Bryce was next to her in a second, and flipped her over his shoulder. She landed with a thud, but scissor-kicked her legs and was standing instantly. She knelt and punched him in the gut, which caused him to double over. Ree was shocked when Jules laughed at him and threw a knee toward his head. He knocked it away and threw her to the mat, where he pinned her.

“I told you to not take it easy on me.” Jules laughed. Bryce growled at her and started to get up but she pulled him back down, distracting him with a kiss. Ree looked away, not wanting to intrude on their moment.

“Get a room, guys,” Paden said from behind her. Ree snorted before turning to smile at him. His eyes were relaxed and a grin slowly spread across his face.

“You'd think kissing the same person would get old,” Ree joked.

“Not if it's the right person.” His eyes were serious, even though he was still smiling. She looked away from him, not wanting to think about what that might mean. Roland was nowhere to be seen, and the clock on the wall said she had been working out for several hours. She still needed to work with Sophie tonight, and that was going to be exhausting.

“Where did Roland go?” she asked while grabbing a towel to wipe off her face.

“I think he said something about finding Sophie. Why?” Suspicion laced Paden’s voice and rankled along her skin. Ree shrugged and laid the towel over her shoulder.

“I just noticed he was gone. Want to grab some food before my next practice session?” She nodded toward the door, trying not to notice that Jules and Bryce were still wrapped around each other. Weylin and Melanie were working on the other side of the room, so it left Paden with nothing to do.

“Sure.” He grabbed a towel and followed her out of the room.

They moved through the giant house and headed for the kitchen. Paden grabbed her shoulder as they neared the office and motioned for her to be quiet. She raised her eyebrows in question, but he just tilted his head toward the open door. She got as close as possible, careful to be silent. She had to concentrate at first to be able to hear, but then she realized it was just Roland and Sophie talking. She gave Paden an annoyed look and started to walk into the room, but he motioned for her to stay where she was and listen.

“It has been almost two weeks,” Sophie said quietly. Ree cocked her head to try and hear better.

“I can wait a little longer,” Roland said.

Ree heard someone moving, and Sophie's voice seemed to get closer.

“We can't take that chance. I can see the hunger in your eyes, and you need to be in peak form at all times.”

“And where does that leave you?” Roland was angry, his frustration washed out of the room in waves.

Ree shifted further away from the door and bumped into Paden’s chest. He put a hand on her waist to steady her and to keep her from moving again. She looked up, and there was a dark look twisting his features.

“I’ll be fine. You have to enroll at school with her on Monday. She can't be alone, especially with the Half Bloods running around. You need to feed,” Sophie said.

Ree shook her head in irritation. Not only did she have five Guardians attuned to her emotions, she was going to be shadowed by Roland? She would never be able to fly under the radar with him tagging along. She would be lucky if the other girls in the school didn’t lynch her for simply knowing him. People would never understand why someone like Roland would be spending time with her, a lowly art nerd. It was strange enough that the others treated her like a normal person. Everyone else seemed to think that she was damaged goods.

“Ah, school. That should be fun,” Roland sighed.

“Stop whining. You know why it has to be you. I look too old to do it.”

“Yes, lucky me. Stuck at nineteen for eternity.” A deep sigh seeped from him. “But I agree. She can’t go to school alone. Even with the others, she needs more security.”

“Let’s do this before they start looking for you,” Sophie sounded agitated.

“At least let me –” Roland began, but she cut him off.

“No. If you use your pheromones I will stop letting you feed from me.” Sophie’s voice rose in anger and it sounded as if she had thrown something down on her desk. Ree’s head jerked backwards, hitting Paden’s chest. She had never heard Sophie so angry. And Roland was going to drink from Sophie?

“It has been a century. We can’t be sure she is Tria.”

Ree’s eyebrows drew together in confusion. Who was Tria?

“She was my sister, and I will not make this easy on either of us. Do it!” Sophie’s voice, again.

Paden rushed past Ree and into the room, but she was right on his heels. When she rounded the corner, it was just in time to see Roland strike. His fangs sank into Sophie's left wrist, and she fell to her knees, her eyes closed in pain. Roland looked up at them through heavily lidded eyes that were a shiny, bright, nearly glowing blue. She realized they were swirling with Sophie's magic.

“Let go of her,” Paden said angrily.

“No.” Pain and frustration laced through Sophie’s voice. “Has to feed.”

“I thought he drank blood from bags!”

“Needs immortal blood. Faster, stronger.” Sophie started to look ashen, and Roland slowed down. His eyes were on Ree the entire time his mouth gulped from the Guardian’s wrist.

“Enough,” Ree said. “You've had enough.”

Roland pulled back, his fangs glinting with red blood. He closed his mouth and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His eyes continued to swirl for a little longer as Sophie’s magic worked through his body. He didn't try to apologize or make excuses for what he was doing. Instead, he went and sat on the couch, his head leaning forward as if he was thinking.

Ree helped Sophie to her feet and moved her to the leather desk chair. “Do you need anything?” she asked.

“Some juice, please.”

Ree grabbed a bottle of orange juice out of the small cooler hidden in the book shelf and brought it to the older woman. Sophie looked very weak, so she twisted the cap off before handing it to her. The Guardian drained half the bottle and leaned back in her chair. There was an uneasy silence in the room as everyone was lost in their own thoughts. Ree glanced at Paden; his face was impassive as he looked from Roland to Sophie, then Ree. His eyes stayed on her the longest, and she could almost feel his thoughts percolating around in his brain. He was disgusted by Roland, worried about Sophie, and wishing he could take Ree away from it all.

“Does it always hurt like that? When a Dark One drinks from someone?” Ree asked. She could taste bile in the back of her mouth, but swallowed and focused on Roland. She needed to know as much as possible, and she was starting to believe that if she didn't ask they would never tell her.

“No,” Roland said angrily. “It doesn’t have to hurt. It can even be pleasant if she would let me make it so.”

“Roland,” Sophie said sharply. Her eyes were angry, but there was a shadow under them that killed the severity. With a pained look, she glanced at Ree and then back to Roland. “Please, don’t do this.”

“She asked, and I am inclined to answer,” Roland replied. He got up and walked toward Ree, his eyes dark and intense. “Most victims want to be bitten. They beg for their life to be drained from them.” He circled behind Ree, his voice raising goose bumps along her skin. She turned to watch him and heard Paden growl. She had asked Roland to tell her because she wanted to know. Needed to know.

“There are gifts that come with being a Dark One. When we are hungry, when we hunt, our body releases pheromones that attract victims. We can walk into a room, and there will be a dozen willing meals.” He leaned in toward her and she shivered. Without thought her body moved closer to him and his lips curved up in a small smile. “We are attractive, we are deadly, and people want us. They want us beyond reason.” He toyed with the ends of her hair, and she closed her eyes. It felt good to have his hands on her, even if it was just her hair.

“Right now, you feel it. The desire to give me whatever I might want,” he whispered, pressing his body against Ree’s. Her breathing grew heavy as her body ached for more attention.

“Leave her alone.” Paden's voice was deep and husky. She could hear the clipped words that meant his fangs were descended. Knowing he was watching snapped her out of the haze she was under. She opened her eyes and looked at Roland. There was so much hiding behind the blue of his eyes: anger, excitement, pain and longing, all battling to take control. She took a step back, sucking in a deep breath.

“That is how it begins. Only it gets better, so much better once we bite you. There is no fight, unless the Dark One wants you to fight.” He looked away from her. “But believe me, most of them like a good fight.”

He moved toward the other side of the room, and she sucked in another lungful of air. With each new breath she became more ashamed of her reaction.

“You could have just told me,” she snapped at Roland, embarrassed. It was his fault she had acted like a drunken coed.

“A picture is worth a thousand words,” Roland said quietly. “You can't really understand the power they have unless you experience it.”

She shook her head, not willing to accept that answer. Paden had moved up behind her and laid a hand on her shoulder. She shook it off, not willing to let him act possessive. He had no right to act like he was her brother or boyfriend. After all, he had made it apparent he only cared for her because of a promise. She took a step toward Roland and pointed a finger at him.

“Don't ever do that again,” she said.

“Scout’s honor.” He crossed his heart, then smiled. “Unless you ask me to.”

She shook her head, too angry to say anything else to him. Instead she turned toward Sophie and asked the question she thought Sophie had been avoiding.

“Why won't you let him use the pheromones if you want to feed him?”

“I will not feel that way about him,” she said shortly. “I will not betray my sister in that manner.”

“Your sister?” Ree asked, confused.

“They were intended,” Sophie said.

Paden and Ree both turned to look at Roland, but he was gone.

Chapter 25

Ree scooted her stool closer to the kitchen island and used her fingertip to pick up the chip crumbs on her plate. Paden threw the butter knife he was using into the sink and closed the mayonnaise jar. He dropped onto the stool next to her and took a big bite out of his sandwich before snagging the pickle off of her plate.

“They turned her intended into a Dark One?” Ree said for the twentieth time. It was horrible to think of how that long-ago girl must have felt. One moment they were going to be married, the next he was trying to suck her life away. Had he been so in love with that previous Alastriana that even being changed hadn't killed his feelings?

“At least you don't have to worry about that with any of us,” Paden said between bites.

“What do you mean?” Curiosity made her turn to face him. Soft shadows highlighted the planes of his face as he finished chewing a mouthful of sandwich.

“They can't turn a Guardian. Once the change was ignited it meant we couldn't become a Dark One.”

“What about before the change?” Spinning her plate around with her finger, she tried to not look nervous.

“Well, they’re attracted to the people that have the gene, but they usually just drain them.” Shrugging, he took another bite of his lunch.

“How do you know that?” Ree stood up and put her plate in the sink. “I know nothing. No one tells me anything.”

“Well, I guess they think you have other things to worry about.”

“I have everything to worry about.” Leaning on the counter, she picked at the edge of her shirt. She swallowed the lump in her throat when she thought about everyone being put in danger. She couldn't stand that it was because of her.

“Hey,” Paden moved toward her and squeezed her shoulder. “It isn't your fault we're in this mess.” She shrugged his hand off and turned away from him. “Please don't do that.”

“Do what?”

She wiped her nose on her sleeve and hoped her voice didn't sound hoarse. His hand touched her shoulder again and gently turned her toward him.

“Don't shrug me away.” His eyes were dark and serious. “I know you’re mad at me, but don't push me away.”

“You know what? Just stop, Paden. There is no reason to pretend I am anything other than an obligation to you. You made it clear you’re only my friend because you made a promise to Tristan. I get it. That doesn't mean you have to tell me everything is going to be okay.” She started to turn away again, but he tightened his grip on her.

“I didn't say that was the only reason I was your friend. I just…” He looked down and then back into her eyes. “I thought you understood. If I care too much, then I can't take care of you like a sister.” He swallowed but didn't look away.

Sniffing, she looked up at him with confusion in her eyes.

He sighed and smiled a little. “Ree, you are so beautiful. Do you know that? It makes it impossible to think of you as I should. But I’m trying to keep my promise. I'm supposed to take care of you like a sister. I don't think Tristan would appreciate it if I did what I want to do.” His cheeks colored a little, and he looked down at the ground. “God, I'm so lame.”

“What makes you think his sister would appreciate it?” His face looked horrified, so she smiled to let him in on the joke. “Really, you think I’m beautiful?”

“Very.” His fingers were gentle as they brushed the hair out of her eyes and lingered on her cheek. Unconsciously she leaned into his hand and sighed. Several moments passed while they stood like that, still and lost in their thoughts. Carefully, she raised her hand and laced her fingers through his. Leaning down he rested his forehead against hers, and her heart thumped in her chest. A small smile played along his lips and she blushed.

“You can hear that, can't you?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Not fair,” she whispered. Lifting their entwined hands, he placed her palm on his chest. The warmth of him flowed up her arm, leaving a wave of heat behind. Standing very still, blood rushing in her ears, she could feel his heart beating under her fingers. When she shifted closer to him the rhythm spiked, and it was her turn to smile. “I thought you were convinced I was just a kid.”

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