5. Ari

Ari

" I didn't know, man," Riggs said to Victor, running a hand through his short hair. "She said she was a friend of yours, so I thought—"

I checked Kylie's pulse, relief flooding through me. "She's alive."

"Of course she's alive," Riggs growled. "She just freaked out—"

"Let me seal the wound," Victor said, spitting into his hand.

I shook my head, wrapping my scarf around Kylie's wrist and placing pressure to stop the bleeding. I reached to try to pick her up, but even my friend's petite frame was too much for me.

Victor pushed me aside and lifted her in his arms.

I glared at him. When I turned to follow him out of the room, the metallic scent of blood hung thick in the air as I surveyed the area. Humans lounged on velvet couches, half-naked and dazed, fang marks scoring their pale skin. None appeared dead, but the scene sent ice through my veins. I'd been naive about this whole vampire thing. These weren't just sexy immortals from romance novels—they were predators.

I had been too cavalier about this whole vampire thing. They were monsters. They'd attacked an innocent like Kylie for no reason.

My hands shook as I ordered the Uber. Would Victor have hurt me too? He already had, hadn't he? That bite during our lovemaking... had it really been passion, or just hunger? The memory of his tender touches warred with the sight of Kylie's torn wrist.

Victor carried her out of the ballroom and through the lobby, and waited with us on the curb.

I didn't say a word to him. I couldn't.

He helped me get Kylie into the cab. She was coming around with the fresh air. Then he stood on the curb and watched us as the Uber drove away.

***

I paced in our dorm room, watching Kylie sleep off whatever vampire mojo Riggs had used on her. Matilda hovered near the window, her ghostly form more solid than usual.

"You're being stupid," Matilda said, tossing her translucent hair. "Running away never solved anything."

"He's a vampire," I hissed. "They attacked my best friend."

"From what you told me, she went with him willingly," Matilda pointed out. "Just like you went with Victor."

I stopped pacing and glared at her. "Whose side are you on?"

"The side where you don't throw away the first guy who's ever made the ghosts shut up." Matilda floated closer. "You told me this is what you always wanted. No constant ghost chatter, no desperate spirits begging for attention."

"That's not—" I started, but Kylie stirred on her bed.

"Ugh, my head," she groaned, pushing herself up to sitting.

I rushed over. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I had way too many jello shots." She rubbed her wrist where my scarf was still wrapped. "Did I... did Riggs..." Her eyes went wide. "Oh my god, vampires are real!"

"I'm so sorry," I said, perching on the edge of her bed. "I should have warned you."

To my surprise, Kylie's face broke into a huge grin. "Are you kidding? This is amazing! I mean, yeah, I freaked out at first, but oh my god—we had dates with vampires!"

"We're not—I'm not—" I spluttered. "Kylie, they hurt you!"

"No, I hurt myself," she said, unwrapping the scarf to examine her wrist. The marks had already started healing. "Riggs was super gentle, actually. But then I saw his fangs and panicked and yanked away. That's what caused all the blood."

I stared at her. "You're not mad?"

"Mad? Ari, this is like every paranormal romance novel I've ever read!" She grabbed my hands. "Victor is totally your Edward Cullen!"

"He's nothing like—" I stopped, remembering his intense green eyes, the way he'd written that song for me years ago, how carefully he'd touched me. "It doesn't matter. It's too dangerous."

"Dangerous? What's dangerous?" Matilda chimed in.

Kylie followed my glare to the window. "Is there... is there a ghost here right now?"

I sighed. Might as well tell her everything. "Yes. This is Matilda. She haunts our dorm."

"Hi Matilda!" Kylie waved at completely the wrong spot, but her enthusiasm was genuine. "Wait, is this why you're always muttering to yourself?"

"I did tell you I see ghosts," I admitted. "All the time, everywhere. Except..." I trailed off.

"Except when you're with Victor," Matilda finished. "Tell her that part."

"Except when I'm with Victor," I repeated softly. "Something about vampires makes the ghosts go quiet."

"Oh my god!" Kylie squealed. "It's like you're supernaturally compatible! This is the best love story ever!"

I couldn't help but laugh at her excitement. "You really don't mind about the vampire thing?"

"Are you kidding? I'm going to ask Riggs so many questions." She paused. "If he'll still talk to me after I freaked out."

"He seemed more worried than angry," I admitted.

"See?" Matilda drifted closer. "Everyone's fine except you, Little Miss Running-Away-From-Happiness."

I threw a pillow through her, but she had a point. Running away was what I'd always done—from foster homes, from relationships, from anything that threatened to matter too much. Maybe it was time to try something different.

My phone buzzed. Another text from Victor: Please let me explain. I never meant to frighten you or put Kylie in danger.

"Answer him," Kylie and Matilda said in unison.

I looked between my enthusiastic roommate and the determined ghost. Here I was, a medium who could talk to ghosts, running scared from the first real connection I'd found.

"What if it goes wrong?" I whispered.

"What if it goes right?" Matilda countered.

"Besides," Kylie added, "think of the story! 'Ghost-seeing journalist finds love with a vampire rock star.' You can't make this stuff up!"

I picked up my phone, fingers hovering over the keys. The ghosts that usually crowded around me were still absent, giving me space to think clearly for once. Victor had done that for me, given me moments of peace I'd never thought possible.

Maybe it was time to stop running.

Meet me at the cemetery at twilight , I typed. We need to talk .

His response was immediate: I'll be there. Thank you for giving me a chance.

"There," I said to my supernatural and human cheerleaders. "Happy now?"

Kylie bounced on her bed. "This is going to be epic!"

"Just remember," Matilda said with a ghostly wink, "if he breaks your heart, I know lots of ways to haunt him."

I smiled, touching the spot on my thigh where Victor had bitten me. It had healed when he'd treated it. Maybe some marks were worth keeping though—the ones that reminded you someone had chosen you, supernatural baggage and all.

Now I just had to figure out what to say to a vampire rock star who'd written love songs about me in high school. At least I had until twilight to work it out.

"So," Kylie said, breaking into my thoughts, "what does one wear to a cemetery date with a vampire?"

Even Matilda groaned at that one.