Foretold, page 23
Anyway, back to the matter of what to wear. I opened my wardrobe and eyed the collection of designer dresses Aunt Delilah had gifted me. I spotted the pink one that Grace suggested I wear when we went to Flynn ’ s pub.
No. It was far too loud. I needed something that was subtle but still made an impression. I continued sifting through the dresses when my attention snagged on a rich, deep blue material. I pulled out the dress, my attention falling over the details. The material was soft, and the neckline was high, as was the hemline. It wouldn ’ t show any cleavage, but it would show an inordinate amount of leg. Steeling myself, I decided to wear it. I had some high heels, also courtesy of Aunt Delilah, but I didn ’ t trust that I ’ d be able to walk in them, so I paired the dress with my black boots instead.
I left my hair down, put on a little make-up, then went to see if Rebecca wanted to come to the party. She respectfully declined, and I didn ’ t blame her. Who wanted to go to a party attended by all of the teenagers you taught at your day job? Besides, when they ’ d argued about the party, Rebecca had told Grace in no uncertain terms that she wouldn ’ t be going, and my sister clearly planned to stick to her guns.
I decided to stay sober in case anything went wrong, which meant I could drive over to Grace ’ s house instead of walking. I ’ d just pulled up outside, and it looked like the party was already in full swing. I climbed out of the car just in time to see Nic leaving his house next door. He looked handsome in his jeans and dark, long-sleeved shirt. Surprisingly, I didn ’ t feel nothing when I looked at him. There was a small stirring of attraction that hadn ’ t been there before we kissed. Sure, it was minuscule compared to what Peter made me feel, but as I said, it wasn ’ t nothing .
“ Wow, ” he said as he approached me, his eyes taking in my dress but only lingering on my legs for a polite amount of time. “ You look beautiful, Darya. ”
I didn ’ t know how to take the compliment, especially given the sincerity in his gaze, so I replied with a simple, “ You scrub up well yourself. ”
He scratched his neck. “ I decided to go all out and put my contacts in for the occasion. ”
“ Well, I think you look great with or without the glasses, ” I said. “ Come on, let ’ s go inside. ”
Nic nodded, and we headed in. I found Grace in the kitchen mixing cocktails for a bunch of people I recognised from school though I wasn ’ t sure of their names. “ Darya! ” she greeted, taking me in. Her expression fell for a brief second when she saw Rebecca hadn ’ t come with me. “ Look at that dress. I love it, ” she went on. “ And Nic, you look great, too. Hey, no glasses! ”
Grace offered me a cocktail, but I shook my head. “ I drove here, so I ’ m not drinking. ”
“ At least have one. Your dhampir genes will burn off the alcohol in no time, ” she encouraged with a cajoling smile.
“ Fine, ” I allowed. “ I ’ ll have one, but keep the pour light. ”
“ Will do! ”
A few minutes later, I was wandering around the house, sipping my cocktail and keeping an eye on things. Somebody had to. Grace wanted to let loose, but I was determined that my uncles wouldn ’ t come home from their trip to a thrashed house. I mean, yes, we could clean up, but drunk people always seemed to find something delicate and irreplaceable to break. Looking around, I was actually impressed that Grace had the forethought to put away some of the more valuable ornaments.
I entered the living room and spotted Sophia. She and Ren Tanaka were standing in a corner talking, but Peter was nowhere to be seen. I didn ’ t want to seem like a needy psycho by quizzing Sophia on his whereabouts, so I kept searching. Annoyingly, I bumped into the last person I wanted to see, and I had a hard time believing that Grace had invited her.
“ Darya Cristescu, ” Belinda slurred. She sat on a bench outside Grace ’ s bedroom, her bleary eyes informing me of her intoxication.
“ Did you gate crash? ” I asked, eyeing her up and down. She had a glass of red wine in her hand, and it was in danger of sloshing over onto the carpet when she shook her head. I quickly swiped it from her grasp.
“ I don ’ t need to gate crash. Everyone loves having me at their parties, ” she responded, her head flopping back against the wall. I heaved a weary sigh and sat down next to her.
“ Do you at least have someone sober to drive you home? ” I asked.
“ Liz is around here somewhere. She ’ s our designated driver, ” Belinda answered, and I felt her gaze zero on in on me. A few moments of silence fell before she blurted. “ I ’ m sorry for what I did to you. It was out of order. ” I blinked in surprise at her admission. “ I was in a bad mood and lashing out. It didn ’ t help that I ’ ve always been jealous of you. ”
Wow, alcohol really was a truth serum. I glanced at her. “ Why on earth would you be jealous of me? ”
Belinda shrugged. “ I never said it was a rational kind of jealousy. ”
Her response surprised a laugh out of me. “ Okay. ”
“ It ’ s just that everyone thinks you ’ re so unique and special, especially given who your parents are. You don ’ t even have to try to get people to respect you. They do it naturally. Whereas I have to work hard to be popular. It ’ s constant pressure. ”
“ Why bother? Popularity is overrated. All you need is one or two close friends and life can be pretty great, ” I said, thinking of Grace and Nic. “ Plus, you don ’ t have to bother worrying what everyone thinks of you all the time. ”
“ Hmm, ” Belinda replied, trying to swipe back the wine I took from her.
I held it out of reach. “ No more of this for you. Go drink something that won ’ t leave a permanent stain on my uncles ’ carpet. There ’ s plenty of vodka downstairs. ”
Belinda grumped. “ Fine. ” There was a pause as she eyed me. Then she asked, “ Why didn ’ t you ever tell Principal Wolf what I did to you? ”
At this, I shot her a sharp look. “ Because I planned on paying you back in my own way. ”
Her lips formed a thin line. “ I freaking knew you were planning something. ”
“ Well, don ’ t worry about it, ” I said. “ I ’ d rather call a truce than fight with you, Belinda. ” There were far bigger threats out there to deal with, especially if Vasilios had more up his sleeve, which I was convinced he did. I just didn ’ t know what it was yet.
Her eyebrows rose. “ Really? ”
I held out my hand. “ Uh-huh. How about it? ”
She hesitated a moment, then placed her hand in mine, and we shook. “ No more fighting? ”
“ No more fighting, ” I agreed and stood. “ Make sure you get a ride home with Liz. You ’ ve had way too much to drink. ”
I went into the bathroom to dispose of the red wine down the sink, then continued looking for Peter. I finally gave up when I couldn ’ t find him anywhere, deciding Sophia must ’ ve come to the party on her own. Needing some fresh air, I stepped out into the back garden and was greeted by a waft of smoke.
Peter stood in the dark, a cigarette in hand. His eyes met mine as the acrid scent hit my nose. He still looked like he hadn ’ t been getting enough sleep, and I itched to reach out and smooth the tension lines around his mouth, the one right between his eyebrows. I wanted to pull him into my arms and let him melt into me as he had during the night of the storm.
His attention ran up my legs, but unlike Nic ’ s polite perusal, Peter ’ s focus lingered for a long moment before travelling further up my body. Butterflies invaded my stomach. I watched as he let out a gruff breath then brought his gaze to mine once more. Longing and frustration etched his features, though I had a feeling I wasn ’ t the entire source of the latter.
“ Hey, ” I said, coming to stand next to him.
“ Darya. ” His gaze was tender, and the way he said my name made me shiver.
“ I haven ’ t seen you in a few days, ” I went on, casting him a curious glance.
His eyes lowered as he lifted his hand, rubbing his temple with the side of his wrist.
“ I ’ ve been working, ” he replied, and I nodded.
“ I thought as much. ”
I watched as he brought the cigarette to his mouth and inhaled. I realised that the last time I saw him smoking was New Years ’ Eve, the night he ’ d been hanging out in the dark by the harbour.
Several moments of silence fell before I asked, “ Why are you smoking? ”
He glanced down at the cigarette in his hand. “ It ’ s just something I do when I ’ m stressed. ”
“ Were you stressed on New Year ’ s Eve? ”
“ I ’ m always stressed when I have to spend an extended amount of time with my parents. ”
“ And why are you stressed tonight? ” I whispered.
He stared at the ground for a beat. “ I told my dad I wouldn ’ t work at Indigo anymore. ”
“ You did? What did he say? ”
“ All the usual crap. How I ’ m a waste of space, and that I ’ ll be putting the family in financial stress if I don ’ t keep working for free, the same old guilt-trip he always pulls. ”
Well, that was infuriating, considering he wasn ’ t even living with them anymore. I certainly understood why he needed the cigarette. I took a step towards him but stopped just shy of touching him. “ He has no right to talk to you like that, and it ’ s not your responsibility to care for your family. Your parents are both able-bodied and capable of working at the store. They just got lazy when they had you to do it for them. ”
Some of the tension lifted from his features. “ I know that. It doesn ’ t even make sense, but I still feel guilty. ”
I briefly touched his shoulder. “ Well, stop it. They made you homeless, Peter. You have nothing to feel guilty about. There comes a time when you need to look out for yourself. ”
He heaved a sigh. “ At least now I can work more hours on Clay ’ s market stall. That way, I can save up for a place of my own and send some money to my brothers. ”
“ Yeah, at least there ’ s that, ” I said and took a sip of my cocktail.
Peter eyed it. “ What are you drinking? ”
“ Some concoction Grace made. It ’ s not too bad. ”
He reached out. “ Let me try it. ”
I handed him the glass. He took a sip, and something warm and lovely filled my stomach when his mouth touched the rim where my lips had just been. Peter winced slightly.
“ So, it ’ s a little bit sour, ” I allowed and caught the beginnings of a smile curve his lips. My butterflies increased.
Peter handed me back the cocktail and took another drag of his smoke. It was quiet out there, both of us staring at the trees and bushes that crowded the end of the garden, providing privacy from the house behind it. “ I ’ ve missed you, ” I said in a quiet voice.
He tilted his head, those handsome brown eyes shifting to me. “ Missed you, too. ” His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied me. “ Are you sick? ” he asked, taking me off guard.
“ No. Why do you ask? ”
He flicked away his cigarette and stubbed it out with his shoe, then took a step closer. I inhaled sharply when his hand clasped my neck before sliding up to cup my jaw as he backed me against the wall of Grace ’ s house. The way he intensely studied me gave me pleasant chills down my spine. “ You look pale. Have you eaten today? ”
My heart practically shimmered at his touch. I blinked and tried to focus on the question. Suddenly, I realised what he was seeing. “ Yes, ” I replied. “ I have eaten, but I haven ’ t had blood in a while, and with Angela still recovering from the attack, I need to find a new blood donor. My parents have been busy with the investigation, so I ’ m just waiting for everything to settle down before I talk to them about it. ”
Peter frowned. “ Why do you need to talk to your parents about it? ”
I waved a hand in the air, trying to act casual even though my heart was pounding with him so close. “ There ’ s a whole process that needs to be followed. First, you have to put the call out. Then, you need to interview prospective donors and decide which one best suits your needs. It ’ s very involved, and I haven ’ t had the energy to think about it. ”
“ Feed from me then. ”
I blinked at him. It was all I could do to keep my fangs from sliding out. The thought of biting Peter was like every fantasy I ’ d ever had rolled into one.
“ P-pardon? ” I stammered.
“ You can feed from me this one time. It ’ ll tide you over until you can find a new donor. ”
He said it like it was as simple as sharing a meal with me. He had no idea how complicated giving blood was, how emotions and desire could get all tangled up in it. I shook my head, pulse pounding, my eyes instinctively going to the thick vein in his neck. “ I can ’ t. There are rules. ”
Peter ’ s throat bobbed as he swallowed, and I wondered if he wanted it just as much as I did. “ I won ’ t tell anyone. It ’ ll be our secret. ”
I stared into his eyes and saw how large his pupils had grown. There was nothing I wanted more than to taste his blood. I was light-headed just thinking about it. Light-headed and turned on and ravenously hungry. I licked my lips, and his eyes lowered to my mouth.
“ Where would we even do it? ” I asked, almost drunk on the idea.
“ There ’ s no one here right now, ” he said.
“ We can ’ t do it here. Anyone could walk out. ”
“ Then I ’ ll take us somewhere more private. ”
Say no, Darya. It will only overcomplicate things.
“ Okay, ” I breathed, ignoring the voice of reason in my head. Just like that, I was swept away into a cloud of mist. Peter ’ s teleportation magic had a distinct smell, like the smoke from a fire in the woods that a heavy downpour had just put out. I was standing in the reading nook at the library in St. Bastian ’ s a moment later. There was no storm tonight, no sounds of rain bashing against glass. Only peaceful silence. The remote location of the school meant there was little light pollution, and when you peered out the window, a galaxy of stars looked back.
I was distracted by the view when a hand came around my waist, pulling me back into a firm body. Peter swept my hair to one side of my neck and bent down to whisper in my ear, “ I can ’ t stop thinking about that dream. ”
“ I ’ m not entirely sure it was a dream, ” I said, trembling when his nose touched my ear.
“ Fuck, ” he rasped, his hand spread out across my stomach. “ I ’ m not sure it was a dream either. ”
I closed my eyes, savouring his touch.
“ How are we going to do this? ” The rumble of his voice activated all my pleasure centres. I turned in his arms, opening my eyes as I placed both my hands on his chest. Not dropping his gaze, I pushed him gently until the backs of his knees met the cushioned bench. I motioned for him to sit. He did, and my breath caught when he gazed up at me with hooded eyes.
Never in my life had I been so eager to drink someone ’ s blood.
My nipples tightened as I climbed astride him. Peter ’ s hands went instinctively to my hips, a low rumble in his throat as he ran them up to my ribs. My short dress was hitched even higher, but thankfully, it was still covering my underwear. Peter fell back and closed his eyes, tilting his neck slightly to the side as though offering himself to me. It was all I could do not to claim him right there and then.
Sometimes it felt like Peter was beautiful in a way only I could see. Others might view him as this shaggy-haired, silent boy with a slightly crooked nose who hadn ’ t yet fully grown into himself. But not to me. To me, he was perfect.
I leaned forward and pressed my mouth to his bared neck, his pulse fluttering against my lips. It was at that exact moment that I felt him harden against me. “ Darya, I — "
“ Hush, it ’ s fine, ” I murmured, inhaling deeply. My fangs extended, and Peter opened his eyes. He stared at my fangs with a mixture of arousal and fascination. There was also a tiny edge of fear. I felt powerful at that moment, in control, and the predator that lived deep in my blood adored having Peter Girard beneath me, offering himself up.
Normally, I didn ’ t prolong this part. I got the feeding over and done with as quickly as possible. But with Peter, I wanted to slow everything down, experience every second. I scraped the tips of my fangs along his neck, a feeling of triumph running through me when he shuddered. His hands gripped tightly to my hips, eyes searching mine when I pulled back my head.
My hunger reached a peak, and if I didn ’ t feed now, I feared I might lose control entirely. I inhaled one final sharp breath. I knew this was a one-off, and that made everything so much more heightened. After that night, I ’ d never again taste the blood of the person I desired the most. I needed to make this moment count.
I licked a line across Peter ’ s pulse point then bit down hard. He groaned the moment my fangs pierced his skin. I wanted to absorb the sound. His erection prodded against me as his hot blood met my tongue. I ’ d never drunk anything so intoxicating. Peter ’ s blood held notes and intricacies I hadn ’ t tasted before. Perhaps it was the intensity of his magic, or maybe it was merely him. His blood tasted like the finest wine because of what he meant to me, who he was to me.
Try as I might to ignore the feelings that had been building ever since the spell went wrong that night at Indigo, they persisted. The fact of the matter was I ’ d been falling for him for weeks, and I couldn ’ t stand the thought of him not feeling the same way.
I drank deeper than I normally did, mainly because I ’ d gone longer than normal without feeding. By rights, Peter ’ s survival instincts should ’ ve kicked in, but he was deep into it, too. His arousal clouded the fact that I was taking too much from him, and the chemicals released from my bite were giving him a high too blissful to want to stop.
I felt his blood in every inch of me, igniting my veins. I wanted to bathe in it, drown in him, and never, ever come up for air. I took one last gulp then forced myself to release him. My fangs snapped back, a trickle of blood rolling down my chin as I drew on every last ounce of willpower to stop feeding.
“ Don ’ t stop, ” Peter urged, pulling me back to him.
