Nightworld Academy: Term One(Nightworld Academy #1)(61)

"Very impressive," I say hoarsely.

He looks at my mouth and when his long fingers reach out for my lips my breath hitches. A finger touches the corner and he drags his thumb downwards. I'm frozen. Unsure what to do—what he'll do. If he couldn't hear my heart before, I swear he will now.

The annoying grin pulls one corner of his mouth up and he holds his finger in front of my face. "You know, it's hard to be an intimidating, jealous girlfriend with icing smeared around your face like a five-year-old."

Heat floods my cheeks as he wipes his thumb, covered in orange icing, on his jeans.

"Don't be embarrassed."

"I'm not." I wipe the back of my hand across my mouth in case there's more.

"Why the pink cheeks, then? Unless there's another reason?" His gaze dips to my lips again and then back to my eyes.

"Are you suggesting I'm attracted to you?" I retort and break free from his control.

"Yes."

"Wow. Arrogant much?"

"Wow. Indecisive much?"

I blink at him. "What the hell does that mean?"

He shrugs. "I don't mind sharing with the other guys. Have you kissed one yet?"

He focuses on my mouth again and bites his lip.

"Omigod! I am not having this conversation with you. Come with me. Now." I attempt an assertive tone as I turn and walk away from him but curse myself as my voice wavers.

"Yes, ma'am." He snickers.

As I storm away, my head spins and blood runs hot. What does Andrei mean? I'm not teasing anybody. Ash and Jamie are friends, and I don’t feel any different about them than I do with Amelia.

Which is a lie. The undercurrents are there, but I'm not the one holding back. Am I? They blow hot and cold with me, especially Jamie at the moment. If I allowed myself to get physically closer to one guy, would I lose the other's friendship?

I don't hear Andrei pad along behind me and catch up. "What if the story I told her was true?" he whispers.

His words arrest me, but Andrei keeps on walking.

"I'm headed outside for some fresh air," he calls. "Join me, if you like."

The door back to the party bangs closed behind him.





Chapter Thirty-Four





MAEVE



I follow but refuse to waste any more breath on Andrei. I'm confident he's not planning to attack anybody; he had the perfect chance before I arrived and left the girl alone. Plus, I'd rather not have any more conversation with Andrei. He's poked a sore spot and he'll win in a verbal sparring match because I'm disarmed.

Besides, I've more important concerns than an arrogant vampire.

I approach Ash who's still in his sentry position by the double doors between the main hall and entrance hallway. People must think he's security, because Ash looks and acts as if he is. A small group of girls I pass whisper and some steal glances at him. If only the music were quieter, and I could hear what they said.

"Have you seen anybody who could be him?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "Everybody is in costume. You said the man you saw wore normal clothes. I think he'll stand out if he does walk in."

I look behind Ash. The table where the tickets were sold is clear and only stragglers remain out here now the evening is in full swing. What if the guy doesn't come here? But I swear I saw him. I've never seen anything that didn't come true.

He scrunches his face up. "When you have a vision, do the events always happen?"

"Apart from the one I stopped, that's why I'm here."

Ash guides me back into the hallway and the music drops away as we move to one side. "No, I mean do the situations always come true. Will you definitely see him?"

I frown. "Are you asking me if my visions can be wrong?"

"Yes. No. I don't know, Maeve. You never actually saw anything happen to her. Maybe you wanted to be here, and that's why you imagined tonight?"

He says the words with softness and sympathy in his eyes, and my neck prickles with irritation. "Why did you come if you thought this was nothing?"

"I didn't think about it before, but now I'm here, I'm unsure. Maeve, I've waited here most of the evening, and I've not seen anybody matching his description." He huffs. "I don't mind standing around all night if it's for a reason, but I'd rather have spent time over there." Ash nods at the crowds.

I've enjoyed the evening, but hated that Ash felt the need to stay by the door all night. Even when Amelia offered to take his place, Ash refused. I've walked over to take him a drink and to chat several times and he didn't complain. Instead he was all smiles and jokes, looking at me in the confusing way he does sometimes. How does he feel about me? Andrei's words creep back in. Twice tonight he's hinted that I'm playing the two guys. I can't be. I'm not.

Look at Ash. Sometimes we seem close, others he seems to hold me at arm’s length and focus on his sport and team mates. If I saw him with other girls, I'd understand, but I don't. He laps up the attention when they flirt with him, but I've never seen him respond with more than a few jokes.

The guy doesn't need to. He has his pick but doesn't choose. I attempt to talk to Ash about his trips home or his brother, but he won't speak to me. Ash refuses to move on from everyday conversation to anything deeper. Does he with anybody? One thing is sure—Ash is an enigma I want to crack.