LOVE, LIKE BLOOD

ed at the edge

igh ceilings, clean floors, warm lig

od?" he

"Yeah. Jus

It's a big p

miliar faces I'd

ian. One of them raised a red cup and

ous, amused expressions. I he

t.... He's gotte

he's hot..." th

bastian caught my expression an

en nudged me gently with his elbow. "Stay h

ady slipping into the crowd, weavin

trying not to look as

udly. A drink spilled. A couple argued near the stairs. I shift

comfort of my phone, a low

in my French

up. It

e same pull I'd felt before, but stronger now.

st tig

d. "Knew I recog

, pretending not

wing a dramatic

s I'm not rea

say that. Just... n

e real-an easy sound that seem

closer, "maybe I can change that.

d charged with more than just flirtation. The p

thing, but my fangs pressed aga

s along his neck pulse beneath his s

e heat in his blood...

stian's voice

e you

e stepped up beside me and casually clap

surprised. "Wai

drink and raised a brow,

a bit. "No way. I didn't e

ory," Sebastian

red my

By the way, have you seen Evie? She's drun

th vanished. "She's here? He let out

another word, a slurred voi

den

es glassy with tears, makeu

ort and exposing, like it was cho

arms around hers

the moment she reached Aiden, her vo

m like he was the only solid thing in the room.

turned in ou

is hands awkward at first.

r shoulders. He zipped it halfway, careful not t

e," she whispered. "I miss you

his voice stayed soft.

r away, yes, full of something

wh

his arm around her trembling frame, he

et out a slow breath.

d not

by something else entirely. So

t died down-it had only grown l

ey were laughing too loudly, downing shots like they were chasing something. He'd

lmost full, still cold. I wasn'

s, I could stil

feel

said to Evie. Wh

he crowd, heading for the back

gainst my skin. It was quieter. Darker.

h

st too cool for

e fence. A guy leaned against it, a c

n't a

th a lazy confidence. "You're the new girl, r

eeping my expression f

don't have to be. I'm

nap his wrist. Crush his throat. Drain him dr

e thought pulsed thro

er and roughly

go and b

ark like a blade. Calm, but sha

ed without turning around. "R

oke, then backed off with a smirk. "

off, flicking his cig

nything at first. Just gently reached

w and careful, like he was afraid of

omething else. The tension between us was thick, almost suffo

closer. My lips found the warm skin just below his ear, and

ay, instead, a lo

further in. I let my mouth linger, parting slig

t through me, my teeth sank in-too hard, too fast

of pain spar

iately pulled back, heart pound

voice shaking. "I.... I

the spot on his neck, eyes wide with somet

..." he sa

corner of my eye,

through the yard-his ey

mach d

onto the empty street, slipping through