THE SETUP

ADRIAN

I almost killed someone this morning. That was what happened when I skipped feeding.

After surviving the meeting my mother forced me to sit through earlier and Marcus irritating me for most of the afternoon.

I needed blood.

By the time night settled over campus, the thirst crawling through my body had already become unbearable. My control felt thinner than usual, stretched to the edge in ways I hated.

That was why I came to West Hall.

Nobody used this side of campus anymore. It was quiet, empty, and far away from people. Perfect place to regain control before I accidentally ripped someone apart for looking at me too long. I pushed open the old room door and exhaled slowly.

Dark room, cold air, peace. I loosened the collar of my black shirt slightly, irritation already sitting heavily in my chest. I pulled my shirt over my head, trying to cool the burning under my skin.

This was getting worse. Usually I could control it. Usually, but ever since that girl…

Footsteps echoed outside, which made me freeze instantly. It was a familiar heartbeat. My jaw tightened immediately.

No.

The door suddenly opened, and there she was.

Elena Carter.

For one dangerous second, every instinct inside me sharpened violently. The warm and sweet scent hit me immediately, burning my throat.

Elena blinked in surprise the moment she saw me standing there.

“Adrian?”

I couldn't answer because she smelled even stronger tonight.

“What are you doing here?” she asked slowly.

I stared at her.

Dark jeans, grey hoodie with a confused expression. Completely unaware she had just walked into the worst possible place she could be.

“What are you doing here?” I asked finally.

“I got called for a scholarship review.” She frowned slightly. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Because your heartbeat is driving me insane. Instead, I looked away sharply and forced air into my lungs.

“Leave.”

Her brows pulled together immediately.

“What?”

“You shouldn’t be here.”

“I literally got a message from Chloe saying—”

“I don’t care about what Chloe said.” My voice came out harsher than intended. “Leave.”

She stared at me like I was the unreasonable one.

“I’m not leaving until someone explains what this place is.”

God.

Humans and their need for explanations.

I could hear her heartbeat clearly now. Every pulse beneath her skin scraped against my control.

Elena took a cautious step closer.

“Are you okay?”

Very bad question.

I shut my eyes briefly.

“No.”

The honesty seemed to surprise her.

“You look pale,” she said quietly.

If only she knew.

She took another step closer, which made her scent unbearable. I opened my eyes immediately.

“Stop moving.”

That finally made her pause, with confusion flashing across her face.

“Adrian—”

“Get out.”

Something in my voice must have reached her this time because her expression shifted slightly.

“You’re scaring me,” she admitted softly.

Good. She should be scared because I was dangerously close to losing control completely. Elena slowly stepped backward toward the door.

Then her foot caught against one of the old chair legs behind her. Everything happened too fast after that. She stumbled backward with a startled sound, balance slipping instantly and instinct took over before thought could.

I moved.

One second she was falling and the next, I caught her. My arm wrapped around her waist as I pulled her against me before she hit the floor. Her body collided against mine hard enough to knock the air from her lungs, and suddenly she was way too close. Her heartbeat exploded beneath my hands.

My grip tightened automatically. The scent of her blood filled my head so violently that my vision blurred for a second. I could feel that warm blood beneath her skin.

Elena looked up at me, breathing unevenly.

“Adrian…”

I barely heard her. All I could focus on was the pulse beating wildly at the side of her neck.

One bite.

That was all it would take.

My fangs ached painfully, my control snapped dangerously. I lowered my head instinctively.

Elena stiffened immediately.

“Wait—”

That single word dragged me back just enough. She pushed against my chest suddenly, trying to pull away from me, which was a wrong move.

The sudden shift threw both of us off balance. We crashed onto the floor hard enough to shake the old room, but before she could hit the ground, I twisted quickly, taking the impact instead.

Elena landed on top of me in an awkward position. Her hands pressed against my bare chest. My arm still around her waist. Her hair falling around both of us.

To anyone looking...Shit.

A camera flash exploded somewhere outside the room. Elena gasped sharply.

Another flash, then another. I shut my eyes briefly.

Of course.

That explained everything; this wasn’t random; it was a setup. Elena looked completely lost as she asked.

“What is happening?”

I looked toward the hallway; someone was recording. I exhaled slowly through my irritation, then looked back at her.

“Get up.”

She immediately pushed herself off me.

I stood quickly after her, fighting to regain control over both my hunger and my temper. Elena stared at me nervously now.

Her eyes moved toward mine and widened slightly.

Right, my eyes.

I looked away before she could see too much.

“What’s wrong with your eyes?” she whispered.

I ignored the question.

“Run.”

“What?”

“Now, Elena or you won't like what I'll do to you.”

The fear in her expression deepened instantly. Maybe fear would make her listen. She hesitated only a second this time before turning and rushing out of the room.

I listened until her footsteps disappeared down the corridor. Only then did I finally speak.

“You can come out now.”

Silence, then slow clapping echoed through the hallway.

Chloe Whitmore stepped into view holding her phone casually in one hand. She looked entirely too pleased with herself.

“Well,” she said smoothly, “that turned out better than expected.”

I stared at her coldly.

“You did this.”

“I arranged a situation,” she corrected lightly. “What happened after that was entirely your fault.”

My jaw tightened.

Chloe glanced toward the hallway Elena disappeared through.

“I honestly wasn’t expecting you to be here tonight,” she admitted. “But I suppose this works even better.”

I stepped closer slowly.

“Why are you here?”

She smiled faintly.

“Does it matter?”

No, not really.

I could still smell blood, still feel the thirst tearing through me. Chloe noticed my hunger immediately.

Her expression softened slightly.

“You look worse than usual,” Chloe said softly. When was the last time you fed?”

I said nothing.

She slowly placed her phone down on one of the desks nearby before unbuttoning the top of her blouse casually.

“You know,” she said quietly, “you really should feed before losing control around humans.”

I looked away sharply.

“Leave.”

Instead, Chloe stepped closer.

“You know I don’t mind.”

My control was already hanging by a thread, and she knew it.

That was the worst part.

Chloe tilted her head slightly, exposing her neck.

“Go on,” she whispered.

The thirst won, and somewhere in the back of my mind, I realized Elena Carter had just become a very dangerous problem.