A Turn of Tides (A Shade of Vampire #13)(33)

I shook my head, still staring at him.

“Coen.” He held out a hand.

“Coen Brymer.

My family lived opposite yours, and we went to school together.” “Oh,” I said, stunned.

“Coen? You… look different.” The Coen I remembered had been a wiry, shy boy with short-cropped hair and a pale complexion.

Nothing like this tan, well-built man.

I probably wouldn’t have recognized him even if I spent all day staring at him.

He smirked.

“I guess we’ve both grown up since we last saw each other…” I shook his hand.

“It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?” I nodded, backing away from him a little.

“I hope you don’t mind me intruding,” he said, wetting his hair and flicking it back.

“That’s okay.” “I’ve been curious to see you ever since Brisalia mentioned you were back.

Lots of us are… Though I see you’ve been keeping to yourself.” I heaved a sigh.

“It’s been so long since I was last here… and so much has happened since.

I guess I’m still trying to ground myself.” “That’s understandable,” he said, eyeing me closely.

“I guess it also must be bizarre being welcomed by the same people who expelled you all those years ago.” Coen clearly wasn’t one to skirt around subjects.

I gave him a small smile.

“Yes, that too.” “If you wanted a little help in reintroducing yourself to people here, I’d be happy to assist.” “Thanks.” “It might be too soon after your arrival, but a small group of us—mostly old classmates—are gathering to celebrate my older brother’s birthday tonight, after the sun goes down.

There’ll be music, food, dancing…” He swam toward the bank and climbed out, grabbing his shirt and buttoning it up.

Straightening, he looked down at me.

“If you feel like it, just come knocking.

I still live in the same place… opposite your parents’ old home.” I nodded, swallowing hard.

“Thank you, Coen.

I’ll think about it.” “You never know, it might help to take your mind off things.” He flashed me a smile before turning on his heel and vanishing.

I stared at the empty space he’d just been standing in.

I wondered if Brisalia might have put Coen up to seeking me out.

I had mentioned Kiev briefly to her.

Perhaps it had been her idea to give me a distraction.

Whatever the case, I couldn’t deny now that I was desperate to start forgetting the vampire.

Although the last thing I felt like doing was attending a party, perhaps I owed it to myself to go.

I swam back to the opposite side of the gorge and climbed out.

Drying myself with magic, I pulled on the dress and climbed back up to the bridge.

I decided to walk the distance back to the palace.

It would give me time to think about Coen’s proposal.

I wasn’t paying much attention to the streets I was walking along as I made my way back.

I was too absorbed with weighing up the pros and cons.

But as I reached a particularly elevated area of the city, I snapped out of my reverie to realize I’d arrived at the end of my family’s old road.

I shuddered as my eyes fixed on my old home.

It was just as I’d remembered it—the gently sloping roof studded with crystals, the spacious verandas, the square lawn out front with a small toad pond in the corner… It took all I had to not break down again.

I fought to steady my breathing and forced my eyes away from the sight, and onto the house opposite—Coen’s house.

I hadn’t intended to arrive here.

Hell, I didn’t feel I’d even made up my mind yet.

But it seemed that my subconscious had decided for me: I was going to the party.

Drawing in a deep breath, I walked up to the Brymers’ front door and knocked.

Coen answered it after a few seconds.

A wide grin spread across his sun-kissed face as soon as he laid eyes on me.

“That was quick,” he said.

I smiled sheepishly.

“So you’re coming?” “Yeah… I’ll come.” “I’ll pick you up from your quarters later this evening, around nine o’clock.

Which apartment are you staying in?” “I… uh…” My mind went blank.

I hadn’t even noticed a number on my front door.

“I’m not sure.

It’s on the top floor.

You could just ask someone when you arrive—” “Are you heading back there now?” he asked.

“Yes.” “Then I might as well escort you,” he said.

Before I could even object, he’d stepped out onto the porch with me and closed the door behind him.

He gestured toward the street.

“Shall we?” I followed him away from his home and we continued walking together down the road.

I looked sideways to see Coen stealing a glance at me.

His cheeks flushed slightly as our eyes met and he cleared his throat.

Coen Brymer was cute.

That much I couldn’t deny.

As we made our way along the peaceful streets back toward the palace, I couldn’t help but wonder if he might turn out to be the distraction I needed to take my mind off Kiev.