“I have a few ideas,” Cora says. She plants her hands on her hips, stepping closer. She’s short enough she has to tip her chin to look at me. “You do much better with your eyes closed. As soon as they’re open, you fall apart. You get distracted too easily, like a fucking rabbit. It’s fine though. I’ll come up with some exercises to strengthen your concentration.”
I’m nodding along, doing my best to absorb everything Cora says. I’m still not convinced she’s the best teacher, but seeing as she’s my only option, I need to figure out how to learn from her. If I want to survive this place, I’m going to need magic to get out. Maybe by breaking the curse. Maybe by breaking through my cell wall and running for my life.
“I’m going to see about an eggroot tea,” Cora continues. “It might be just what we need?—”
“You’re dismissed,” Sebastian interrupts.
I shift my attention from Cora to the man behind her. His mouth is a flat line, but his eyes crinkle, as if it’s taking effort not to smile. He’s pleased, I realize. I’ve known him long enough to recognize his approval, and I want to clutch the feeling to my chest.
He’s pleased.
Grace Renolds lives to see another day in the vampire house.
“You’re welcome,” Cora says, rolling her eyes. She doesn’t address me as she leaves. Her clicking footstepssound across the room, eventually disappearing through the doorway and into the hall.
“That was over a minute,” he says as soon as she’s gone. His voice is low, almost seductive—or maybe that’s my body’s wishful thinking. “Sixty seconds, Grace.”
“I’m sweating,” is my only response. As much as I’ve craved improvement, and approval, I don’t know what to do now that I have it.
“Me too,” he says. His smile finally breaks through. “Which is saying something, since you did all the work.”
“Hating you reallydoeshelp,” I say.
“Come.” He jerks his chin toward the exit and I fall into step beside him.
It feels less threatening than it should, the two of us walking together. We pass more than one set of vampires, and I instinctively shift closer to Sebastian. He does the same, his large hand a constant presence on my lower back.
When we reach my room, I find myself desperate for him to stay. I can feel it, the question begging to be asked, hanging dangerously in my chest. Iwanthim to stay, and that’s exactly why I don’t invite him in.
15
GIVE ME A LITTLE CREDIT
SEBASTIAN
“It’s about time you took me on a field trip,” Grace declares as we near the courtyard entrance. Her blonde hair is loose at her shoulders, and despite her simple outfit of a white tank top and brown shorts, she looks stunning. She’s too good looking. Too tempting. Too enticing, even when she’s not making sense.
“A fieldwhat?” I ask.
“Oh right, I forgot,” she says, voice falling flat. “I’m in the land of un-fun, where people kill each other and no one goes on fun school adventures.”
I don’t fight the smile that tugs my lips.
“A field trip,Sebastian, is something normal people do to make learning fun,” she says. “Like, in fifth grade, my class went to the state capitol to learn about politics. Then, in ninth grade, we did an overnight camp to learn about the environment or biology or something like that.”
“Sounds like you retained a lot.”
“Oh shush. It wasfun,” Grace says, grinning. “You know you’re just jealous of the human experience.”
I am most certainly not, but I can’t bring myself to say it.I’m too busy enjoying her. The way she rolls her eyes. The lightness of her steps. Things are getting better, I decide. After months of tension, we’refinallygetting past her unwavering hatred of me.
I pause as we reach the courtyard entrance. Stepping in front of Grace, I peer into the quiet yard. My followers sit around the stone table, and even from here, I can tell they’re sated. I’d instructed they over-feed before this meeting, and it’s clear they listened. Theo looks full to the point of nausea. Better than even the smallest amount of hunger.
“They’ve all fed,” I inform Grace, turning toward her. “If you feel threatened though, tell me.”
“Okay,” she says, voice soft. Her relaxed expression from moments ago is gone. Now, there is only uncertainty and terror as she looks over the inner circle. “You haven’t told me what we’re doing. Is this…are we breaking the cursenow?”
“No,” I say, startled. “Of course not. It’s not time yet.”
