CHAPTER NINE

"Come on. This way." Alec extends his hand, but I hesitate.

"I'm afraid." I press my fingers to my chest, torn between following him deeper into the woods and turning around.

His smile is gentle, his hazel eyes brighter than the sky. "What are you afraid of?"

"Everything," I whisper.

"It's okay to be afraid," he says. "And it's okay to be a little nervous."

I swallow against the lump in my throat. The wind dances through the trees and tickles my skin. With the sun filtering through the leaves, the woods are starting to look tempting, the sort of place I can disappear into.

And wouldn't that be nice? To slip away and forget all of my worries?

Alec steps closer, and my breath hitches in my chest. "Let me kiss you."

"I..." I can't speak. Can hardly breathe.

He cups my face, his thumb tracing little circles over my cheek. "It's just a kiss."

"It's not just a kiss." I frown and look down at our feet.

The warmth of his hand sizzles against my skin. "It's a kiss I've wanted to give you since the moment I first saw you."

His words make my vision blur with tears. "I've wanted it too."

"You can trust me, Winter," he whispers. He takes my other hand, his fingers interlacing with mine. "I promise."

I nod, and it's all that's needed. The woods explode with bright, pulsating light. It strobes around us, turning Alec into a silhouette. He ducks his face, his breath warm and sweet against my mouth.

The moment our lips touch, the world disappears. It's just me and him. Nothing else matters. He presses my back against a tree, his mouth moving against mine. Desire explodes inside me with the power of an atom bomb gone off in my chest. I want him so much. More than everything else in the world put together.

Only, I don't want to be the only one feeling this way.

I want him to want me just as much.

The kiss deepens. His tongue touches mine, and I feel like I'm on fire, consumed by him.

"Alec," I murmur against his lips.

He draws back, eyelids heavy, his gaze drinking me in. "We're meant to be together."

I melt against him, my fingers twisting in his shirt. If it weren't for his arm around my back, I would collapse.

"I know," I whisper. "It's destiny."

His throat rolls with a swallow. "I need to tell you something. It's serious."

"What?"

There's a loud bang, and I jerk.

The next thing I know, I'm sitting up in bed, my skin covered in sweat. My entire body shakes, and my breathing is quick and labored, like I've been running.

"It was a dream," I gasp.

Remembering Heather, I bite my lip. If she heard me talking to myself, it would be instant fodder for her taunts.

Throwing off the covers, I slide my feet into my slippers. Even though it was a dream, it felt so real. I swear I can still feel Alec's lips against mine.

I touch my lips, and a thrill passes through me. The dream wasn't that different from our encounter in the woods, except he was gruffer in reality. And there was no kiss, of course.

Still wearing the clothes I had on at the bonfire, I pad quietly across the floor. The faint smell of smoke drifts up from my sweater, along with it the real-life memory of Alec. At the thought of his eyes, my insides turn to jelly.

I really shouldn't be thinking of him, and yet I can't seem to stop it. Even when I'm unconscious!

In the bathroom, I splash water on my face and take a deep breath. The dream still vibrates in my veins, and I don't know how I'll be able to go back to sleep. Still, I have to try. Tomorrow is another day of classes and mysteries.

Unless I leave this place.

My aunt lives somewhere in Maine. Even though we've never met, maybe she'd take me in. At least temporarily, until I figured something else out.

The thought is tempting, but maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. Graduating from school--even if it's this crazy school--is still important.

As I stand there with my eyes squeezed shut, I try to think of anything but Alec.

It doesn't work.

I picture his lips touching mine, and it feels like I'm in his arms all over again, the dream turned into reality. His mouth is so hungry, but at the same time, so gentle.

Is he sleeping right now? Or is he thinking of me? I doubt it. He was just messing with me at the bonfire, and there are plenty of girls at this school. Maybe he's with one of them. Maybe he's kissing her the way he kissed me in the dream.

Nausea rolls up my chest, and I feel like I'm going to be sick.

Enough. I need to get him out of my head.

Flicking off the bathroom light, I slip into the bedroom. I glance at Heather's bed to make sure I haven't woken her, but it's empty.

My lips pull into a frown. Is she still out partying?

Hopefully, that means she'll sleep in a little tomorrow and I'll be able to get ready for class before she's even up.

With that small bit of comfort under my belt, I head for my bed. Two yellow glowing eyes in the window stop me in my tracks.

"Oh no," I gasp.

I choke and step back, not knowing whether to scream or cry. On the one hand, I'm terrified. On the other hand, this is the best possible way to wake up.

Because I'm still dreaming, right? I have to be.

The eyes blink and then... disappear.

My hands curl into fists, and the stinging of my nails in my palms tells me that I'm very much awake.

"It was just an animal." My voice shakes. "Just an animal. An owl on the ledge."

Still, I race into bed and pull the covers over me. My ears strain, and I listen for any abnormal noises, but the whole hall is quiet. Eventually, I drift off into sleep.

Until the floorboard creaks.

My eyes pop open, and I tense. What was that?

Hands curl around my ankles, and someone--something--yanks me hard. I slip under the quilt, a scream spilling from my lips.