Void(40)

I walked out of the coat closet, making my way back into the ballroom. I kept my head down, hoping to blend in. I still hadn’t spotted Judge Braxton or the headmaster, so if I played my cards right, maybe I could “accidentally” miss them for the rest of the night.

“You look different,” a warm voice said from behind me, and I wanted nothing more than to run the opposite direction. But against my better judgement, I turned around and came face-to-face with Render. His comment wasn’t necessarily a compliment, but the way his eyes took in every curve of my body, I knew he appreciated what he saw.

“Pink’s not really my color,” I replied while brushing my hands along the soft material of the dress.

“You’d look better in red,” he replied before flashing me his teeth.

He looked handsome in his gray suit, a crimson boutonniere perched on his chest. His hair was styled back, and he had trimmed his scruff some, the sharp lines of hair on his face making his striking jaw look like it could cut iron.

“I prefer black,” I replied before looking around the room at the schmoozing council members and fawning students.

Render suddenly reached up to cup my jaw, making me freeze in surprise. He dragged his thumb along my bottom lip with a manic, cruel smile, making me feel like the prey he viewed me as. I was shaking at his touch, melting at his knowing stare.

His touch felt good, but I didn’t want it to. “Stop touching me,” I said quietly.

I could feel eyes on us now. I bolstered myself, preparing for the inevitable crash and burn, the cruel words, the angry prejudice and bullying. This was all a game, and he liked using my reaction to him against me.

“Why can’t I stop thinking about your blood?” he whispered. “Why was one tiny taste not enough?” The way he spoke sounded like he was talking more to himself than to me.

I furrowed my brow in confusion, and my mind flashed back to the first time we’d met, when he’d licked my palm. “Maybe you like dirty blood after all,” I replied, trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably.

“I don’t like it,” he replied before leaning closer, his teeth hovering just above the thudding pulse in my neck. “I don’t like it one bit.”

“Yeah? Well, that makes two of us. Now let go. People are looking.”

He didn’t even hear me. “I don’t fucking get it. I’ve tried ignoring it, but every time you’re in the damn room, I swear, I can taste your blood again. I can’t stop craving it, which is fucking crazy. I don’t do this. I don’t get hooked.” He glared down at me like he resented the fact that he was even talking to me, let alone touching me. Even though he was the one who chose to come over here in the first place.

“Render? There you are.”

I turned to see a beautiful vampire sidle up beside Render, her fingers curling around his bicep. My eyes flicked from her bright red polish to her model-worthy face. Her makeup was perfection, her dark hair curled and swept up on top of her head, and a dangling necklace accompanied the cleavage she was showing off in her matching red dress. She was wearing fuck-me heels that I wouldn’t be able to stand in, let alone walk, and she looked down at my unlaced boots with disdain.

“Blaire,” Render said, finally letting me go. “I got held up.”

I snorted. I was the only one who’d been held up.

Blaire looked me up and down, her nose wrinkling in distaste. “Is this whole thing supposed to be some grunge rock look?” she asked, circling her finger around my wardrobe. “Because you look like a dumpster diving ex-princess.”

“Are you a messy eater? Because I think you have a bloodstain on your dress.”

She immediately looked down at her dress, and I smirked. When her head lifted back up again and she noticed my expression, her eyes flashed with anger. She stepped forward into my space, all lethal intent, but I refused to back up. I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction, even if she could rip out my throat in less than a second. Render watched lazily with one hand in his pocket.

“No one wants you here, Void,” she spat. “I can’t believe the headmaster would even allow you to be present at this ball. Look around. Everyone hates you.”

My eyes darted around the room, seeing that everyone was now staring at me, thanks to Blaire’s loud confrontation. There went me being an invisible wallflower. Whispers started spreading throughout the room, making cold sweat break out along the back of my neck.

“I think it’s pathetic that the paragons have to babysit you,” she went on, drawing my attention back to her. “Render is going to lead our people one day. He shouldn’t have to lower himself to your presence.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “I think he’s used to lowering himself if he hangs out with you. Besides, I do have murderous tendencies,” I teased in a dark tone. “But I agree. Right now I do wish Render was somewhere else. Then I could show you just how toxic my Void is.”

She tucked herself under his arm before giving me a scowl. “Did you hear that, Render? She just threatened me. We should tell the headmaster.”

“Maybe you’re right,” he replied, looking thoughtful.

I looked up at the ceiling in annoyance before dragging my gaze back to her. Seeing them together made me feel strange. They looked perfect, his flower matching her dress. They looked like a poster-perfect couple. And for some reason, it made me angry.