Page 47 of The Book of Blood and Roses

“Even if you do, I won’t.”

I take a step back down, so our eyes are almost at level. My face is dangerously close to hers.

“I felt your fangs on my neck, Aliz,” I say. “We both know what you wanted.”

Her lips part. As red deepens her cheeks, she grabs my hand. “Yes,” she says. “I wanted to bite you. But now I know the consequences. Trust me—”

A sound, halfway between a chuckle and a gasp, escapes my lips.

I can’t trust my own fucking shadow.

I snatch my hand free and don’t reply, climbing up the stairs faster than before.

“Whatever he said—” she starts, trying to keepup.

“Leave me alone,” I snap. “We aren’t friends.”

This time she lets me leave. When I reach our room, I close the curtains around my bed tight, squeeze my eyes shut, and try to breathe.

What has Penny done?

Chapter

Sixteen

My cheeks feel raw as the wind lashes against them. A thick fog has replaced the rain, diluting the burnt colours of autumn. I walk down to the campus village. Despite now having human students, only a handful of places are open during the day, like the coffee shop Stephan and I walked by on our first day. I get a flat white to go, hoping a warm drink will calm my temper before I call her.

But when I hear her voice, my anger at her betrayal flares through my nerves. “You’re up early, aren’t you?” Penny asks.

“Are you working with Faust Nocth?”

My eyes sting. I put my tongue between my teeth to stop myself from gritting them and stare out at the Raven River, meandering across flat rocks, riddled with moss. The fog is even thicker across the river, hiding the woods.

Penny hasn’t said anything yet.

I want to scream at her. But if I want the truth, I have to stay calm. She’s not working with a vampire. She wouldn’t.

“What did he tell you?” she asks. I dig my nails into my palms.

“That you were here, eight years ago.”

“What else?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask. She hasn’t denied it yet. “Why am I here?”

“You already know why.”

“Faust Nocth told me that whatever mission you gave me is just a cover. You probably don’t even needThe Book of Blood and Roses,do you?”

“I do, Rebecca. Regardless of what he tells you—”

“Have you explored the tunnels? Do you know where the library is?”

“You wouldn’t be there if I knew,” Penny says, her voice just as sharp as my own.

“Really?” I nearly spill my coffee. “Because the dean implied otherwise. Apparently, I’m going to be useful, did he tell you that, too?”

“Watch your tone,” Penny says, and I bite back my fear. I’ve done everything she’s asked me to. Always.