“Yeah, you can, but I’m going to. Besides, you’ve done enough,” I snipped. Hunter still wasn’t my favorite person.
He ground his teeth and looked like he wanted to argue with me, but Halina said, “Drop it. We have more important things to do right now than bicker.”
Hunter agreed, so he relaxed his posture and flung his hands at the door. “After you.” His tone was only moderately mocking, but I couldn’t resist smiling at him as I carried Nika out of his bedroom.
Imogen led us to a far pasture, away from the ranch hand’s house. Nika’s awakening could get noisy. There were six cows staked to the ground. They didn’t look the least bit afraid of what was about to happen. They might not even realize their fellow cattle were dying until it happened to them. Cows weren’t the smartest creatures. That fact made it a little easier to stomach them being lined up for the slaughter such as they were. Even still, I purposely ignored the one happily swishing her tail. Sorry gals, my sister needs your help.
Mom laid a blanket and a pillow on the ground, and I set Nika on top of it. The blanket was a deep red color that looked black in the glowing light of my family’s eyes. That vampiric trait had skipped Nika and me, but since she was a pureblood now, her eyes would probably glow just like everyone else’s when she woke up. That would be weird to see on her.
Much like in the bedroom, I sat on one side of Nika, while Hunter sat on the other. He cast me quick glances occasionally, and annoyed, I eventually lifted my eyes to his. “What?” I asked.
Hunter looked over at Mom and Dad. “Should he be out here with her? Should he be sitting right next to her? His heartbeat will be the first one she hears.”
Dad’s brow furrowed, like he was wondering the same thing. Frowning, I curled my fingers around Nika’s hand. I wasn’t going anywhere unless I absolutely had to. I narrowed my eyes as I stared Hunter down. “Just try and move me.”
Halina smacked the back of my head, but when I twisted around to look up at her, she was smiling. She liked seeing this more aggressive side of me. “Play nice.” Her eyes shifted to Hunter. “He may stay.”
Hunter shrugged and returned his attention to Nika. I wasn’t sure how long we waited, but I eventually began to shiver from the cold. Mom squatted beside me, wrapping a blanket around my shoulders. I’d barely registered her zipping away to get one—all my focus was on Nika. “Thanks,” I muttered, looking up at her.
She smiled at me, then moved a strand of Nika’s hair behind her ear. Watching Mom watch her daughter, I thought of all the stories that I’d heard about my family’s conversions. None of them were pleasant. “This is going to hurt her, isn’t it?”
Mom’s smile faded some as she turned to face me. “Yes…it will.” I noticed the other vampires looking away, even Hunter; their expressions told me more than Mom’s honest answer. Mom put her arm around me, squeezing me tight. “It won’t last. She’ll be okay.”
Swallowing a knot in my throat, I nodded. Just for the time being, I was grateful my emotional bond with Nika was gone, and I wouldn’t have to experience the pain with her. Then I felt guilty for feeling that way. I pushed both emotions aside. This wasn’t a time to be selfish. I was here for Nika, and Nika alone.
I was lost in the details of my sister’s face—the ridge of her nose, the outline of her lips, the wavy mahogany hair—when her eyes suddenly sprang open. She’d been still for so long, I instinctively jumped at the unexpected movement. Her eyes instantly locked on me. The dark brown depths that I’d looked into on countless occasions seemed completely different highlighted in the phosphorescent glow of our species. She was otherworldly as she stared at me. The effect of her eyes seeped into my bones. It was like soaking in a hot tub, or sipping a glass of warm blood…completely relaxing. My heartbeat slowed as her gaze trapped me.
A low, menacing growl rumbled through the night. It sent a shiver up my spine, and it took me a minute to register that the sound had originated from Nika’s ribcage. She’d never been able to make such a threatening noise before. Her mouth opened, and I could see her fangs were fully extended, as long and sharp as I’d ever seen them. Almost like she was pulling me into her with her eyes, I leaned forward. She leaned up, like she was going to whisper something in my ear. Her hand weakly clasped my neck; it was so cold, it felt like my skin was burning.
“Julian! Don’t!” A hand on my shoulder stopped my descent and yanked me backward. I fell back on my elbows, and the jolt of the landing snapped me out of my reverie. Nika’s expectant face instantly transformed into pain and grief as the agony of hunger struck her full force. Clearly biting back the urge to scream in pain, she clutched her stomach and curled into a ball.
I scrambled onto my hands and knees, but Halina’s strong arms kept me at a distance. “Nika! You need to drink!” I shouted.
She didn’t seem to understand my words as she growled and groaned. When Hunter laid a soothing hand on her, she snarled at him, tried to nip him. He didn’
t react to her attack, just soothingly told her, “It’s okay. I know how hungry you are. Smell the food…it will take the pain away.”
Her eyes swung back to me. There was so much longing in her gaze, I took a step back. Hunter was right—I shouldn’t be here. In jerking, pained movements, Nika rose to her feet. One hand still clutching her stomach, like the healed wound Dad had told me about was still there, she clamored to me. Mom and Dad stepped in front of me protectively, and Hunter grabbed Nika from behind. Shocking all of us, Nika growled at him, then jerked him over her shoulder. He landed a few feet away. Dad glanced at Mom.
We all looked back at Nika with trepidation. Ignoring the cows set up for her, she stormed my way. Dad held up his hands. “Not him, Nika. Look behind you. They’re for you.” Nika reached out with one hand and batted Dad aside like he weighed nothing. Mom’s eyes widened, and Halina shoved me behind her, forcing me back several steps.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Nika,” Mom pleaded. “Please, turn around.”
Imogen tried forcefully turning Nika around, but Nika shoved her back. Then Nika stumbled and cried out in unmistakable pain. It broke my heart. I wanted to comfort her, like I’d done all my life, but I knew if I took a step near her, she’d drain me dry without a conscious thought. Falling to one knee, Nika let out a choking sob. Hunter returned and kneeled in front of her. Cupping her cheek, he tilted her head to the cattle. “Drink,” he urged. Ignoring his food suggestion, she swung her head back to me.
Dad returned and cast a worried glance at me. “You’re distracting her from the cows.”
Heart beating wildly now, I whispered, “Do I run back to the house?”
Dad shook his head. “That will only make her chase you. Just stay still.”