Page 46 of Of Shadow and Moonlight

“So, where’s your cutie? Did he stay over at your house after the party last night?” she asked, slipping a sly grin in my direction.

“No, Kat. Geez." I tried not to laugh, but her humor was a welcome distraction. "I don’t know. Maybe he woke up late. We were out pretty late.” I glanced back toward the group. A pang of guilt sank into my stomach for keeping him out all night. He’d been hunting because of me, because he was worried for my safety.

When I turned back to Kat, I caught a glimpse of a strange expression on Kat’s face as she stared behind me. She immediately smiled as soon as she noticed I’d turned to her.

“What are you looking at?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder.

She flashed me a smile. “Oh, nothing. I thought I saw someone I knew.”

My brows narrowed. Was she hiding something from me? Had Barrett put his foot in his mouth at the bonfire last night? I’d have to make sure he wasn’t stirring up trouble. “Where’s Cody?”

“He’s playing hooky this morning, something about a new game release today.”

“Ah. Glad he’s got his priorities straight. I was gonna go sit with the guys. You wanna join us?” I asked.

“Nah, I won’t be much company. I’ve gotta finish up a paper for class this afternoon.” She smiled before turning to focus on her laptop.

“Alright, I’ll catch up with you later.”

I walked back toward the group, eyes darting across the different people as they passed. It was different now, though. Paranoia clouded my vision, and it was scary to think I didn’t know who I could trust anymore. Were the people walking past me truly human? Or were they terrible creatures in disguise? My world changed last night, and while I had no choice in the matter, I was left with the uneasy need to constantly look over my shoulder.

“Still not here?” I asked Vincent as I took a seat near my bag.

“Nope,” Vincent replied, glancing to me as he spoke.

My eyes drifted to Barrett, still a little fearful of how angry he was last night. He wasn’t acting out of the ordinary now, though. Maybe he was hoping Damien erased my memories like he wanted. Maybe whatever strange understanding that passed between them had settled the concern he had about breaking their laws.

I was eager to know more about them, their race, what they could do, more about the darklings. Where did the immortals come from? How long have they been around, hiding amongst human?

More importantly, where was Damien?

“Is he ok? Did something happen last night?” I asked to no one in particular, flicking my fingernails in my impatience.

“He should be here soon.” I swore I heard a hint of confusion in Barrett’s tone, like he himself didn’t even know why Damien wasn’t there yet, which only worried me more. If Barrett was concerned, then something must be wrong.

Barrett’s eyes briefly shifted to me, and I wondered if I’d imagined the tinge of guilt in those steel eyes.

“Cas, I—”

I tilted my head to him, brows arched in question.

“I’m sorry about last night…”

My lips parted, but I wasn’t sure what to say. “It’s… I understand your reasons.”

“Did I just hear right?” I turned my gaze as Vincent leaned in. “Did Barrett just apologize for something?”

“Oh, Gods. I think the world may be ending,” Cole added, raising his hand to shield the sun from his eyes as he surveyed the horizon dramatically.

Barrett groaned, and before I could say anything more, Vincent was wrapping his arm around Barrett’s shoulder, cracking jokes.

“Donnae worry, Cas. He’ll be here before yoo ken it,” James said, flashing me a reassuring smile as he placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. I smiled in return.

“So, you’re with Damien now?” Zephyr asked, and I could hear the humor in his tone. I rolled my eyes, knowing the teasing that would likely follow, but I smiled. Maybe this was his way of lightening the mood.

I looked at him and shrugged. “Yeah."

“That’s cool. There’s something special between you two. I haven’t seen this side of Damien in a long time. He gets so uptight sometimes, its about time a female made him lighten up."