Pureblood's Forbidden Love

A'S

n the remnants of a bizarre dream. Faces and places swirled together

ou'll be late fo

an impossibly deep sleeper, and for as long as I could remember, my

ous moments of drowsy warmth under my covers. But the voice persiste

still sleeping in there! U

e is Lara Vellon, a 19-year-old just trying to survive my first year at

us laughter, she could brighten even my moodiest of days. Dad, John Vellon, balanced her gentle nature with a more stoic,

ht, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Like clockwork, a jaw-cracking yawn escaped

udden premonition prickled in the depths of my mind, a vague se

heavenly scent of Mom's famous pancakes beckoned me into the kitchen.

and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Pancakes are yours

her playfully. "Not a chance, ol

ern voice rang out. "Breakfast better

e morning paper. But I could see the corners of his mustac

n before swiping the spatula from Mom's grasp and st

on't know why I bother. Between your mother'

luster. For all his old-fashioned gruffness, I knew

ruffled my hair affectionately. "Don't mind yo

In that moment, surrounded by the people I loved most, I couldn't im

lly on my tongue. Moments like this were the simple joys I took for granted - bickering with Mom o

rning snapshot, burning every last detail into my memory. Because i

the comfortable silence as he glanced at his wristwatch. "Don

ofessor. "Ugh, don't remind me. I swear, that guy cou

hes. "Now Lara, you know how important your stud

rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know the drill. Work hard, make

ad this same back-and-forth banter a thousand times before. Lecturing about accountability, m

the last mundane, affectionat

oor with melodramatic sluggishness. "Well, I'm off to the school

hug, the kind only a mother can give. Something about the way she held me close

he murmured ardently.

in the unconditional love of my parents while I still had the chance. But then the

oreseen how that morning marked the apex of normalcy in my life

hthearted "Love you both!" and strode out the door, blissfully unawa

se that something felt...off. Like that primal gut instinct you get when danger is lurking unseen. B

ring hellhound dragged in!" a fam

hing Cheshire grins plastered across their faces. Cassandra Jennings and Ryder

udded jewelry, and a seemingly permanent mischievous glint in her hazel eyes. Meanwhile, Ryder practically

pping my backpack as I flopped onto the grass to join them.

she shook her head emphatically. "Oh man, she's feisty today! You'd be

shove. "Need I remind you about the time Ryder had to l

d an arm around each of our shoulders. "What can I say? Hauling

those carefree moments where we could tune out the stresses of life. If anyone understood how much I cherished simple quality tim

er how hard I tried to focus, my mind kept wandering, consum

ure, like a sixth sense warning me of potential danger nearby. I fidgeted through the

-blown sense of dreaded premonition. My leg bounced with restless energy as I fought the ove

t noticing my agitated state. I gave a jerky half-nod

instinct screaming at me to leave campus immediately. Thoughts whirled through my mind a million m

ymore. Abandoning all pretenses of focusing on Chaucer, I hastily shove

called out in bewilderment as I r

eping stride. "Whoa there, you look like you'v

of the rising dread gripping me. "I've just got this

-kissed features as Ryder gave a slow

murmurs echoed in our wake. "Come on, I'll drive you. The sooner we get you to yo

a shaky smile up at my oldest friend. "Th

If only I had realized that my gut instinct was trying to prepare me for the earth-shattering truth waiting ahead. If only I h

e been ready for my wor