The Lost Vampire Princess

way when she felt a presence behind her. That same wa

he said wit

low. "Still not used t

him, blinking. "W

quickly. "Nothing. J

she could push, he leaned ag

feteria today," he sai

eyes. "What a

do you

acting weird. And I know we ju

fore," he said quietly

at him, s

's going on between us. But when I'm near you, it's like...

say, so she just stood

oing anything after school? I was thinking coffee

espite hersel

rapped in a hoodie, when she saw someone leaning agains

a

re?" she whispered, st

d, voice smooth like velvet a

em like the s

ntly. "I don'

rms. "Are you fo

tching over.' B

creeped out-but she

oonlight. "You're changing, Mia. I can feel it. The

y does everyone keep s

And when the time comes, you'll need

s barely grazing her wrist

know you," s

uld feel the chill of his bre

. Just like that-van

notes, though her mind was far from anything academic. Her pencil tapped rhythmically

thought, Kairos slid i

said with a smirk. "Wouldn't want to b

d what are you doing here? Thou

his chin in his hand. "Bu

omething sarcastic, when a

a

m, his eyes unreadabl

iros said

"No, you're not. We

her side, his presence like a cold breez

irking. "Nothing that

"Still playing the s

in the shadow

tween them. "Okay, w

ned to her at

ey said in pe

ever weird little power contes

ow, almost pleading. "You don't understand. There are

tense. "And I'll be the

were about to come to blows right

cing a hand on each of their

down her spine. Both warm

t her, stunne

s, but I'm not some prize for

r of them could answer, heart racing an

orange and purple, and the cool breeze swept through the courtyard as students trickled o

ia

teel. She turned slowly to find Kael standing a few feet

apology," he

or what? Being cryptic? Arrogant? Or ju

of the above, I suppose. But mostly... for d

ntensity of his gaze. "What am

rsonal space. "There are things at play-ancient things-t

"The realms? What ar

. And in that moment, something

d. "But not yet. If I tell you everythi

lenged. "I'm not s

know, Mia. But there are demons that want you dea

ght. "What did

slip had clearly shaken

orward. "What do you mean, my

I shouldn't have sai

y something like t

ing a curl from her face. His

ell you everything. But

pounding. "Why do I feel l

exist outside of t

she felt his breath on her lips. And just lik

the trees just beyond the p

Don't walk alon

ows-leaving Mia breathless, confused, and b

Mia when the scent hit him

ing," Kairos growled, stepping out f

ted his collar with slow precision.

for a split second. "You

hly, turning to face him fully. "Kiss her? Or drain her

shing Kael's. The tension wa

not y

d, amused. "And she

way you look at her-like she's a game. Something

a deadly calm. "You think I want her for

. And I know what yo

ond. "Careful. History's messy. If we start poin

step back and said with quiet finality, "She's more

enched, but he

Kael continued. "Something darker's movi

the flicker of unease in

almost mocking. "Keep playing guard, do

of air, Kael vani

er, fists clenched. Then he looked t

muttered. "You're not