“Why didn’t you come with us?”
He tilts his head curiously. “I thought William would have told you.”
I step toward him, my brow furrowing. “Told me what?”
“It’s okay,” says Zach, standing up so we’re face-to-face. “I know what he is.”
Even my heart blinks.
I stare into Zach’s eyes through his square-rimmed glasses to try gleaning what he means. I can’t think of any reason William would have confided in him. Unless—
Has the vampire made himself a second Familiar?
“He told you?” I ask, swallowing, and Zach nods in assent. “And what, um, do you think?”
Zach’s eyebrows arch, and he lowers his voice. “I think it’s alot. I’m honestly not sure how the others will take it when they find out. Especially Trevor.”
I frown. How is Zach not the least bit scared?
“William said if I keep quiet, he’ll give Tiffany and me the first interview, so we’d have the scoop. This kind of story would definitely catch the eye of theColumbia Daily Spectator. They’re one of the best—”
“Zach!” I nearly shout at him. “You can’t tell anyone—!”
“I know, I know!” He raises his hands like he’s surrendering. “Not a word until the investigation’s over. Damn, I can see why he trusted you—youreallycare about keeping his cover.”
I just stare at him blankly. “Investigation?”
Now it’s Zach who’s frowning in puzzlement. “He said you knew about it.”
“About what?”
“Oh, I get it!” Zach grins appreciatively. “You’re still protecting him.” He moves in closer and drops his voice to a whisper. “I know he’s an undercover cop.”
I cover my mouth just in time to block my scoff.
“Law enforcement works with the press more often than you realize,” says Zach, misreading my reaction. “He told me he’s investigating one of the faculty members on financial fraud charges, and to seal his cover as a student, he recruited you to fake a romance.”
“R-right.”
“I wasn’t sure at first, but then he made a good point—no one has ever seen you two kiss.”
My stomach seems to drop a notch lower.
“He didn’t happen to tell you which instructor it is, did he?” Zach looks intently into my eyes, as if he could read the name there.
“No.”
“Damn. Well, where is he?”
Gone. “I don’t know.”
“I wonder why he didn’t tell you he confided in me.”
I wonder that, too.“Maybe he doesn’t want to risk us discussing it and someone overhearing,” I say, and it feels like my stomach is still dropping.
“True.”
No wonder William chose to go with those two vampires rather than stay with me. Why would he want to live among humans when the most that his only ally could offer him was judgment and doubt?
