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Biting her lip and tucking her hair behind her ear, I’m overcome with the desire to run my fingers through it. She has the most beautiful waves init, and I want to know what it feels like. But it’s those eyes that stand out against her porcelain skin and her plump pink lips that really captivate me.

Clearing my throat, I look for something to say, except I see Amelia distracted by something, those lips gaping open slightly. And I follow her gaze to see her staring at the suspenders peeking out of my skirt slit.Maybe this outfit wouldn’t go to waste after all…

Looking up at me with those beautiful green, distinctively curved, round eyes of hers, she breaks the spell, and randomly asks, “Why have you never wanted to drink from me?”

Taken aback at this question, I consider my answer. There are so many lines we haven’t crossed yet that this one didn’t even come to mind. Amelia moves behind my chair and starts massaging my tense shoulders, and I groan, feeling more than relief from the tension in my shoulders.

Sighing, I explain, “I don’t know if I could control myself if I drank your blood. Wanting so much from you is a dangerous line for me to tread with control.”

The warmth of her hands disappears as one of them brushes my hand on the desk, and my heart jumps again. It’s hard to play it cool when she’s so close to me. I’m not sure what’s worse, wanting someone who feels the way she does and not being able to have her, or these forbidden feelings.

Her back to me, she pointedly asks, “I take it you haven’t spoken to your mom about us then?” It sounds more like a statement than a question because we both know the truth. Just like that, the moment is over as I try to withhold a different groan, this time one of frustration.

I care about Amelia so much. But she wants something I can’t give her.

It’s why we’re in this weird place. Wanting each other, sharing each other's lives but neverreallybeing together. Giving her a sadsmile, I let her know the answer hasn’t changed. How can I do so well with Tao but continuously fail her? Her jaw clenches as I watch her try to rein in her anger.

“I thought if I gave you time to find a way for us to be together, you would figure it out. But I’m kidding myself, aren’t I?” Her voice is like ice.

Standing up, I’m desperate to make her understand, but with any attempt I make to get closer to her; she flinches. I say with all the compassion I can muster, “You know the rules, Amelia. You’re not from the Human Faction, so I could never be with you. Just the fact that you know the truth about me puts you in danger. You know what my family expects of me. And while I’m not exactly thrilled, I’ve made my peace with it. I am all that stands between my family losing their empire, and I can’t–won’t let that happen.”

Amelia looks away, and I know she’s trying to keep her tears of frustration from forming. I feel like absolute shit for doing this to her, and if I could change it, I would. But I can’t. Leaning over, she kisses me on the cheek, and I catch a hint of that passion fruit scent again, before she tells me goodbye. This time, it feels permanent as she walks out the door, and I don’t stop her. Like a coward.

I hate myself for what I do to her, and I’m scared of the idea of not having her in my life. But I don’t have time to ponder this further as my phone chimes with another text, this time from Jude.

“Lexie’s dead. I’m coming home permanently. Keep an eye out, you could be in danger too. I will talk to you as soon as I can.”

Chapter 4 | The Undead

Luca

My frustration over the disagreement with Amelia becomes second priority after reading the text from Jude. You don’t just send someone a text going, “Hey, my sister is dead, but we’ll catch up later,” thinking that they’ll just leave it there. Of course I’m going to call her. She’s my best friend. I don’t know why she expects anything less from me.

Tapping my foot impatiently, I dial her number, and she sends me to voicemail almost immediately. Reminding myself that getting annoyed is not going to achieve anything, I try to call her again. I’ll call her as many times as I need to until she answers her damn phone. She sends me to voicemailagain, and staring at the blank screen, I’m at a loss on what to do when another text chimes.

“I’m sorry L…I don’t know if I can yet. Saying it out loud makes it real.”

Jude’s talking, so I can work with that. My thumbs fly across the screen as I type out my reply.

“Are you still at the wedding? Do you want me to come to you?”

“No, there’s no point. I’ll be back in Chicago soon. I’ll fill you in on everything when I see you.”

When she shuts me out like that, I know that no amount of coaxing on my end will get her to talk before she’s ready to. Staring at the screen until it goes black, my mind races over the news. Lexie’s dead…shit.

I know it’s best to not jump to conclusions before I know all the facts, but in our line of work, death usually means murder. It’s so similar to what happened to Dad, and I don’t know if I’m shocked, worried, or a combination. One thing is for sure; I’m hesitant to tell Mom about it, even if she needs to know.

It’s just like Jude to leave us midway through a scandal and to return that way, too. I remember when she had just come of age according to Druid traditions and completed her first assignment. There were talks of her needing to find her place amongst the family empire. There were even some rumors of how she was more powerful than Lexie and the rightful heir, even if she wasn’t the firstborn.

Instead of taking her place, though, she left. And few people know why. I know it’s because of Sebastian, but that’s something we keep to ourselves. The families are allowed to have fun together, as long as it doesn’t get serious, and they broke that rule. If there is one thing all the families agree on, it’s that power should remain equally divided. Two families uniting doesn’t honor that agreement and could lead to war amongst the empires. While a little bloodshed hurts no one, it would attract the attention of the humans, and that’s something we want to avoid at all costs.

I’m one of the few people Jude kept in contact with after she went to school, and we’ve remained close despite the distance. At school, there were still rules she had to follow, but compared to the heartbreak she facedat home, there, she felt free. Even I could admit how much happier she sounded away from all of this. But now, that’s changed, and it looks like she’s being forced back home.

Sighing, I grab my phone and car keys so I can make my way home and speak to Mom because this is a conversation that’s better had face to face. I can manage the fall out that way. We need to figure out how this will affect the Undead, and I will start work a bit earlier tomorrow to make up for this evening being cut short.

Leaving my office takes me into the center of the club, and even if things are tense right now, I will never get over the joy I feel walking through this place. It’s something about the combination of neon lights, thumping music, and sleek gothic decor that feels like home to me. The chaotic atmosphere might be an overload to the senses for most, but for me, I find it soothing.

Tonight’s theme for the dancers in the club is “sexy luxury” so their props are items like martini glasses, lace outfits, and matching pearls. I stay well out of their way so that my outfit doesn’t get splashed during their routine. Passing the cordoned off VIP section, I feel a small pang of longing because I had hoped to end up there with Amelia this evening.