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Raven

My skinny legs shake as I sneak out into the trees If oing to Nadine’s nineteenth birthday party toet to go to parties, this one I’ve been re-dying to attend Not because I’ve suddenly developed a desire to hang out with my older sister and her stuck-up vao because he’ll be there Just like he’s out here in the forest, waiting for me I want to latch on to any excuse to see hioodbyes

Pulling the hood of th velvet cloak over listens fro daybreak

Most va to bed by now, or are already fast asleep Still, I worry sohteen and old enough to wander off ona secret rendezvous with hi of the vampire species

While I’ out to see a vaes—my sister won’t see it like that Normally, Nadine’s opinion isn’t even a blip on my concern radar, but now that she’s in line to be the future queen of the vampire world, she’ll soon be able to punish me whenever she wants and however she sees fit Since Nadine has never liked iveti out here, but spending ti before he becomes forever tied to a vampire who despises me is important

Sucking in a breath, I quicken ainst the dry leaves and twigs covering the enchanted forest that surrounds Mystic Willow Bay

My fae is a few miles from the border of the enchanted woods, which required hborhoods If the wrong vampire is up this late, my mom will for sure hear about e at such a late hour But h to hopefully concealwith the pixies who sometimes roam the woods

The farther I hike into the trees, thefro into a forest demon, hardly anyone comes this far into the forest I’ve spent plenty of tih, and I knoay around As for the forest dee Sure, I may suck at th, but I’ve always possessed the ability to hide hen needs be And I’ve had my fair share of times when I’ve needed to hide

“Where are you?” Irock where we normally meet

Usually, he beats me here, since he’s one of the fastest va? He’s done that a couple of times so he can sneak up and scare the shit out of me

After scanning the area and not seeing any sign of him, I decide I must’ve made it here first That revelation makes me smile

Ha! I’ slower than one of the slowest vampires in town

Grinning, I clumsily cliback on my hands The rock is alood view of the forest, but the trees are too thick to seebesides leaves and branches

“Dang it, I was hoping I’d be able to see when he showed up so I can pay him back for all those tih

“That sounds like a lot of fun to ht behind me, so close their breath tickles the back of my neck

Startled, I let out a high-pitched squeal that would put even the cry of a Banshee to shaainst his Luckily, his super speed and coordination registers quicker thanskulls

“Holy evil demons, you scared me” I press my hand to my chest as I narrow my eyes at the vampire in front of me Dark hair, playful eyes, and dressed in black slacks, aloose shirt, and thick silver-strapped boots Not the va, but I’m not surprised he’s here “That wasn’t very nice”

His eyes glint wickedly “Since when have I ever claimed to be nice?”

“Never And if you did, you’d be a liar” I flash him a sassy smirk

He mirrors my smirk “I am that, too”

I rollabout anything”

“Hey” He presses his hand to his chest “I take that as an insult” His eyes sparkle s”

I crook a brow “Like what?”

His grin broadens “Woood blood boost … Did I say women and sex?”

I roll e him more

“Don’t pretend like you don’t find , raven black hair

“I don’t,” I tease “In fact, I think you’re thevampire I’ve ever met”

He juts out his bottom lip “How you woundlove for you and this is how you treat me?”

I snort a laugh “You’re such a liar”

A grin lights up his pretty face “I think we already established that, didn’t we?”

I can’t stop the snifies

We’ve done this so many ti next

“I win the ga down on the rock beside me

I twist around and stare out at the forest, the sunlight stinging uame”

“Yes, ere We always are?

?? He nudges his shoulder against h; I’ll let you win the next round”

“Gee, thanks,” I reply dryly, to which he laughs

I pretend to be annoyed when I’sley and I are toward each other Have been ever since the day we became friends He pushes my buttons, and I push his, but in a playful way And while I’ll never ada I’ll keep to myself forever

Part of e when the crowning ceresley and Rhyland will never be the sa and playing and causing all sorts of trouble will be no more

“Why are you here, anyway?” I shoot Kingsley a grin, pretending I’ Rhyland”

He shrugs, aht it’d be good for the three of us to spend soether before … Well, you know”

I get what he’s saying, and I usually don’t est drop of sadness rises inside me I wish I could’ve spent a little time with Rhyland alone

“No offense, Kings, but I sort of thought the whole point of Rhyland and Ihere today was so that hiets hitched to the bitch”

He chuckles, but the humor doesn’t reach his eyes “That was the plan, but …” He presses his lips together “He thought it s”

“What sort of things? Wait Was he worried souess it sort ofsley here Not that Rhyland and I would do anything bad if Kingsley wasn’t here We’re just friends Close friends Have been since ere little But Nadine wouldn’t see it like that She’d think I came out here to have sex with Rhyland and feast on his blood Wouldn’t be the first tiht I was secretly hooking up with her boyfriend just because I laugh at his joke That night, she’d tiptoed into my room while was asleep and cut off my hair

Now that she is going to be queen, she’ll more than likely cut off my head

I frown at theNadine had never been chosen as queen A lot of va the day Fate chose her Nadine was known around town as selfish, ood ruler

“Rhyland’s worried about a lot of things,” Kingsley hts

“That’s understandable He has a lot of responsibility heading his way But I’m sure he can handle it” Sometiotten chosen, so I wouldn’t have to lose my friend Selfish, I know But I can’t help how I feel

“Having to and wanting to are two different things,” Kingsleyout at the trees