Bethrothed to a vampire

E

such a s

t the car with his arms crossed like he

I muttered, yanking my d

"Crestwood? The creepiest campus in the state? You coul

ing to be no

succeeding a

to talk. The last time Mom found

. "That wa

e it

his hands in his hoodie pocke

e. I got a scholarship.

, who's been stress-

he sidewalk, pretending to organize paperwork while sneakin

softer now. "It's not about le

get where you c

couldn't even

hing into my hand. A tiny bl

hought you'd like it. Might ward off wha

You bought m

weird. Just...

t and pulled him into a hu

l tonight. And tel

o l

ked over, eyes glo

y," she said, her voice cracking slightl

ighed. "I

my hand. "I know. I just.

ing me. I'm jus

ng fast. "Promise

way

hug. "You've got more strength in you than you know, Zoe. A

's cr

t's Crestwood. Cryptic

ulling Micah with her. I watched them drive off,

the wrought iron

es ever

-

t going to

oom. I paused outside the door, balancing a suitcase, a tote bag, and

al," she continued. "One of those people who color-cod

ay. Gre

noc

ed. Freckles, sharp cheekbones, and eyes t

ard tha

" I said. "H

led like she hadn't j

Tessa, resident terrible fi

d-crystals, half-burned candles, dried herbs hanging from a makeshift rod. The

d, legs crisscrossed like

ng me. "What brings you to the land of ivy

wer? Running. From home.

ip," I sai

clause. My great-aunt tried to hex the Dean i

smile desp

re we

Took years

ferent. Like we were measuring each other with invisibl

dow slammed s

d. Tess

said quickly

's no

ood has... quirks. Yo

sure I

-

sagna, I wandered the quad. The sky was deep navy, stars barely peeking through the clouds. Go

walking. Toward the old library. Toward the dark

ssing behind my eyes, buzzing just below the s

one was

I was being dramatic. That not every

I hurri

ed on her bed, surrounded by open books and odd little trink

bed without a

rned off

y,

ea

eeling this place i

sita

whispere

something

stant.

hing