To Love a Vampire - A.K. Koonce Page 0,26

I realize where we were going the moment his voice carries over the crowd to us.

I don’t know if my body will ever not recognize Asher’s. Before I can even see him, my nerves are on edge, aware of his location like a magnet pulled to hard metal.

The crowd parts and Asher and Gabriel appear, standing against the tree line—outsiders looking in. No one gives them a second glance, but to my surprise, Kaino is there with them. Strangely enough, he’s smiling—something I have never in my life seen the commander do. His smile is wide and wolf-like, white teeth fully on display. His hulking mass shakes at the shoulders from something that Asher says to him. The three of them laugh among themselves, amazing me even further when Asher pushes the commander’s shoulder lightly, causing them all to laugh a bit more.

Their good mood falters and evaporates at the sight of us. Even Gabriel is aware of the change without seeing a thing.

“Good evening, Fallon, Luca,” Kaino says, nodding politely to us, his personality turning bland the moment he sees us.

I smile at Kaino as Asher takes a drink from his cup, seemingly disinterested in both myself and Luca.

Kaino looks around like he might make his escape plan, like I’m suffocating him with my mere presence. I suppress an eye roll but Luca wastes no time joining the men, ignoring the awkward hum that surrounds us.

“You guys aren’t dancing tonight?” she asks a bit sarcastically.

The idea of Kaino moving his hips, arms or feet for any purpose besides warfare seems unrealistic to me but I say nothing.

“I would but you haven’t asked me yet,” Gabriel says shrugging his shoulders at her.

An unsure smirk pulls at Luca’s full lips as she eyes the hybrid, taken aback by his reply.

“Are you flirting with me, hybrid?” she asks, raising her head higher to meet his empty, white irises. A flicker of fiery curiosity ignites her eyes.

“Absolutely.”

She steps closer to him. He doesn’t move but I can see his breath falter slightly from her nearness, his wide chest hesitant to breathe around her. He stands tall, maybe an inch taller than Luca, his muscle tone is even and strong but not overbearing, more lengthy than bulky.

“Why?” she asks in a speculating tone, tilting her head at him, a soft line creasing her brows.

Why? Is she serious? She’s a bit intimidating sure, but she’s beautiful. Not that Gabriel knows that, I suppose.

“I’d be an idiot not to.”

“How do you know I’m not hideous?” she says, studying him up and down, taking her time appraising the unseeing hybrid.

“Are you?”

He smiles at her, his teeth a brilliant slash of bright white and Luca leans into him at the sight of his kind smile.

A few moments pass between them, the beat of the drums counting each second.

“Of course not,” she says confidently, pushing her bronze shoulders back straighter.

“I’d have to be more than blind not to know that, Beautiful.”

Her usual glaring eyes and tight set lips break into a genuine smile at his words. Asher’s eyebrows rise over his cup as he takes another long drink. He steals a glance at me and I can’t help but smirk at the situation that’s unfolding around us. Even Kaino isn’t scowling… For the moment at least.

“Do you want to dance?” Gabriel asks, touching her arm lightly, his fingers lingering against her caramel skin.

She wastes no time, grabbing his hand and pulling him into the mass of people, disappearing from sight.

And I’m alone. With Kaino and Asher. The two mystics I avoid as if my life depends on it.

Perfect.

A silence stretches around us. Asher stands between us, his eyes drifting between Kaino and myself, waiting with a smirk to see which one of us will break first. It’s a game to him, one he can easily win. His years of experience within the compound makes silence a friend to him.

Why did I come with Luca tonight?

I take a deep breath, my feet shifting nervously on their own accord.

“You look pretty tonight,” Kaino says without emotion, waving a wide hand vaguely in my direction.

If he’s being honest, I don’t believe it. Kaino looks about attracted to me as a mouse is to a napping cat.

I roll my eyes at him as a laugh bubbles over Asher’s lips.

Asher bumps his elbow into Kaino’s arm. “You didn’t tell me you were such a charmer. Got to give a guy warning before you use a line like that.” Dimples mar his beautiful face as