Void(24)

Despite that, I couldn’t deny that Thibault was a beautiful school. It had both antique furnishings and modern elements. The classrooms were an open concept with bright, tinted windows allowing lots of sunlight through, but still offering protection from the sun for any weaker vampires. Only the more powerful ones could withstand its rays. A guy bumped into me as I walked, sending my amulet into a frenzy of buzzing need. Rubbing my shoulder where he hit, I kept my head down, even as he apologized, and quickly kept going. There was no way I’d survive this without draining someone. I was nervous about testing the strength of my amulet, and even more nervous about Headmaster Torne’s threat.

Quade caught up, shooting me an irritated look, and then opened the back door that led to the outside. Of course, the asshole didn’t bother to keep it open for me. I shoved a hand against it before it could close in my face, walking out behind him. Outside, tall trees towered over us and spots of sunlight kissed the grass through breaks in the branches. There was a worn path where footsteps had flattened the plush grass. Quade led me down it, and now that I was out of the crowded halls, it felt like I could breathe again.

“I’m assuming they’ll want you to start classes tomorrow,” Quade called over his shoulder. “Although I’m not sure where they’ll even put you. It’s not like you can actually sit in class with the other students.” He chuckled like this amused him and kept walking, the school disappearing behind us in the distance.

Just how far away was this “feral cabin” anyways?

“The cabin Torne put you in is meant for shifters that lose control of their animals. Not the best accommodations, but you’ve been living with humans so you’re used to squalor,” he droned on.

“Humans aren’t squalor,” I snapped. “And you didn’t used to think so when we were kids. That’s your parents talking.”

Quade’s shoulders tensed, and to my surprise, he nodded tersely. “You’re right.”

I was so shocked, a freaking twig could’ve knocked me over.

As we got further away from the school, the grass turned unkempt, and the path started curving around trees.

I tried my best not to watch Quade as he walked in front of me, but no matter how much I inwardly chastised myself, my eyes kept rising up. His arms swung easily at his sides, and I could see impressive muscles in his back with every step. He’d been a cute kid, those dark brown eyes and dark skin always striking, but now that he’d grown into himself, cute was the very last word I’d ever associate him with. He was an ideal specimen of masculinity and charm. He was the perfect boyfriend that you wanted to bring home to mom and dad. The one who had the accomplished career and would dote on his lover with practiced charisma. But behind all of that perfection was something darker inside of him, and I had a feeling I was one of the only people who’d ever seen it.

When we were little, I’d had the biggest crush on him. It wasn’t a surprise, really. His parents and my mother were always pushing us together, even back then. But despite how much I idolized him, he’d always tried to best me, and that still hadn’t changed. We were still competing, even though I’d thrown in the towel years ago. And he was going to win, no doubt about it. I just wished he didn’t have to look so damn good while he trampled me.

“Are you going to walk behind me and stare at my ass the entire time?” he asked over his shoulder. I could have kicked myself for being so damn transparent and getting caught.

“Are you going to start walking backward?” I quipped before speeding up to get closer to him. I didn’t want to be tempted any more than he wanted to be out here with me.

“Ha. Ha. Ha. You always were the clever one,” he replied in a bored tone before brushing his hands along the bark of a tree, causing the moss to light up.

I nearly toppled over from the compliment. “Clever? Yeah, right. Mother always compared me to you. I never measured up, never will.”

I wasn’t expecting to be so honest about a disappointment I’d been harboring, but the words just spilled from my lips like acid. Quade stopped mid-stride and spun around to face me, making my steps stop short. “You sound jealous, Dev,” he said, a certain surprise to his voice.

I rolled my eyes, deciding not to give in to the bait and admit that yeah, I was jealous. I craved the relationship he had with my own flesh and blood. “You wish,” I lied.

Quade cocked a black brow but then turned and started walking again, this time matching his stride with mine. We walked side by side, and his knuckles brushed across mine, causing a spike of electricity and hunger to travel up my spine. My amulet started glowing, and I quickly crossed my arms over my chest to stop from bumping into him again.

Quade’s eyes flashed down at my necklace. “Maybe instead of wasting all that energy on being jealous, you should actually try to control your power.”

I gaped at him. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Maybe you wouldn’t have to be exiled away with the humans if you’d put a little effort into your abilities. You probably could have learned about this new side to your power if you’d have put the work in. Honestly, Dev, it’s a little sad that you just gave up the way you did.”

Anger started simmering inside of me as his words soaked in. I couldn’t believe he, of all people, would say that to me.

I stepped in front of him, blocking his way and forcing him to stop walking. “I did not give up. I was thrown away by my own mother!” I said heatedly. “All because she came in and kissed me before bed like she’d done every single night of my life. My Void came out on its own, without my control. I couldn’t stop it, no matter how hard I tried.”