Cashmere: Book 2 of the Velvet Trilogy

By Temple West

This high-stakes sequel to Velvet proves that when you’re the only human caught in a paranormal war, high school can get a little tricky. With Adrian’s brother trapped in hell, the Praetorian Guard has made Stony Creek their base of operations, but Caitlin has a bad feeling they’re more interested in her than in findin

• Language: English
• Publisher: In Medias Res
• Release date: Jan 24, 2017
• ISBN: 9780998341514

Temple West

Temple West was born in Phoenix, raised in Seattle and educated in LA. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinematic Production. She likes to describe herself as a nerdster (seventy per cent nerd, thirty per cent blue-haired hipster) and spends too much time on Twitter, where she mostly reposts Doctor Who and Firefly crossover memes while writing punny things about being a YA paranormal romance author/hermit. Her debut novel, Velvet, a heartstopping vampire romance, was selected to be part of the Swoon Reads imprint. Temple currently lives in Seattle, USA.

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COPYRIGHT

AN IN MEDIAS RES BOOK

CASHMERE. Copyright © Temple West 2017. All rights reserved. Printed by IngramSpark.

In Medias Res books may be purchased for business or promotional use. Go to www.ByTempleWest.com and use the contact form to request additional information.

West, Temple.

Cashmere / Temple West.

Summary: Searching for Lucian, Caitlin and Adrian must form new alliances and trust strange magic to stay one step ahead of the Council and Adrian’s father, all the while investigating whether or not Caitlin is more than what she seems — and if she is, what they’re going to do about it.

ISBN 978-0-9983415-0-7 (paperback) — ISBN 978-0-9983415-1-4 (e-book)

[1. Love — Fiction. 2. Vampires — Fiction. 3. Demonology — Fiction. 4. Supernatural — Fiction. 5. Bodyguards — Fiction. 6. Orphans — Fiction.]

Book design by Temple West. Photo by Matthew Simmons.

First edition: 2017

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

www.bytemplewest.com

Dedicated to Kate Beckinsale. Thank you for Underworld. Also, your hair is amazing. Please teach me your ways.

Table of Contents

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1: PAIRED COMPULSION

CHAPTER 2: SPIRIT WEEK

CHAPTER 3: CLIFFHANGER

CHAPTER 4: IDIOTS IN LOVE

CHAPTER 5: IVY LEAGUE BOYFRIEND

CHAPTER 6: PROM–A–LONG–A–DING–DONG

CHAPTER 7: MATCHMAKER

CHAPTER 8: GRADUATION

CHAPTER 9: IT’S YOUR PARTY‚ BUT PLEASE DON’T EAT THE GUESTS

CHAPTER 10: DATA

CHAPTER 11: ENJOY THE HUG

CHAPTER 12: BETWEEN WORLDS

CHAPTER 13: WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE STONY CREEK

CHAPTER 14: THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

CHAPTER 15: VAMPIRE VOGUE

CHAPTER 16: BRIGHT PINK BITCH

CHAPTER 17: DREAM GHOST COAST TO COAST

CHAPTER 18: CAITLIN HOLTE DESIGNS

CHAPTER 19: SECOND CHANCES

CHAPTER 20: SLEEPING BEAUTIES

CHAPTER 21: CASCADE EFFECT

CHAPTER 22: LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX‚ BABY

CHAPTER 23: SABOTAGE

CHAPTER 24: MYSTIC

CHAPTER 25: ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE

EPILOGUE

BOOK 3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

MAKING CASHMERE

REVIEWS

TEMPLE WEST

PROLOGUE

So many things could have gone wrong. If my parents hadn’t died, I wouldn’t have moved to Stony Creek. If I hadn’t been angry at Rachel, I wouldn’t have been out in the woods. I wouldn’t have gotten caught in the storm. I wouldn’t have become involved with Adrian or Lucian or their father. Without them, I wouldn’t have found out who I was. I wouldn’t have known what I could do.

And that would have changed everything.

CHAPTER 1: PAIRED COMPULSION

Tommie was staring right at me.

He was alive, no gaping wound in his neck from where I’d stabbed him, no bubbling flesh from Adrian burning him. Across the clearing, another version of me sat hunched over Adrian’s lifeless body, sobbing silently in the bloody snow. There was no sound in this place, no heat or cold, no smell. While Other Me tried to revive Adrian, Tommie continued to stare at me, the real me, with a puzzled look on his face.

I advanced carefully on him, my feet making no dent in the unblemished snow. He tilted his head slightly, watching me approach. Waiting.

Why are you here? I asked. I knew how this went by now, but I always asked. My voice echoed slowly, like I was in a cathedral.

He blinked, and looked over at Other Me, frowning.

I don’t want you here anymore, I told him.

Immediately, he disappeared.

I turned in circles, scanning the edge of the forest to see if he’d simply jumped to a new location, but as usual he appeared to be totally gone.

I looked back over at Other Me. She’d given up and was lying on Adrian’s ice-cold chest, asleep. I didn’t really want to see that again, either.

No sooner had I thought this than they, too, slipped away.

I came awake slowly, sunlight filtering through the wooden slats of my blinds, casting prison bar shadows across my room. My phone buzzed on my dresser. It was Adrian.

Same dream?

I texted him the same thing I texted him every morning: Same dream.

***

Adrian’s eyes flared into silver, the molten irises swirling slowly around his pupils. In five seconds, walk toward me, he commanded.

He walked off twenty feet and stopped, turning to face me. Five seconds went by.

My leg twitched. My toes curled in my boots. My heart raced.

But I stayed in place.

That’s good, Adrian called from the opposite side of the parking lot a full minute later. You’re improving.

We walked toward each other as the first of the teachers began to pull up to the school. They were used to seeing us out here by now, earlier than them. They always looked at us like we were crazy, but they were used to us.

It’s not good enough, I told him, massaging my temples, shaking off the remnants of his compulsion. I can only resist when I know you’re about to do it, and only barely. If a bird so much as chirps, it breaks my concentration.

It’s going to take time.

I snorted. That’s exactly what you said about algebra and I’m still getting a D.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and smiled. Yeah, but you’re slightly less motivated when it comes to algebra. And you are improving. I’m not just saying that because I think you’re hot.

I snorted again. Adrian kissed the top of my head and let me go, but I grabbed his jacket. Whoa there, fella, my face would like some of that.

He grinned, wrapped me back up in his arms, and planted an intentionally sloppy kiss halfway on my mouth and half on my chin.

Gross.

I was about to pull him in for a real kiss when I saw a familiar truck pull into the parking lot—as far away from us as possible. Seeing who it was, Adrian pulled away from me respectfully, though he wound his fingers through mine.

It had been three months since the fight with Tommie, since the night Lucian disappeared. I’d gone back to school the following Monday to find that Trish was no longer speaking to me. Why, exactly, I wasn’t sure, because she hadn’t said more than two words to me since, but I was pretty sure it had to do with Adrian. I wouldn’t have pegged her for being a Silent Treatment type, but it turned out she was a pro.

Trish didn’t even glance at us as she made her way to Mr. Warren’s class.

Adrian squeezed my hand. I smiled up at him halfheartedly.

It’ll get better, he promised.

I wasn’t so sure. Adrian didn’t know girls. Girls could be mad for a lifetime. And I had no idea how to talk to Trish. I had no idea how to make things right because I couldn’t tell her the truth.

Maybe, I said, more to change the subject than anything else. We going to your place today?

Yeah. Told Dominic I’m helping you study for a test.

Sneaky.

He kissed my cheek tenderly, scanned the parking lot—something he’d taken to doing whenever he left me alone—and headed off to class.

At lunch, Stephanie braved my little outcast half of the picnic table and set her lunch bag next to mine. Trish wasn’t exactly forbidding the other girls to talk to me, but she had always been the head of our group and they followed her lead. Meghan had instantly sided with Trish, even though she didn’t really know why we were fighting. Laura didn’t care and Jenny had taken to eating by herself, uncomfortable with the tension that had sprung up between all of us. Stephanie was the only one who felt bad enough for me to risk Trish’s displeasure.

I wasn’t exactly the most popular person with the other grades, either, as least as far as the girls were concerned. It had somehow gotten around school that I had been the one to break up with Adrian after Winter Formal, an offense that was to be held against me for the foreseeable future. The more unforgivable crime, however, was getting back together with him a week later.

You excited for summer? Stephanie asked.

I glanced across the table at Trish, feeling that slimy adrenaline coiling restlessly in my stomach. Yeah. It’ll be nice to get away from the whispers for a while. Are you guys still going shopping this weekend?

She blushed. Yeah. But I could go again with you, if you want?

I waved my granola bar at her. I’m making my dress anyway. It’s all right.

She looked relieved.

Y’know, I think… Stephanie glanced around, then leaned in close. I think Trish really misses you. I hope you guys can make up soon.

I smiled tightly at her. I hope so, too.

I glanced at Trish, only to accidentally catch her eye as she turned to talk to Laura. She didn’t glare at me, didn’t even frown, just met my gaze for a moment, then moved on with her conversation as if I wasn’t even there.

***

Got anything? Adrian called from twenty feet below me.

Lotta stuff in dead languages, I called back, my harness starting to bite into my hips from perching in one position for so long. I had both bare feet planted on the bookshelf ledge while I leaned back, pulling out leather-bound tomes one by one to see if they were in English, and therefore readable.

We were in the de la Mara’s massive library, cinched into the free-rolling magnetic harnesses, searching for answers. We had an excuse prepared: Adrian was demonstrating the theoretical role of tachyon particles for my final physics presentation. So far, Mariana and Dominic had pretty much left us alone, though, so we hadn’t had to test the alibi.

I should really teach you Latin sometime, Adrian muttered to himself, eyes rapidly scanning the massive leather-bound book he was holding.

Yeah, in all that spare time we have, I muttered back. "I’ll just cover the one-point-eight-million English books in this stupid library, how about that?"

He glanced up at me, saw the sour look on my face, then hopped up the shelves, the lines of the harness receding every time he climbed higher. He came to a stop next to me, waiting quietly, knowing I’d eventually spit out what was wrong. I stubbornly stared at the book I was holding, then gave up.

"It’s been three months. I shook my head, frustrated, and slammed the book back in its place on the shelf. We’ve been looking for three months. School will be over soon, and we don’t know if the Council will let you stay as my bodyguard. We don’t know if I’ll be allowed to come here anymore. This is the only way I can help, and I don’t have enough time. I can’t read Latin, I can’t read French, I can’t read German or Slavic or even freaking Spanish. I’m just pulling out books for you to check. And the ones I can read I don’t understand. You’ve got thousands of years of history I have no context for. Names and dates and places and vampires I’ve never heard of, all referenced like it’s common knowledge. I’m not picking it up, I’m not catching on, I’m not helping. And he’s still out there, somewhere. And it’s my fault."

Adrian grabbed my harness cables, turning me toward him. We’ve been over this, Cait.

Just because you say something doesn’t mean I agree with it, I muttered. I was staring at the shelf, avoiding eye contact.

He let out a long breath and rubbed his forehead. Believe me, I know it’s tempting, he admitted. It makes it seem like you’re doing something just by feeling guilty. But you’re hurting Lucian when you blame yourself. He’s waiting for us to find him. So we have to find him. That’s it.

He looked at me until I finally looked back at him. He was right, damn it. I nodded at him, slumping in my harness. He pulled me into a hug and I buried my face in the crook of his neck, his hair tickling my cheek. I was tired, angry, holding too many secrets from too many people. Adrian and I had become friends a long time ago, but since Lucian had disappeared, we’d become partners, too. The Council had sent a War Council the day after our fight with Tommie. After interrogating me and Adrian and searching the grounds for the next three days, they’d been downgraded to a Praetorian Guard, as both Lucian and his father seemed to have completely disappeared from the area and the threat was no longer as severe. They’d been gone almost as long as Lucian was, following leads about where they thought he might be.

At least, that’s what Mariana told us. For all we knew, they were in Cancun drinking Mai Tais and getting beach-side massages.

Adrian had been reinstated as my day-time bodyguard, but since my nightmares had stopped, he no longer came over to the house to sleep.

Which was a huge bummer.

Life had, in a weird way, returned almost to normal. Except for the fact that Lucian was missing.

We’d long ago assumed that we were the only ones looking for Adrian’s brother. Even Julian had gone back to his regular life in New York, seemingly unconcerned with Lucian’s disappearance.

So every day we could manage it, Adrian and I came here to the library to look for clues. He searched for archaic references to why he’d been able to melt the flesh off his father’s body, and I searched for references to demons, trying to get some clue as to why he would attack me, but take Lucian. Why he waited so long, only to fail at getting me pregnant. Why he told us the Council wanted me dead. We had pieces from what felt like different puzzles, and none of them seemed to fit together. After three months, it was starting to feel pointless.

I pulled out of the hug and wiped at my eyes. I’m sorry, I murmured. I’m just tired.

Adrian kissed my forehead tenderly. I am, too, he admitted. But—

Just then, we heard the sound of the far doors opening. Though well-oiled, they were massive enough that they couldn’t help but make a distinctive sound every time they opened, even from the opposite side of the enormous room.

Adrian and I glanced at each other, then pulled apart and rappelled to the floor just as Dominic walked in with none other than Farrar.

My heart just about stopped in my chest.

Ah, Caitlin, Dominic said, his sandy-blonde hair perfect as always. He was wearing khakis and a sweater and loafers, like some Calvin Klein version of a young, trendy dad. You remember Farrar?

I almost snorted. Of course I remembered. He’d interrogated me for almost five straight hours back in February. What he was doing here now, though, I had no idea.

He glanced at our harnesses. Are we interrupting?

We were almost finished, Adrian said smoothly.

Farrar was frowning ever so slightly and it made me nervous. Our final projects are to study and analyze theoretical physics from science fiction. I’m a, uh, visual learner, I added, trying to keep my heart from racing. Farrar was a big dude. Tall, barrel-chested, with dark eyes, shoulder-length black hair, and an old-school aura of nobility. He had a slight accent I couldn’t place, and every time I saw him, the hair on the back of my neck went up.

He glanced between us again, then seemed to accept our explanation.

You’re back, Adrian said, trying to hide his tension. Does that mean you’ve found something?

Not as such, Farrar murmured. But I was hoping to speak to Caitlin. If you would?

Adrian went very still. I glanced between him, Dominic, and Farrar. After a moment, he relaxed, then smiled, unclipping the carabiners from the overhead cables. Of course, Adrian said politely. He nodded at me. Caitlin.

He walked off as if he couldn’t care less about whatever Farrar was about to ask me.

Thank you, Dominic, Farrar said, clearly dismissing the other vampire.

I’ll assign everyone rooms, Dominic replied. Mariana wanted me to inform you that dinner is at six.

They both nodded at each other, and Dominic left.

The others? I asked.

The entire Guard has returned, Farrar explained. Please, have a seat. He gestured at the nearby trio of plush, white couches facing the enormous twelve-foot fireplace.

I sat, cautiously.

How have you been feeling? he asked, seating himself opposite me.

I frowned, not knowing where he was going with this. Exams are coming up; I’ve been a little stressed out.

And your nightmares?

I froze. How much to say?

They, uh, pretty much went away. I have bad dreams now and again, but nothing like they were before.

That was the understatement of the century.

His face remained blank, unreadable. And nothing unusual has happened since we last spoke?

One of the horses got sick, but it’s better now. Meghan’s dad got a DUI. That’s all I can think of. Small town, not much happens here.

I knew that’s not what he was asking, but truth be told, nothing unusual had happened on the supernatural front either.

He nodded, as if expecting my answer. And Lucian has not attempted to contact you?

The surprise on my face was genuine. No. But I assume that you think he’s still alive?

Some small emotion passed over his face briefly but it was gone before I could tell what it was. It seems probable, he said softly. We’ll be having a meeting tomorrow with the full Guard. I would appreciate it if you could be here.

Of course, I replied. Anything to help.

He looked at me another long moment, then stood. I will let you get back to your project.

I nodded an awkward thanks, then made my way out of the library and into the kitchen, passing by an office where the rest of the Praetorian Guard seemed to be loading in bags and suitcases.

When I got to the kitchen, someone grabbed my arm and I yelped.

It’s just me, Julian said, looking irritated.

"Vampire— I hissed, pointing at him. Human, I said, gesturing at myself. Gotta make more noise, man. You’re gonna give me a heart attack. And when did you get back?"

Farrar pulled me from New York when the Praetorians got called back. I came in with them. Where’s Adrian?

I don’t know. We were in the library studying when Farrar asked to speak to me alone.

Julian stopped dead and grabbed my shoulders, peering into my eyes frantically.

What? I asked, weirded out.

But he didn’t elaborate. Finally, he pulled back. Come on, we don’t have much time.

He whipped out his phone and sent off a text, pulling me into the white marble foyer. A moment later, Adrian appeared on the third story landing and descended, meeting us. What’s going on?

"You know that option I told you about?" Julian asked, face tight.

Adrian nodded. I told you I wasn’t doing it.

Julian grabbed my coat and helmet from the hall rack. You need to strongly reconsider.

He shoved the coat and helmet at me, looking at Adrian the whole time. "And I mean now."

They held eye contact for another moment before Adrian nodded. Julian glanced at me, then walked back down the hall into the kitchen.

What was that all about?

Let’s get you home, Adrian said, dodging my question.

With a house full of well-hearing vampires, I knew better than to question him further. I zipped up the coat and followed him out to the Harley.

Instead of turning left to go the mile or so back to the ranch, he turned right, zipping up the mountain. We came to the scenic pull-off area on the side of the mountain, the same place he’d taken me my first week in Stony Creek, before I knew about vampires and demons and portals to hell.

He stopped, killing the engine, and we got off and walked to the guard rail. After a moment, he sat, and I followed him.

But he didn’t say anything.

I touched his knee gently. You want to tell me what’s going on?

Not really. He frowned, and kicked at a rock. I was just hoping it wouldn’t come to this.

Does it have something to do with the Guard coming back?

Adrian nodded. What did Farrar ask you?

I shrugged. If I was having nightmares still. If anything unusual was happening. I told him no.

He thought about that for a long moment, then turned to me. What do you remember about when Farrar was here last time?

I blinked, thinking. He asked a lot of questions. He was scary, but polite. I was tired. I don’t remember everything.

Adrian nodded, staring off into space past my shoulder. Julian is old friends with Kalare; she’s in the Guard. You met her briefly, the one with the short hair, wears a lot of leather. She told him that Farrar had been given sanction to compel you to answer his questions truthfully back in February when they were here.

I felt all the blood drain out of my face.

She also told Julian that Farrar chose not to. That he didn’t deem it enough of an emergency. That he thought you were being candid and there was no point going to those lengths. Apparently he’s pretty old-school about not abusing his powers.

Adrian let out a slow breath, looking down at our knees. Julian also told me about the consequences of the Council finding out how I feel about you. You’re allowed to love me; they can’t forbid that because you’re not one of us. But I can’t love you. Since vampires can’t compel other vampires, as long as I act my part, as long as I’m careful, they’ll never know how I feel. But if they compel you…

If they compelled me, I would have no choice but to tell them how Adrian really felt.

It’s worse than that, though. They could find out what actually happened with my father.

We’d straight-out lied to Farrar about what Adrian had done. The wind-tunnel, the eye-light, the flesh-melting, the whole damn fight, practically.

We’d also lied about what Tommie had said. That I was more than what I seemed, and the Council wanted me dead because of it.

Is that why they’re back? I asked finally. They’re going to compel me to tell them the truth?

Adrian shook his head. I don’t know. I didn’t even know they were coming, Mariana didn’t tell me. Julian texted me, but I left my phone in my room when we got back to the house. I didn’t see it in time.

What did he mean when he said there was another option?

Adrian ran his fingers through his hair, looking frustrated. After our first interrogation, after he found out Farrar had been given permission to compel you, Julian told me about a way for us to avoid similar situations in the future.

I frowned. This sounds like good news. Why do you look like someone just died?

He leaned back, gesturing wildly. "Because it’s not an option. It’s not…it’s not good. I told him no for a reason. That’s why we started practicing, trying to get you to resist compulsion naturally. But we may be out of time. We are out of time."

I put my hands on both his knees and caught his gaze. Just tell me.

His eyes sparked into their luminous silver. Which meant he was worried. Which meant I should be worried.

With our kind, he said finally, everything is held in balance. For every advantage, there seems to be a disadvantage. The same goes with compulsion. There is a way to keep anyone from ever compelling you again. Anyone but me.

I waited impatiently for him to continue as he thought about how to say whatever it was that he needed to say. Back on my birthday, when he’d told me about vampires and demons, he’d had just as much trouble putting all of this supernatural stuff into words. I wasn’t sure if it was because it made him uncomfortable, or because he thought it would weird me out. After nine months of being involved with Adrian and his family, I was way past thinking this crap was unusual.

He tucked his hair behind his ear absently and met my gaze. "It’s called paired compulsion. I honestly don't know all the details, it has something to do with pheromones and endorphins and bonding receptors, but it’s a permanent sort of compulsion. If I pair with you, no one else will be able to compel you, not vampires or demons. But I won’t be able to compel anyone else. That’s the trade-off. Not many of us do it because there’s rarely a good enough reason to give up our compulsory abilities just so we can claim a single individual. The link is permanent and irreversible until the human dies."

I stared at him. I…honestly don’t know how I feel about that.

He’d compelled me twice before, both times to save my life. Well, technically he’d been compelling me every morning in the school parking lot to get me to practice resisting compulsion, but he only told me to walk toward him. I’d finally gotten to the point where I could ignore his command if I was far enough away, but it gave me one hell of a headache. Resisting a command that I wanted to do was extremely difficult, which is why he’d chosen it for practice. Just to show me the limits of the magic, he’d once compelled me to turn into a rabbit. Of course, I couldn’t. Even under compulsion, I didn’t even try. Apparently you couldn’t compel someone to do something they were not physically or mentally able to do.

I know this is a lot to digest, he continued, "but we need to decide. We won’t be alone again before we see Farrar tomorrow. If we’re going to do this, it has to be now. I mean literally now, before I take you home."

My hands clenched around his knuckles painfully. My instinct was to pull away, to be angry that he hadn’t given me enough time to decide. But I’d made him promise me that he wouldn’t pull away, that he wouldn’t deal with things that affected both of us on his own, that he would tell me how he was feeling. It was only fair I do the same.

Why didn’t you tell me this before? I said finally. Let me choose for myself?

Because I wasn’t willing to do it. I didn’t want to have that kind of control over you. And I didn’t know what might come up in the future, if I might need to compel someone else in order to protect you. It wasn’t worth it.

I frowned. You should have told me. That should have been our decision.

His jaw was tight, but he nodded. I’m sorry, he admitted. I didn’t want to burden you with anything else.

I was angry, but I tried to keep it out of my voice. "When it comes to this stuff, it has to be our burden, together. Our plan. Our choice. I have to be able to trust you or this is all going to fall apart. You know that, right?"

He nodded again, looking down at the ground.

I touched his cheek gently. I’m not mad. But you have to promise me you won’t keep things from me because you think I can’t handle it. I can.

He leaned into my hand. I know. I know you can. I just forget sometimes.

I smiled and he looked relieved.

Before we make a decision, why in the world did Julian tell you all this?

Adrian shook his head. I honestly don’t know. Why didn’t he tell Mariana about us? Why hasn’t he told the Council?

I don’t like this. I don’t trust him.

I don’t, either, Adrian admitted. But I’m not sure what choice we have. Between the Council, the Praetorian Guard, and Julian, I have to admit that I trust Julian most.

He had a point there.

If we do this, I said slowly, you can compel me. To do anything.

Yes, he answered, honestly. "But to be fair, I can already compel you to do anything. This just eliminates anyone else having potential control over you."

I let out a short, angry breath. Y’know I can handle the swirly eyes and the teeth and the blood and the immortality and portals to hell, but compulsion makes my skin crawl. Even if it’s just you, it’s… I trailed off, shaking my head. I hated it. He knew that.

He looked at me a long moment before sliding off the guardrail and going to one knee. For a split second, it looked as though he was about to propose. Holding my hands, he looked me straight in the eye. I swear to you, Caitlin Marie Holte, I will never compel you again as long as I live.

I searched his eyes, his face. You really think this is the best option?

He nodded. I didn’t before, but I do now. This is the best way for us to protect each other. And it’s not all bad. Julian says they call it ‘the sacred bond.’ Although that may just be him bullshitting me. Of course it can be abused, but from what he says, most vampires who have done it have expressed a deep connection to the human they’re paired with. It becomes more about synchronicity than mere compulsion. I affect you, but you also affect me.

I smiled a little. That does sound slightly less terrible.

He smiled back, waiting patiently for my verdict.

I let out a deep breath. Our decision, right? Yours and mine?

He nodded.

Then let’s vote. I vote yes.

He looked relieved. I also vote yes.

Then let’s get synchronous. I frowned. That didn’t sound as dirty as I wanted.

He laughed, then shrugged out of his motorcycle jacket and slipped it around my shoulders over my coat. I looked at him funny.

Thanks, but I’m actually pretty warm.

You’re about to get very, very cold.

Ah.

Are you ready?

No. But go ahead.

I love you.

I know.

He smiled at the Star Wars reference and kissed me, letting it linger, letting it turn serious. Just as I was about to suggest we postpone the whole compulsion thing until after we’d made out, he pulled back, shaking his head apologetically.

Suppose we don’t have time for that, he muttered.

I kissed him again, lightly. I think you owe me a date after this.

He grinned, brushed my knuckles with a kiss, and put his hands on either side of my face, leaning in. Once again, his eyes flared from gray to molten, liquid silver. Since this was compulsion, not just a scan, or whatever they called it, his irises morphed, swirling slowly.

He murmured words, lyrical and soothing, in whatever language it was that vampires used to compel people. Not English—not anything I recognized. Maybe not even really words at all. Maybe it was more of a song, power manifesting as sound.

And then suddenly, it was cold. It was unbearably, soul-shatteringly cold. My lungs froze, unable to contract. My blood felt sluggish in my veins. There was a ringing in my ears, a sudden, sharp scent of pine trees. The light was all at once so bright I thought my skull would split open.

A headache began to form right between my eyes; a scalpel pushing its way through the back of my head. A full minute later, he blinked, and I blinked, and it was over.

He brushed the tears away from my cheeks, searching my face, looking worried. How do you feel?

I closed my eyes and pressed them into the heels of my hands, the daylight still too bright to handle. Like you drove an icicle through my skull, I grumbled. I felt dizzy, sick to my stomach, and extraordinarily sensitive to the cool air, but he didn’t need to know that. Otherwise fine. Is it done?

It’s done.

After a long moment my stomach settled and I opened my eyes.

Whoa.

What?

I can feel you.

Adrian blinked, then frowned. What do you mean?

"Like, like, I can feel you. Sitting there. I closed my eyes. It was still there. I don’t know how to explain it."

Does it feel bad? Are you in pain?

No, I said, frowning. It’s… it’s like when you walk into a dark room but you know someone’s there. Except in this case it’s not a creepy feeling, just a sort of…awareness. Wait, go hide behind a tree or something.

He looked at me funny, but when I closed my eyes, I could feel him move off. Covering my eyes just to prove to Adrian I couldn’t see him, I pointed at him with my right hand, following his progress. Eventually I could feel him moving back to me.

How did you do that? he asked, sitting down.

No idea, I replied, opening my eyes. You were like a magnet.

That sounds like emotional sonar, like what we do when we’re monitoring you from the mansion.

Can the paired compulsion manifest like that? I’m the human one.

Maybe when you’re in love with the human you’re paired with, it really is a sacred bond.

He hadn’t meant it as a romantic statement. Heck, he wasn’t even looking at me, just staring off into space, eyebrows furrowed in thought. But hearing him say it out loud, that he loved me…

I would never get tired of that.

The feeling of Adrian’s presence slowly faded. I had him test the awareness again. He walked off and I tried to point at him with my hand while my eyes were closed. When I opened them, he was literally the opposite direction of where I was pointing.

Huh, I said. Maybe it was just a one-time thing.

Maybe, he agreed. But let’s not count it out just yet.

CHAPTER 2: SPIRIT WEEK

This time, Tommie was watching Other Me stab him in the neck. The moment played on a loop, like he was a football coach reviewing game footage.

He glanced over at me as I floated into the dream. Interesting choice.

What?

I banished him easily last time, I could risk a little conversation.

Stabbing me, he replied casually. Interesting choice.

I shrugged. Carpe demon and all.

Other Me reached into her hair, pulling out the pencil that was holding her bun in place. She didn’t hesitate at all before plunging the flimsy weapon into Other Tommie’s neck once, twice, three times. Blood spurted from the wounds in gory red fountains before the memory jumped back to the beginning and played again.

Why did you stab me? he asked again.

You were trying to kill us, I replied. Seemed an appropriate response at the time.

No— he turned to look at me fully. "Why did you stab me?"

I had no idea what he was getting at. Because there was nothing else I could do.

Tommie frowned, as though I wasn’t getting something. You don’t know yet.

You said that before, I said, watching Other Me out of the corner of my eye. She looked savage, panicked, a little insane. That I don’t know what I am. So tell me—what am I?

Tommie nodded at Other Me. An interesting choice.

I frowned, irritated, and waved my hand at him. Begone, or whatever.

Instantly, he vanished.

***

What happens if someone tries to compel me and then I don’t do what they try to compel me to do?

Adrian had just parked on the side of the de la Mara’s massive, multi-car garage. I handed him my helmet as he swung off the bike.

Julian suggested we tell them I performed the paired compulsion during the attack, to keep my father from compelling you further. It would have been reasonable for a young, inexperienced vampire such as myself to resort to that measure given my enthusiasm for proving myself and my understanding that my compulsory abilities would pale in comparison to a demon. It would be considered unorthodox, and perhaps stupidly brave, but not treasonous, given the circumstances.

We both headed for the front door. That sounds convincing. But won’t they be suspicious that we didn’t mention that little detail when they interrogated us the first time?

If questioned, I would act embarrassed that I had to resort to that method to protect you. Hence not mentioning it to our ruling Council.

He punched in the security code on the keypad, pushed open the front door, and let me inside. I got about two steps before something stopped me dead in my tracks.

Is he—is that? I stuttered, staring at a small pair of shoes by the front door. I looked up wildly. Lucian?

Adrian turned white. Mariana strolled in from the direction of the kitchen and saw us staring at Lucian’s shoes. He’s not here, she said in that infuriatingly demure voice of hers. Farrar was going over some of his belongings to see if he picked up anything.

Adrian looked like he’d gotten the wind knocked out of him but tried to hide it.

Mariana nodded coolly at me before ascending the winding, grand marble staircase.

I put my hand on Adrian’s arm—partly to steady myself and partly to offer comfort.

I’m…gonna… Adrian trailed off. He cleared his throat, then nodded toward the second floor. I smiled at him tightly while he trudged up the stairs after Mariana.

While Adrian went to put away his backpack (and, I suspect, to check Lucian’s room as if he might magically appear there, as I’d caught him doing several times before), I headed for the kitchen with the cookies Rachel had insisted on baking for Adrian and his family. She sent me over at least once a