Shadow Lake Vampire Society - Wendi Wilson Page 0,28

shit-tastic day, he was trying to leave the camp entirely? Because of me? And what was that Dean Purty was saying about him being tempted?

I shook my head to clear the unwanted thought. No. I must have misheard. While Levi Kass had shown several highs and lows of emotion around me, rarely had it been anything close to temptation or desire. With the possible exception of that brief moment on the lakeshore, his eyes had always shone with something more like disgust and hate.

And I, being the ultimate glutton for punishment, was disappointed. Did I want him to want me? Did I want his heart to beat a staccato rhythm every time he saw me? Did I want him to look at me with the heat of desire in those sage-colored eyes?

Yes. Yes, I did.

And I hated myself for it.

“Piper! Are you okay?”

True’s voice jerked me from my self-loathing thoughts, and I skidded to a halt in front of our cabin. She skipped down the steps to land in front of me, her hands rising to grip my shoulders. She dipped her head, snagging my gaze with hers.

“Where have you been?” she asked, her voice taking on a gentler tone. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Sorry,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m fine, I just needed some time.”

“I heard what Micah said, and she’s a total bee-yotch. Sasha never told Levi to give you CPR. Micah was just trying to get under your skin.”

“Well, she succeeded,” I said, pulling from True’s grasp and motioning her up the steps. Once inside the cabin, I turned back to my friend. “I overheard Levi talking to Dean Purty through the office window. He’s trying to leave Camp Shadow Lake altogether.”

“What?” she exclaimed, her head rearing back as if I’d slapped her. “Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know,” I said, shaking my head. “He said something about being tempted by someone—not being able to handle being around her.”

True’s eyes widened so far I expected her eyeballs to pop out of the sockets. Her mouth curled up into a feline grin, causing my head to shake rapidly.

“No,” I said.

“He was talking about you,” she said at the exact same moment. “Levi likes you, and doesn’t trust himself around you.”

Her voice took on a dreamy cadence that had me flinching. I shook my head again.

“I don’t think so, True. You didn’t see his face.”

“And you did?”

“Yes,” I replied, swallowing thickly. “I must have made a noise, or something, because he jumped in front of the window and slammed it shut. If looks could kill, I’d be dead a thousand times over. He does not like me. At all.”

True gazed at me, her expression skeptical, but she didn’t argue. I was glad, because I honestly didn’t have the energy to debate with her. I had some wound-licking to do. With that thought, I tossed myself onto my bunk.

“Are you coming to lunch?” she asked, her voice soft and hopeful.

“No, not today,” I said, throwing an arm across my eyes.

“I’ll bring you some food,” True offered, as she backed toward the door.

“Thanks, True,” I said.

“Of course. You get some rest,” she replied, and then she was gone.

And I was alone.

It was what I’d wanted, but as the silence settled around me, I realized it was probably not what I needed. True King was a force of nature, and there was no room for self-pity or wallowing in her world.

True would have worked her magic and cheered me up. She would have made me laugh. She would have convinced me I had nothing to worry about and that despite his high level of hotness, Levi Kass’s opinion of me meant nothing.

And I’d know she was right.

But lying here alone in my bed, my mind was spinning. I searched my memory, replaying every interaction I’d had with Levi, and I couldn’t come up with a single moment that might explain his obvious repulsion toward me. It came out of nowhere, and it was messing with my head.

I wondered what Coco would say about all of this. I rolled off my bunk and reached underneath, grabbing the strap of my duffel bag and pulling it out. I’d forgotten I hid my phone in there, and I was sure Coco had sent me at least four dozen text messages by now.

Unzipping the bag, I rooted around until my fingers closed around the device. Pulling it out, I plopped down on the mattress and powered it on. Sending up a little prayer it