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“Vlad.” I look up at the vampire who got in my space my first day, standing in a cleared path I know for certain wasn’t there a second ago.
He smiles, showing his pointed teeth. “I’d be happy to offer my services to a damsel in distress.”
“I’d rather die.” It’s stupid to refuse help, but the guy really makes me uncomfortable. I don’t want to owe him a thing. “I’ll figure it out myself.”
Another shitty grin. “Hm, suit yourself.” He turns, long, lanky frame moving too smoothly.
To another, I imagine Vlad’s movement might seem languid and elegant. But to me, it’s stilted. It’s as though he’stryingto be languid and elegant.
He walks away, the path behind him closing, once again covered in impenetrable greenery. “Karloff won’t be happy, though.”
I scowl at his back. Vlad knows exactly what he’s doing. And he knows that I know and doesn’t care. He picked the perfect weapon, nocked the dread arrow, and aimed it right at my head.
“Karloff? What does he have to do with?—”
Vlad turns back around, that shit-eating-grin on his face all the answer I need. I already know what he’s going to say.
“Karloff is subbing for the headmaster’s class while he deals with the logistics of running a school in a cloaked city with the Lords of Blackwood. Now, far be it for me to presume you need anything from me, but the whole school is abuzz with your earlier standoff with Karloff. Do you really want to push him further by being late to his class?”
I shake the bush I’m stuck in at him. “I feel like this is a pretty damn good reason to be late.”
Vlad shrugs. “He won’t care.”
I stare at the dead-eyed vampire, so full of ill-placed hubris his head might just explode—the extremely high opinion of himself hardly leaves room for any sense.
Unfortunately, he’s right. I don’t want to get on Karloff’s bad side any more than I already am. Through a grimace, I ask, “If I let you help me, what will I owe you?”
The ground clears in front of him as he approaches, and my teeth clench so tightly my face hurts.
“Spoken just like a demon, eh? Everything is a bargain to your kind, isn’t it? Can’t you just accept an act of kindness, Dove?” The smile on Vlad’s lips betrays his words.
He doesn’t mean a single word with any sincerity.
If I could just get tomymagic, I could turn the smarmy vampire inside out. “Level with me, Vlad. What do you want?”
He pouts, as if I was spoiling his fun by daring to ask for the truth. “Oh, not much, Dove. Just a taste of what the forest has already taken.”
Should have guessed. I test just how caught I am in the vines. No part of me wants to give this guy my blood. “How about you just clear the path for me like a gentleman and not expect anything in return? You know, like a good person? Or was all that just an affectation?”
Vlad laughs. “Big words, little lady, but this is a demon-run school. Who says I have to be a good person?” He quirks a silver brow at me. “Your choice, demon girl.”
I huff out a sigh and resign myself to his offer.
“Fine.”
The moment the word is out, black veins web out from eyes, covering his cheekbones and temples. He dashes closer, kneeling by the torn skin of my calf.
“But only take what’s already spilled, got it? Nothing more.”
Vlad’s cold, bony fingers wrap around my leg.
“Hey! Got it?!” I repeat.
Vlad presses his lips to my leg, groaning what I hope is an affirmation.
I try not to gag as he licks the blood off my leg. One, two, three… several laps…
“OK, that’s enough. I’m sure you’ve gotten it all.” I pull away, trying to get my leg out of his icy death grip while also not getting stabbed with more thorns.
