Megara

I haven't seen Raze for several days. Maybe I came on a little too strong after he brought me home on his bike. If he was imprisoned two hundred years ago, it was during an era when women were supposed to be prim and proper. I don't think either of those are words that have been used to describe me.

Am I completely wrong? Maybe he's not attracted to me after all, and only wants to be my bodyguard because of that strange bond he created between us. What did he call it? He marked me. Maybe the attraction is all one sided—my side—and he truly just wants to keep me safe.

The thought is sobering. And a definite downer. He neither confirmed nor denied when I asked if he was attracted to me. Just said it would never happen and warned me to stay away. It could be his way of trying to let me down gently.

I sigh inwardly as I move through the crowded living room of one of my fellow students. Why am I even bothering thinking about Raze when it's Saturday night and I'm at a party? Laughter and chatter mingle with the music, and there's a vibrant atmosphere that should cheer me up.

This is why I'm here. To experience normal student life. To let loose and live a little. Not to brood over sexy fallen angels and dwell on missing students and strange symbols.

I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a window and smile wryly. The emerald green dress I'm wearing hugs my curves and emphasises my waist and boobs. My hair is down, curled into soft waves that brush my bare shoulders. It's a far cry from my usual jeans and hoodies, but sometimes a girl needs to dress up.

If I had hoped a certain someone might see me...no need to dwell on that.

I wish I could read him better. All the signs I thought were him reciprocating my feelings seem to be wrong. Maybe I really am just confusing protection with attraction.

Well, if he's really not interested in me, I guess there's no harm in me having some fun tonight. Being under Cass's guardianship the last four years means I've missed a lot of important firsts, and I intend to make up for it while I can.

Scanning the room, my gaze lands on a tall, handsome guy near the makeshift bar—which is really nothing more than a kitchen island with bottles of alcohol on it. I think I recognise him from around campus. He's got that preppy, clean-cut look that screams 'future barrister' or 'my parents drive a Rolls Royce'. Normally, not my type. But tonight, he'll do just fine.

I make my way over to him, adding an extra sway to my hips. When I reach him, I flash my most dazzling smile.

"Hi there. I'm Meg."

He looks me up and down appreciatively, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Well, hello, Meg. I'm Tristan. Can I get you a drink?"

This is almost too easy. It's crazy to think I've missed out on all of this. I lean against the kitchen island, angling my body towards him.

"I'd like that."

We chat for a bit, the usual small talk about courses and hometowns. He's charming in a generic sort of way. Easy on the eyes, with a smile that probably gets him out of all sorts of trouble.

As we talk, I can't shake the feeling that someone is watching me. A tingle at the back of my neck. Is Raze here? I try to look around without being too obvious, but can't see him. Well, if he is here, and he wants to watch...then who am I to stop him? If nothing else, I can make it clear I don't care what he thinks.

Tristan leans in closer, his hand brushing my arm. "You know, it's pretty loud in here. What do you say we go somewhere a little more private?"

I glance up at him through my lashes, a coy smile playing on my lips. "Lead the way."

He takes my hand and guides me through the other guests towards the back of the house. We slip into an empty room, the sounds of the party fading behind the closed door.

"This is better," he murmurs, turning to face me. His hands come to rest on my hips, pulling me closer.

I tilt my face up to his, my heart beating a little faster. This is what I wanted, isn't it? A normal experience with a normal guy. The kind of thing regular university students do. Flirting. Stolen kisses in the dark. So why doesn't it feel right?

But I'm here, and I'm determined to enjoy this, so I close my eyes and wait to feel his lips on mine...

"Ahem."

We spring apart at the sound of a throat clearing. Whirling around, I see Raze stepping out of the shadows, his silver eyes glinting dangerously in the low light of the room.

"Raze?" I can't explain the way my stomach does a somersault at seeing him again. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing." His gaze flickers to Tristan, who looks like he can't decide whether he ought to be scared or pissed off.

"We were just... I mean, we were..." I trail off, suddenly feeling like Raze caught me with my hand in the till.

"Who the hell are you?" Tristan demands, straightening to his full height—which is impressive, but not enough to compete with Raze. I can't escape the feeling of watching a toddler stand up to a grown man.

Instead of answering, Raze quietly says, "Get out." His voice is low and ominous, sending a shiver down my back, but not of fear.

Uncertain, Tristan looks between me and the stranger. "Hey mate, we were just—"

"I said"—Raze steps forward, his fists clenched at his sides—"get out."

Tristan doesn't need to be told a third time. With a muttered apology to me, he squeezes past us and leaves the room, slamming the door behind him and leaving me alone with my furious guardian angel.

"What the hell, Raze?" I cross my arms over my chest. "You can't just go around scaring off every guy who shows an interest in me!"

"I can if they pose a threat to your safety."

A disbelieving laugh escapes me. "A threat? Tristan? Please. The only thing he was a threat to was my lipstick."

That was the wrong thing to say. Raze's eyes darken and his hands flex at his sides. "You don't know that he's not a Hellbound. Or what his intentions were. And where is Zeph? He's supposed to be watching you."

"He's here at the party too, but I don't need a babysitter. I'm sure if he had any suspicion of Tristan being Hellbound or anything else, Zeph would have stepped in."

He scoffs. "Zeph seems more interested in sampling mortals than keeping you safe."

Anger flares hot in my chest. "He just doesn't mind if I have some fun."

"Fun?" He flings his arm out in a wide arc. "This is what you call fun? Throwing yourself at some random human?"

"Maybe if you weren't so damn determined to push me away, I wouldn't need to! But it's clear you have no interest in me, so I have to look elsewhere!" I snap, my voice rising.

His eyes widen, and for a moment, I see a flash of something raw and vulnerable in their depths. But it's gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by wry amusement.

"That's what you believe? That I don't want you?"

"It's not like I haven't been throwing myself at you."

"So what was all this? You trying to make me jealous?"

I lift my chin defiantly. "What if I am? Did it work?"

He stares at me for a long moment, the tension between us crackling. Then, slowly, he steps forward, closing the distance between us until I can feel the heat radiating off his body.

"Meg..."

"Well?" I stare up at him. Challenging him. "If you're determined to ruin any fun I might have while at uni, maybe you should offer to help me out yourself."

It's a bold request, but at this point, I have nothing to lose. His eyes are dark and his gaze drops to my lips. Cupping my cheek, his thumb brushes over my skin, sending tingles of awareness through my body. I lean into his touch, not wanting it to end.

"You don't know what you're asking for," he says roughly.

"I think I do." I tilt my face up to his.

Our lips are a hairsbreadth apart. His breath mingles with mine. My eyes flutter closed...

And then he's gone. Stepping back, his hand falls from my face. I open my eyes to see him shaking his head.

"I can't," he says, his voice strained. "This isn't... We can't."

Hurt and frustration well up inside me, hot and biting. "Then stop interfering with my life, Raze. You can't have it both ways."

I turn to leave, blinking back the sudden sting of tears. But before I reach the door, Raze catches my arm and spins me back around to face him.

Suddenly, his lips are on mine, fierce and desperate, and my body bursts into flame at the contact. I make a surprised noise in the back of my throat, but then I'm kissing him back, my hands fisting in the front of his shirt as I pull myself closer.

He kisses me like a man starved and it's everything I've been dreaming of and more. It's not like any of the fumbling kisses in my life so far. This is raw and desperate and all-consuming. I feel it in every cell of my body. This need. This ache. Like I've been wandering in the desert and he's the first drop of water I've had in days.

But just as abruptly as it began, it's over. Raze wrenches himself away from me, stumbling back like I've burned him. His chest heaves as he runs a hand through his hair, his eyes wild and haunted.

"I'm sorry," he rasps, shaking his head. "That was a mistake. I shouldn't have—"

And he's gone. Disappearing into the shadows as if he was never here at all.

I don't move for a long time, my fingers pressed to my tingling lips. What just happened? One minute he's kissing me like his life depends on it, and the next he's running away from me like I'm toxic.

Frustration and confusion swirl inside me, but beneath it all, there's a flicker of something else. Hope, maybe.

Because now I know.

Raze wants me.

And one way or another, I will make him admit that.

Filled with renewed determination, I return to the party. It's even harder to enjoy myself now. If I thought my mind was preoccupied with Raze before, it's nothing compared to now that I know how amazing it feels to kiss him. I need to experience that again.

As I grab a drink from the kitchen, I overhear some students talking, and I pause.

"Has really no one seen Bradley?" a girl asks, worry clear in her voice.

"I haven't seen him since Monday's Programming lecture," another student replies.

My ears perk up. Bradley is missing? Needing to know more, I approach the group.

"What about Bradley?" I ask.

The first girl wrings her hands nervously. "He won't answer his phone, and no one has seen him in any of his lectures."

I frown, my mind racing. Bradley isn't a close friend, but I know him enough to know he's passionate about his studies and wouldn't just disappear without telling anyone. This can't be a coincidence. Not with the rumours of other missing students and those strange demonic runes.

Maybe Raze's warnings about danger aren't wrong. There definitely seems to be something sinister going on at my school. Part of me wants to bury my head in the sand and let someone else deal with the potential threat.

But a bigger part of me knows I can't do that. I can't ignore someone needing help. Not when people are disappearing around me. What if someone I care about more deeply is next? The thought is unbearable.

And I can help. I might not have the fighting skills of Cass or Aura's ability to see past the Hellbound's facades to the monsters within, but I know about supernatural threats. I know what's out there. If I don't use my knowledge to help others, then what good am I?

My mind made up, I set my drink down and head for the door. As I step out into the cool night air, I can't shake the feeling that I'm being watched. And despite everything, I kind of hope it's Raze.

If there really is something evil lurking here, I might need him for something other than kisses. I want to get to the bottom of what's happening here on campus, and he can assist with that. Together, we can help.

Even if it means sacrificing some of the normalcy I've craved for so long.