Page 9

Chapter

Nine

CLAY

I t’s a windy early-March night with no clouds and a bright moon, so Owen decreed that the conditions were perfect for flight lessons. Glide lessons. Whatever.

We’re in the forest at the edge of the school by the Cree River.

A few students are walking to the dorms and some zombies are taking out the trash and preparing the campus for tomorrow, but for the most part we’re alone, thank the monster god.

I don’t want those students from the Vampire Gliding Club to find me.

Since Owen doesn’t fly, I have no idea how he knows the correct method to teach me, but given that he’s read just about every book in the library, I’m trusting him.

After all, he’s smarter than me. Although it does feel like I’m being instructed on how to have sex by a virgin who read about it in a textbook.

Is he a virgin? Is that why he ran away from me so long ago?

I glance down at him. Owen’s curly hair moves in the wind, and his glasses slip down his nose.

I don’t think so. Maybe he’s just shy. I want to ask, but I’m standing in a tree, and circumstances aren’t ideal.

Pay attention, Clay .

As I use the rubber soles of my running shoes to grip a sturdy pine tree branch ten feet off the ground, my movement causes a clump of needles to fall off. I watch them spiral down. Nrgh . That’s what’s going to happen to me.

“I believe I’m still subject to gravity,” I yell into the heavy breeze. “And it will hurt when I face-plant on the earth.”

Owen’s got Bat Nathanson in a roomy carrier at his feet, and they’re downhill a ways. I guess he figures that I should go first before we let the bat out. “You’re not going to face-plant. You’ll catch the gale.”

“Maybe.” I can’t keep the skepticism out of my voice. “I just don’t feel like I’m aerodynamic.”

He cups his hands around his mouth. “Planes fly. So do birds. And vampires. All you need to do is practice.”

I scrub my face with my free hand.

I don’t know why I’m doing this. Even with my monster speed-healing, I’m still going to be covered in bruises. And it’s not going to work. I’ve never been able to do it. I feel heavy, both in body and spirit.

“Let’s get this over with,” I mutter under my breath.

“First, close your eyes,” Owen calls.

“Not sure that will help. I need to see where I’m going,” I call back.

“But right now you need to feel the wind beneath your wings. So to speak.”

I snort, the wind making the tree branch sway. “Aren’t you too young for that song?”

“What song?”

That makes me shake my head and feel my age. “‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ by Bette Midler. My mom used to sing it when I was a kid.”

Mom .

My chest aches, as it always does when I think of her and Dad.

Then I suck my cheeks in, remembering the last things she said to me before they kicked me out after I turned.

You’re dangerous, and the Halloween Wave ruined your life. You’ll never amount to anything. We don’t want to see you ever again. Leave.

Now, with the space of two decades, I know they were just scared I was going to bite and turn them, but back then, her words were brutal.

To be fair, I was pretty damn thirsty when I first turned, but they’ve remained firmly anti-monster, so I’ve stayed out of their lives.

They have a perfect, white-picket-fence house out in California.

While I’ve literally seen them in the past two decades—from afar—I haven’t spoken with them since then.

I shake my head to clear the bad memories.

A particularly strong blast of wind hits me from the back.

“You’ll have to play me that song,” Owen says. “For now, when the next blast comes, jump into it.”

Might as well get this over with.

I close my eyes and wait until a forceful wind gust almost pushes me off the branch, so I spread my arms wide and let it.

And I fall to the ground, my chin hitting a rock and pain slicing through me. “Oof.” Ow . Dammit.

I knew that was going to happen.

Footsteps sound near me. “Clay! Are you okay?”

Knifing myself into a sitting position, I dust off my knees. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You kind of fell like a stone.”

“Well, I told you so.”

Owen’s wringing his hands. “I’m so sorry, I might need to do some more reading on this. I thought it was just a matter of catching the air currents. Maybe we need to get you a mattress or something that we can use to soften your fall.”

“Or we could just go to the gym and try it on the mats,” I say. Depending on how busy it is, it could be less public, too.

He tilts his head. “Do you think we can catch enough of a breeze indoors?”

“Probably not.”

“Mm…but we could work on your form.” He purses his lips. “Maybe I should rethink this. I’m not really into…gym culture.”

“Why not?”

“No reason. I just want to make sure you’re one with the wind, that’s all.”

Okay, he said that way too hastily. What’s Owen got against gyms? Or maybe it’s the people in the gyms?

“Do you want to see if Bat Nathanson wants to try it tonight?”

Owen gives me a grateful smile at the change of subject. “Sure.” He lets BN out of the carrier. “Come on, little buddy,” he coos. “You can do it.”

Flapping his wings a few times, BN tries to fly but falls flat to the carrier. At least I don’t feel so alone.

Owen scoops him up, and coaxes him inside the carrier. “You can try again later, Bat Nathanson.”

“You can do it,” I agree, trying to give BN enthusiasm I don’t feel for myself. “Next time.”

“I like caring for him.” Owen’s tone is thoughtful. “I’m sure he’ll figure it out.”

I glance around at the mostly empty part of campus. “Should we try flight lessons another night?”

“Or do you want to try the gym now? I think the evenings are free for the use of students.”

“Fine,” I say. “If anything, it’ll be better to fall on a mat rather than the ground. ”

We walk across campus. I’m holding BN’s carrier in one hand, and my other hand is free. If only Owen would take it, but he doesn’t.

The gym is brightly lit, and a few of the baseball team is leaving as we head inside. But when I check in at the front desk and walk into the open-plan room, I freeze. Owen almost stumbles into my back.

“What is it?” Owen asks.

I shake my head. “This won’t work.”

“Why not?”

Might as well tell him the truth. “The entire Vampire Gliding Enthusiasts Club is over at the climbing wall.”

“Who are the?—”

Spinning on my heel, I walk right out again.

Owen picks up Bat Nathanson’s carrier and follows behind me, calling, “Seriously, Clay, who was that?”

“There’s a group of vampires who love gliding, and they’ve asked me repeatedly to join their club. But since, as you know, I can’t do it…” I throw up my hands.

Owen studies my face, sincerity written all over him. “Clay, I’d never embarrass you in front of your peers. All I’m trying to do is help you figure this out. I think you can fly. Just no one’s taught you yet.”

“I hate feeling insecure,” I mutter.

He tips his head to the side. “You?”

I frown. “Yes, I feel insecure sometimes. I hate admitting that, too, but I’m older and not smart and can’t fly…”

A smile spreads across Owen’s face. “I like all those things about you.”

“That I’m not smart and can’t fly?” I bark out a laugh.

“No. That you’re real. You’re pretty perfect looking, and having some things not be perfect for you—” he shrugs—“I guess it makes you seem more relatable. Less intimidating. ”

“Thanks, I think.”

Although the fact that Owen likes me warms my cold heart just a bit.

A few days later, Owen and I are walking with BN between us, headed to find another place to practice gliding, when we pass Professor Robinson.

“Hey, Professor,” I call.

“Octavia,” she corrects.

“I have trouble with addressing you that way,” Owen admits. “I can appreciate using the name you prefer, but it feels like it’s less respectful.”

“Do you respect me?” she asks point blank.

“Of course,” he says.

“Then, no problem here.” She peers into the carrier. “What do you boys have in this box?”

“That’s Bat Nathanson,” I say, and put it on the ground so we can open it up. I pull BN out, who clings to the underside of my hand.

Octavia leans forward, tilting her head to scrutinize BN.

“Well, well, well,” she says. “If you don’t have a familiar.”

“A familiar?” Owen asks.

“An animal who understands and obeys only you,” Octavia clarifies.

“Like a pet?” I ask. “I’ve heard of familiars, but I thought they were something different.”

“Not quite like a pet. It seems he might be bonded to you both. It’s unusual for that to happen but not unheard of.

The way he’s clinging to both of you, it’s so obvious his familiar bond is strong with you as a pair.

” She tries to hold BN, who wiggles with discomfort until Owen takes him back.

She gives us both a knowing smile. “It’s a good thing he’s a familiar because pets aren’t allowed on campus.

How delightful you found him! Oh, monster science in action, I highly approve.

Keep up the good work, and see you in class. ”

We both stare at her back as she walks away.

“Do you think she meant that?” Owen asks. “That BN is bonded to both of us?”

I tickle the little guy under his chin, and he nips at my finger affectionately. “It’s possible. He doesn’t seem in a hurry to get out of our care.”

“I thought he was just taking time to recover.” Owen rubs BN’s head with his fingertip. If BN could purr, I bet he’d be doing it right now.

“I do think he needs time, but it seems more than that. I think he really likes being with us. So, maybe he is bonded.” I smile, flashing my fangs. “That’s super cool.”

“Agreed.” We put BN back in his carrier, and then start walking again.

“So, regarding where we should practice, all of these places feel so exposed,” I admit. “Like I’m going to have public humiliation after public humiliation, when the point is to avoid that.”

“Then maybe we need to go somewhere far from campus. Stokerbram Park has all those gorges, perfect for catching breezes. Too bad it’s not close by.”

“That’s a drive, though,” I muse. “It might be better to stay there overnight. Otherwise, it’s a very long day.”

“I…didn’t mean to suggest that you…that we…go.”

I smirk. “It’s a great idea. Just one little getaway for you, me, and the baby bat.”

Do I mind spending a weekend with Owen?

Absolutely not .

Am I looking for an excuse to get him into a hotel room by himself?

Absolutely.

Owen gulps. “It could be a good idea, but I don’t have a lot of room in my budget for travel.”

I wave a hand. “Don’t worry about the hotel. You’re teaching me to fly. It’s the least I can do, making sure you’re comfortable and not too tired. And give you a mini vacation.”

“Mm…I have been meaning to get away…” He seems to mull it over for a beat, then shrugs. “All right. Let’s do it. A getaway for you, me, and Bat Nathanson.” His face shines with excitement. He pushes up his glasses, and the gesture is so hot, I want to ask him to do it ten times over.

Don’t make it weird, Clay.

“Yes, we should do it,” I say, echoing his words. I quickly add, “Platonically. We’ll…platonically do it.”

Whatever that means.