And somehow I played a part.
“Oh,” Emma chirped. “Let’s ask Ronan. ”
I looked up, and there he was. I braced instantly, trying to put up shields I knew would be no match for those green eyes.
“Ronan,” I said under my breath. “Speak of the devil. ”
CHAPTER FIVE
Ronan made a beeline for the table. There were many of us he taught, but a small part of me hoped that I was the one he was coming to see.
I checked that emotion. If anyone would be able to sense my bond with Carden, it’d be Ronan. If anything, I should be avoiding him. Besides, the vampire wouldn’t take kindly to the quasi-friendship we shared. I had enough complications in my life without testing that theory.
I realized I was glaring at him when he glared at me back. I had to say something now. “Good evening to you, too, Ronan. ”
Sure enough, he stopped by my chair. “Will you be ready to work tomorrow morning?”
Why would he even ask me that? And why did I feel like his gaze could pierce right through me? I forced myself not to squirm under the scrutiny. “Do I have a choice?”
Then I saw it—the briefest smile flickered across his features and was gone just as fast. He’d told me once how I reminded him of his sister who’d been killed in Watcher training. What else did he see when he looked at me?
He glanced at my tray. “Are you finished here?”
Mei-Ling was eating quietly. I didn’t want to leave her alone. I glanced at my friends, an unasked question in my eyes. Emma nodded. She’d keep an eye out for my mysterious roommate.
“Yeah, I’m done. ” I stood and gathered my tray.
“Walk with me. ”
“I need to get back soon. ” Curfew was coming, and it was time for all good girls to be nestled safe in their beds. “We Acari aren’t allowed to roam like you guys. ” I chafed my arms, feeling as bitter as the wind that pummeled me even through the thick wool of my coat.
“I’ll drop you at the dorm,” he said.
It was September and the end of the dimming, which meant the sun was dipping low on the horizon. Full darkness was back—thank God. I thought I’d never see it again. And I thought I’d never want to. But the body craves darkness. There was a metaphor in there somewhere that I didn’t want to spend too much time analyzing.
My mind went to Carden. Would I see him one more time today? I told myself it didn’t matter.
“How are you?” Something about Ronan’s tone was stilted.
Why did he want to know? Had he already guessed about my bond with Carden?
Impossible. I was imagining things. Interactions with me were always stilted. If he sounded weird, it was just more of my own social ineptitude. So why the inane question?
“I know you better than that, Ronan. ” I attempted a smile over my chattering teeth. “I don’t think you pulled me from the dining hall just to ask how I was doing. ”
The strained look on his face told me I was right. “I wanted to ask you what it is you think you’re doing. ”
“What do you mean?” I asked, instantly on the defensive.
His expression softened. “You’re in danger, Annelise. ”
“I heard about the killer. I know…I’ll be careful. ”
“It’s not the killer that concerns me. It’s Carden McCloud. ”
My every sense went on alert. “Why would you say that?”
He cut a look at me. “Do not pretend naïveté. I see how he favors you. The other vampires have noticed it, too. Your name has been on many a vampire tongue, and it’s a concern. ”