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Fiona wasn’t sure what he was getting at. His easy-going manner, and the way he paid for their meals when Emma had run him over, certainly appealed to her. Even more than that, the way he devoured her with his gaze intrigued her, as if she was the only girl he’d ever cared about. Just like the other guy had done.
When they finished eating, Fiona drove Ruric to a two-story, colonial home. But as soon as she pulled the car curbside, a guy stalked out of the house. His down-turned mouth and knitted brow gave her the impression he ruled over Ruric worse than any parent might. The odd thing was he didn’t look any older than Ruric. And he sure looked like one of the teens she’d seen with Arman at the Dallas mall, though she’d only glanced at them in passing.
“Levka,” Ruric said. He motioned to Fiona. “She saved me.”
Levka glared at her, then shook his head. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Obviously, big brother didn’t like it that Ruric was interested in her.
His dark brown eyes seemed to darken further, then he glanced at Emma as if he finally had just noticed her. She remained quiet. Fiona thought she was worried Levka might grow even angrier if he knew Emma had run over his brother with the car.
“You pissed off Arman. What were you thinking?” Then Levka stormed back to the house.
Arman?
“Don’t mind my older brother. He’s just watching out for me. See you at school tomorrow.” Ruric turned to Emma. “Chin up. I won’t tell Levka that you ran over me.” He smiled, then followed Levka into the house before Fiona asked him about Arman and the Dallas mall again.
“Jeez, Levka’s creepy,” Emma said as Fiona drove her home.
“He doesn’t look any older than Ruric, I don’t think. Do you?” But if Arman was with them, they were all three at the Dallas mall, and…there was one other. Was he here too? This was all just too weird.
“I didn’t think so. What’s up with you tonight? Two guys in tuxes had the hots for you? If Ruric asks, are you going to go out with him?” Emma asked.
“I can’t quit thinking about the other one.”
“The one with no name.”
“Yeah, and how much he seems like…this one.”
* * *
Arman wanted to kill Ruric for meeting up with Fiona, when this was the job he’d taken on to save her from a bunch of ruthless vampires but Stasio held him back and wouldn’t let him out the door. Levka himself was angry enough about what Ruric had pulled.
“We have been friends for how many centuries?” Arman asked Ruric as he and Levka entered the house.
“We all need to help her, Arman,” Ruric said, non-plussed. “I am not after your girl, though she certainly appeals. But I couldn’t control her like I had hoped. She’s definitely not human. And I couldn’t get her to leave Emma to drive home on her own when she isn’t even supposed to be driving without a license.”
Arman let out his breath in a huff. “She is not my girl, and she is cursed! She needs our protection.”
“Our protection is correct. You can’t do this on your own,” Ruric said. “Do not give me your condemning look too, Levka. We all agreed we had to save Arman from his folly no matter what the cost.”
“I’m enrolling in her high school,” Caitlin said.
“And if you need blood?” Levka asked, raising a dark brow.
Arman knew he wasn’t happy with the notion.
“I’ll feed at night. I can get through the day now without any problem. She might trust me more than you guys. Besides, I do have my witch’s powers. We need to convince her to go with us and neither of you guys managed to do the job right tonight.”
“You haven’t formally finished your training,” Levka reminded her.
“I know some. So she’s a huntress?” Caitlin asked Arman.
“Yes. I couldn’t control her any more than Ruric could, though I tried. Why her parents wouldn’t have told her what she is doesn’t make any sense,” Arman said. “I tried to remove her from the dance with my hypnotic suggestion. I thought it was working and then she broke free. I only know we have to free her from that family. She doesn’t belong with them and I’m afraid of what they plan to do to her.”
“How is she cursed?” Caitlin asked again.
Stasio said, “I’m still researching the family. I still don’t know. Since you’ve been having dreams of her, Arman, did she seem to recognize you when you met her at the dance?”
