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I blew out a breath. “Right. I thought as much.”
“But I’ll be happy to provide guidance when the time comes that you’re eligible to apply,” he went on. “Dhampirs make up some of our most esteemed fighters.”
Hope bloomed within me. “I better start focusing on getting that diploma then.”
“Indeed,” Sergeant Davis replied before bowing his head and taking his leave.
Grace was waiting for me just down the corridor. “So,” she said, throwing her arm around my shoulders. “That was intense.”
“Agreed.”
We walked a few more steps before she continued, “My parents are leaving for their trip to the Caribbean tomorrow.”
“They are?”
A grin started to spread across her lips. “Yep. And I think we could all do with letting loose.”
I blew out a breath. “This is about your party, isn’t it?”
Grace nodded. “I even got permission for a small get-together, so this way, I won’t even be going behind their backs.”
“A small get-together means less than ten people,” I pointed out.
“So maybe I’ll be inviting a few more than that.”
“Why? We hate everyone at school.”
“No, we don’t. We hate Belinda and her group because they’re a bunch of snobs. I happen to be a favourite among the non-magical students.”
She was right. Grace was a well-liked character in her night-time classes and was considered the class clown, a lovable rogue if you will.
“Okay, well, I’ll come, but I’m not helping you plan it,” I said.
“No need. I’ve already been planning for weeks,” she said, still grinning.
I shook my head. “Why am I not surprised?”
***
Normally, I wouldn’t put much thought into what to wear to Grace’s party, but she’d mentioned that she’d extended an invitation to Peter and Sophia. It had been two days since I’d spoken to Peter, both in person and in our minds. I missed him, but I knew he was busy juggling both his job at Indigo and the one he had working at Clay’s market stall.
I was also starving. For blood. But my parents were so focused on helping the Guard with the whole Vasilios thing that I didn’t want to bother them about finding me a new blood donor. I could go a few more days without feeding.
Anyway, back to the matter of what to wear. I opened my wardrobe and eyed the collection of designer dresses Aunt Delilah had gifted me. I spotted the pink one that Grace suggested I wear when we went to Flynn’s pub.
No. It was far too loud. I needed something that was subtle but still made an impression. I continued sifting through the dresses when my attention snagged on a rich, deep blue material. I pulled out the dress, my attention falling over the details. The material was soft, and the neckline was high, as was the hemline. It wouldn’t show any cleavage, but it would show an inordinate amount of leg. Steeling myself, I decided to wear it. I had some high heels, also courtesy of Aunt Delilah, but I didn’t trust that I’d be able to walk in them, so I paired the dress with my black boots instead.
I left my hair down, put on a little make-up, then went to see if Rebecca wanted to come to the party. She respectfully declined, and I didn’t blame her. Who wanted to go to a party attended by all of the teenagers you taught at your day job? Besides, when they’d argued about the party, Rebecca had told Grace in no uncertain terms that she wouldn’t be going, and my sister clearly planned to stick to her guns.
I decided to stay sober in case anything went wrong, which meant I could drive over to Grace’s house instead of walking. I’d just pulled up outside, and it looked like the party was already in full swing. I climbed out of the car just in time to see Nic leaving his house next door. He looked handsome in his jeans and dark, long-sleeved shirt. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel nothing when I looked at him. There was a small stirring of attraction that hadn’t been there before we kissed. Sure, it was minuscule compared to what Peter made me feel, but as I said, it wasn’t nothing.
“Wow,” he said as he approached me, his eyes taking in my dress but only lingering on my legs for a polite amount of time. “You look beautiful, Darya.”
I didn’t know how to take the compliment, especially given the sincerity in his gaze, so I replied with a simple, “You scrub up well yourself.”
He scratched his neck. “I decided to go all out and put my contacts in for the occasion.”
“Well, I think you look great with or without the glasses,” I said. “Come on, let’s go inside.”
Nic nodded, and we headed in. I found Grace in the kitchen mixing cocktails for a bunch of people I recognised from school though I wasn’t sure of their names. “Darya!” she greeted, taking me in. Her expression fell for a brief second when she saw Rebecca hadn’t come with me. “Look at that dress. I love it,” she went on. “And Nic, you look great, too. Hey, no glasses!”
