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“Here.” Esther pulled a large black book from the shelf without even looking for it and shoved it into Ashley’s lap with a thump.The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe.

“Esther, this is your copy.” She didn’t know how to express what this meant to her. “He’s your favorite.”

“Please, I have half of them memorized.” She shifted closer, and her next words were confident. “Besides, you’ll bring it back to me.”

Ashley was still unsure. Taking this book was a commitment, a promise that this one-time not-date would happen again,but she hugged the book to her all the same. “Why don’t you give advice, Esther? I know it’s not because of silly things like recommending a bad haircut or a restaurant where everyone got food poisoning. Everyone does that from time to time.”

Esther’s mouth opened and closed like she might say something and changed her mind. Ashley stared, riveted, until Esther settled with, “Read a few of the stories. You don’t have to read them all, but tell me which one you liked, or hated, and when you bring it back, I’ll tell you.”

A lock of hair fell in front of Esther’s face, taunting Ashley. It was cliché. Super cliché. But her hand moved anyway as she shifted forward and brushed the piece of hair back behind Esther’s ear. Ashley still wasn’t even sure if this was a date or friends or just two classmates hanging out. Was Esther leaning forward?

Ashley leaned in too, ever so slowly. She heard Esther’s heart beating fast as they inched closer. She counted the pale freckles speckling Esther’s nose. Felt her warm breath ghosting Ashley’s cheek. It was important Esther made the final move.

Something behind Esther’s ear stung Ashley’s finger, and she yelped and jumped back. The sting turned into a burn that sank into her skin as she tried to keep back tears and hold in her fangs from their instinctual fight-or-flight reflex. They extended anyway, and she had to pout slightly and turn her head to hide the canines poking out between her lips. With a shuddering breath, she pulled them in and turned back, studying Esther’s face to see if she noticed.

“Are you all right? What happened?” Esther reached for her hand, and Ashley reluctantly released her fist so they could both look.

At the end of her ring finger was a perfectly burned cross, still steaming from the contact. Ashley pulled her hand back andlooked at Esther’s ear. As she suspected, a small cross dangled from the end.

This was a mistake.

She shouldn’t be up here in this private space, sharing books and pushing back hair.

She was a vampire. Even if she didn’t have the Family telling her to keep apart from the humans, there was so much baggage that came with being with her—with being with a vampire—and she couldn’t put that on someone.

“I should go.” Ashley stood, practically jumping over Esther in her haste to get out of this close romantic setting. She stubbed a toe on Esther’s platform bed but ignored the shooting pain. It took the last of her control to keep a human speed while descending the steps.

“Ashley, wait.”

But she couldn’t wait. Maybe Esther hadn’t seen her teeth, but she’d seen the burn. It wasn’t subtle. Anyone that knew the lore knew what that meant. Esther hadDraculaon her freaking shelf.

“Tell your uncle I said thank you for the dinner,” she called over the creaking of Esther running down the stairs. She slipped on her shoes, praising the speed of ankle boots, and ran out the door without looking back.

Outside, Ashley didn’t bother with human speed. She needed to get out of there. She couldn’t see Esther ever again. Maybe she could drop the class. Would this night compromise her entire mission?

It wasn’t until she was back at the Family’s house and in her room that she realized she still hadThe Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poetucked safely under her arm.

8

Ashley

Ashley used both hands to turn the knob of the doorbell, maintaining a steady stream of ringing. It only took three minutes of persistence before the door wrenched open.

August, with his tingling cloud of magic, stuck out his head. “Hey, that’s an antique!” He spotted Ashley, and his frown deepened. “Dammit, it’s you.”

“Let me in, witch.”

“Pass.” He slammed the ancient door in her face.

She went back to ringing. Five minutes passed before the door flung open again.

“What do you want?” August asked.

“Invite me in.”

“Not going to happen.”

“I’ll bring your aunt here next time.”