Wicked Kiss (Nightwatchers) - By Michelle Rowen Page 0,74

the front row snickered. “Then go.”

I escaped to the bliss of the empty hallway, headed toward my locker, no longer tormented by the thirty souls pressing in on me. I needed a few minutes to get my head back together. To think clearly again.

“Samantha!” Colin called after me.

Oh, crap!

I searched the long hallway, looking for the best route to make my escape. My heels clicked against the shiny linoleum. I needed air. I needed to get out of there completely. I needed to finally accept that my life was not what it used to be while I tried to pretend that it was, even for a couple of fleeting hours here today.

I’d been fooling myself.

I didn’t belong here in my so-called “normal” life. And I didn’t belong with Bishop and the others.

I was an outcast.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and kept walking toward the nearest exit.

“Sam!” Colin grabbed my arm to bring me to a halt. “What’s wrong?”

I turned to face him and shoved him hard against his chest to push him away from me. “Stay back.”

He had the nerve to look at me with concern. And here I thought he hated me. I wished that were true. “The look on your face when you left class... I was worried.”

“I have cramps,” I offered weakly.

“Which is really gross, but I don’t think it’s the truth. You’re upset about something.”

I hissed out a breath, studying his face as he, again, was stupid enough to come closer to me. My hunger swirled, a raging tornado inside of me ready to take down trailer parks and wreak havoc with anything that got in its path.

“You hate me,” I reminded him. “I hurt you.”

“What happened to Julie made me realize something—life is too short. I can’t hold a grudge. I know you don’t like me, not like I like you. But we’re friends, still, right? You’re my friend no matter what happens.”

“You followed me from class. You always do that.”

“I wanted to make sure you’re okay.” His breathing had increased. He’d taken hold of my arm again. Despite his words of understanding, there was something in his gaze...something lost.

I knew what it was. A gray’s victim sought the gray who’d kissed him. It was an unavoidable trap. Even my harshest, coldest words wouldn’t be enough to keep him away from me forever.

I looked down at where he clutched my arm. “When will you ever learn, Colin?”

“I know you don’t mean to hurt me. Just like with Julie—I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

His scent was too much to bear. I couldn’t deal with this. I needed to go.

“Colin...”

He took hold of my other arm. “Just give me a chance, Sam. One chance. I think I’ll go crazy if you never kiss me again. Please. Just once. One kiss.”

“Fine,” I whispered.

Then I pushed him up against the lockers and crushed my mouth against his.

Chapter 19

I’d lost the fight a minute ago, but hadn’t realized it till now.

No, that was wrong. What was I saying? I felt it. I knew this was coming from the moment he followed me out of class.

He asked for this. He wanted it. Even now he groaned against my lips as I began to feed on his soul.

As I kissed Colin, all I thought of was Bishop. It was his kiss I craved more than anyone else’s. The only one I dreamed about, fantasized about, wished for, hoped for. Bishop’s mouth against mine—after he whispered that he loved me, despite our problems, despite everything that threatened to keep us apart.

He was an angel of death and had been for a long time. He only looked eighteen, but he’d existed for much longer than that. How could I ever think I could be something more to him than a problem to solve, or an inconvenient addiction?

I didn’t think. I’d hoped.

And I’d lied shamelessly last night. I didn’t want to stay away from him. No matter what—

Snap!

The entire team was gathered in the church.

“It’s a problem,” Connor said. “I’ve been looking into it and I’m sure this is it. All the recent suicides—they’re connected. There’s a demon loose in the city, one who escaped the Hollow. Like the Source of the grays fed on souls, this demon feeds on hope and happiness and the will to live. It drives these kids to kill themselves.”

“You’re sure about this?” Cassie asked, her beautiful face tense as she listened to Connor’s speech.

He shook his head. “Hell, no. I’m not sure about anything anymore.” Connor usually