“Your turn,” Zeda said to Lucian after they finished eating. “Tell me about you. What have you been up to?”“Nothing much. I’m an only child,” he said.“Me too,” Zeda smiled.“Don’t you think we share a lot in common?” Lucian asked with a dark look in his eyes.“I guess so,” she replied with a shy smile.“What do you want to know about me, love?” he asked, leaning forward with a charming smile.“A lot. But I’m most curious about why you don’t go on missions with the other princes, even in the mixed team, like I heard.”Lucian immediately stiffened, his smile disappearing. Zeda instantly regretted her words. Carrie had told her this was something he never talked about. Lucian leaned back and poured himself a glass of wine, downing it all at once. She was about to tell him to forget it, but he cleared his throat, and she waited.“I don’t go on missions because I don’t want to reveal my true self,” he said.“Why not?” Zeda asked.“Because I’m a monster on the inside, and I’m afraid I wo
Zeda held Lucian tightly as he rode away from the department, her mind buzzing with excitement and anticipation. This was her first date since arriving at Shadowbrook, and it was with a guy who made her heart flutter every time he looked at her.But a knot of worry sat in her stomach, a feeling she couldn't ignore.He's a playboy. He never gets serious.Carrie’s warning echoed in her head. She knew her roommate was just looking out for her, but Zeda wanted to find out for herself. She had always trusted her gut, and it was telling her there was more to Lucian than a "fallen angel" with a fan club. She rested her head on his back and took a deep breath. She would go on this date and get to know the real him. Was she making the right or wrong decision? She didn’t know, but she would find out soon enough.Lucian parked in front of the same restaurant she had eaten at on her first day. It took her a moment to remember it was also the first place they had met.“Here again?” Zeda asked
Mr. Carl’s phone rang, and he yelled, "Cut!" to answer it.The spell was broken. Zeda quickly pulled away from Vyr, her cheeks burning.Vyr turned away just as quickly, his mind reeling. He realized he wasn't just acting that scene.He had genuinely wanted to kiss her. He had wanted to know what she tasted like, the feel of her lips on his. He gritted his teeth at the thought. Zeda was going to be his weakness if he kept thinking of her this way, and he couldn't afford a weakness. He put on a blank expression, as if he hadn't wanted to make everyone disappear and kiss her for as long as he liked. As if he hadn't felt a strange vulnerability with her in his arms for the first time in his life."Alright, guys, we'll call it a wrap for today. I have an emergency to attend to," Mr. Carl said, ending the call.Zeda watched Vyr return to his seat, his hands in his jeans pockets. He didn’t even spare her a glance, as if nothing intimate had almost happened between them. A slice of hurt cr
Zeda was forty-five minutes late when she got to the theater.The room fell silent as she walked in and she felt every crew member's eyes on her, judging her."The star of the show has arrived," Rylan said with a crooked smile, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Beside him, Draven chuckled.Vyr was between them, his black T-shirt hugging his lean, muscular body. He glared at Zeda when their eyes met, a dangerous glint in his red eyes.“Where have you been, kid?” he demanded. “You just wasted an hour of my time.”Zeda ignored him and began walking towards Mr. Carl, who looked the most calm about her lateness.In a split second, Vyr was in front of her, his movement a blur. She gasped and took a step back, amazed by how fast he was.“When I ask you a question, you answer me,” he said, his red eyes now glowing. “I’m not one to be ignored.”Zeda swallowed hard. She knew his vampire was close to the surface, but she wouldn’t cower or show him how afraid he made her.“I don’t answer to anyone
Zeda ended the call with Lucian, her cheeks warm and her heart fluttering. She realized how much she had missed him and how eager she had been to hear his voice.“Was that Lucian?” Carrie asked. She had been watching her closely.“Yeah, he asked if we could hang out tomorrow,” Zeda replied, trying to hide her excitement.Carrie’s eyes widened. “Really? Like a date?”“I don’t know, maybe,” Zeda shrugged. “I told him I have a busy day. I have to get my schedule from Adrian and then go to rehearsal with the crew.”“And what did he say?” Carrie probed, leaning forward.“He said he’d wait until I was done and then pick me up from the theater,” Zeda replied.Carrie’s mouth formed a small “oh.” She sounded skeptical. “He seems desperate to see you, but I’m not saying you should read too much into it.”“I understand,” Zeda said. “I’ll just see him and figure out what he wants.”The next morning, Zeda stared at her wardrobe, frustrated.“I can’t wear my uniform today since he’ll pick me up fro
I’M NOT YOUR PET, Zeda texted back, her fingers flying across the screen.A reply came instantly, a winky-face emoji attached. WE’LL SEE ABOUT THAT.Zeda gritted her teeth. WHO ARE YOU?PRINCE TORVIN, SAVE UP.AND IF I DON’T?YOU’LL END UP WISHING YOU DID.The threat made a shiver run down her spine. She saved his contact as "Manipulative Bastard.""Congrats, Zeda, you're the talk of the academy," Carrie said as Zeda walked into their room and flopped onto her bed.Zeda wasn't surprised. The videos of her run-ins with Vyr and Torvin were all over the internet. "I guess I'm screwed," she muttered."Maybe," Carrie sighed. "Torvin isn't someone who lets things go easily. He always gets what he wants. And Vyr, well, you're the first person to openly challenge him. I have no idea what he has planned for you.""But none of it was my fault. I didn't mean to break Torvin's car window, and Vyr was being a jerk," Zeda said."Tell me everything. The videos only show the middle of the action," Ca