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Bellamy takes one deep pull that increases the pleasure tenfold until I’m trembling in his arms, gasping for air. I’m so close. So very close.

“What the hell are you doing?” That sharp voice I’ve come to hate ruins the moment.

My eyes fly open and land on a very angry mage. Drake’s lip is curled in disgust, anger contorting his features. Melody is nowhere to be found, but the shards of glass from the panes of the entry hall litter the floor.

Bellamy swallows one more time before reluctantly stopping. I hiss as his fangs pull out of my skin. I’m not sure if I want him to continue or to never do it again.

And that, my friends, is why we don’t let vampires drink our blood.

He smirks at me, completely ignoring his friend, tongue smoothing over my skin to seal the wound, even though my body would have stitched itself back together.

“Bellamy, what the fuck?” Drake asks.

The vampire’s gaze shimmers with amusement. He straightens, lips wet and stained crimson. Every bit the deadly predator humans fear. His tongue lashes over them, his thumb catching a drip of blood at the corner of his mouth, but rather than lick it clean, he brushes it over my lips.

Out from under the trance of his bite, I pull back, but I’m too late. My own blood is like lipstick on my skin.

“Goodbye, sweet ruin,” he murmurs so low, the words slip through my ears and my ears alone. Turning, he strides out of the alcove, shoulder knocking into Drake’s, who scowls after him.

Though, instead of following, Drake stays and turns his glare on me.

What is his problem? “Lovely to see you, as always,” I tell him, hoping my sarcasm will distract him from what he witnessed.

“Stay away from my bonds.”

Tilting my head, I study him. His hands are fisted at his side, cold eyes harder than usual, and he wears an expression I don’t quite understand. “You’re so angry for a guy who has everything.”

He falters at my words.

I take the moment to grab my bag and step out of the alcove, though instead of fleeing, I close the distance between us. The glass Melody broke crunches underfoot. Drake steps back when I get close enough that our chests might touch. Only then do I stop.

“What was it you said to me? No one at this school would want me?” Two of my fingers stroke over the spot Bellamy bit, and a vicious grin splits my lips. “Seems you were wrong, little mage.”

His eyes flash. With a laugh meant to degrade him, I shake my head and head out of the library.

“I mean it, Raina. Stay away,” he calls after me.

The thing about being bossed around? It makes me want to misbehave. Drake may as well have thrown down a gauntlet. Besides, I made a blood bargain with Bellamy. I can’t stay away from him even if I want to.

Diremount’s architecture is especially beautiful at dawn. The style has a lot to do with it, but so does the fact that almost no one is around. I’ve come to enjoy my time alone. The peace and quiet and⁠—

Bellamy falls into step beside me.

What was I saying?

Peace? Gone.

Quiet? No chance of that with this guy.

I side-eye him. “What are you doing?”

He shoves his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants. This vampire has no right to look so put together in the morning. “I figured you might want company.”

“Melody isn’t here, you can go annoy someone else.”

With the sun barely kissing the horizon, there are shadows everywhere. Bellamy uses them to appear in front of me. He walks backward and his gaze slides over my body. I’ve never been more self-conscious of my discount shorts and T-shirt. With the way his eyes hood, I don’t think he cares how much the outfit cost. He’d probably prefer it on the ground.

“I think you like when I annoy you,” he finally says.