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Chapter 28
Leesa's brain was spinning. Complicated. Secret. Tell no one. Where on earth was he going with this? What did vampires have to do with holding hands and kissing? For some reason, her mother's wild story popped into her head. Not again, please, she prayed. She studied Rave's face. He didn't look crazy. He looked anxious, but determined. And damn handsome.
“Yeah, I promise.”
Rave smiled. She could see some of the anxiety melt from his features.
“Do you believe in vampires, Leesa?”
Uh-oh, here we go, she thought. “Not completely. But more than when school started, that's for sure. Professor Clerval makes a compelling case. And you talk about them with such certainty.”
“You're not alone. Most people don't believe they truly exist. But they do, I promise you. Have you ever heard of volkaanes?”
Leesa shook her head, frowning. “No, never. What's a volkaane?”
“Among ot
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Leesa's Advent Chapter 29
“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,” Cali said to Leesa.“Carpe diem,” added Caitlin.“Life is short,” chimed in Stacie.Leesa sat on her bed, her back propped comfortably against two pillows, while her friends took turns trying to persuade her to wear something sexy and sleazy to tomorrow night's big Halloween bash. That she had even agreed to go to what was billed as the biggest and wildest party of the year was a big enough step for her. No way was she going to wear some slinky costume that would invite way more attention than she wanted or needed. Besides, there was only one guy whose attention she craved, and she already had Rave's full interest.Cali had pulled the desk chair close to the bed—the better to pressure her, Leesa knew—while Caitlin hovered behind Cali's shoulder. At least Stacie had the consideration to sit across the room rather than loom over her, though that didn't stop her from urging Le
Leesa's Advent Chapter 30
The doorway let them into a small meeting room open only to fraternity members and their guests. The room was cluttered with coats and sweatshirts piled atop tables and hanging from metal hooks. Music from the band in the main room filtered in through the cement walls. Leesa and her friends wasted no time peeling off the sweatshirts they wore over their skimpy costumes and hanging them on a couple of empty hooks.“Look out, guys,” Cali cooed. “The hotties have arrived.”Leesa's pirate outfit consisted of a white button shirt tied in a knot just below her breasts to bare her abs, a pair of black shorts, and loose, knee-high black suede boots Cali had found at the local Goodwill store. Caitlin's gold hoop earring dangled from Leesa's left ear and her red bandana covered the top of Leesa's head. A curved plastic sword hung from a black sash around her waist. The two highlights of the costume were both Cali's idea. The first was one of her bras, whi
Leesa's Advent Chapter 31
Tuxedo guy swept forward. “How about a dance, then?”“Sure,” Caitlin replied. She pulled her stilettos from her feet. “Let's go.” She strode toward the dance area, giving her butt an extra wiggle as she walked. Tuxedo guy hurried after her.“What about you?” the pirate asked Stacie. “Wanna dance?”“Why not? Catch you guys later,” she said to Leesa and Cali, then took the pirate's arm and followed Caitlin and tuxedo guy toward the front.“Looks like you're the odd man out,” Cali said to the vampire. “But don't worry. I'm sure there's a neck out there somewhere with your name on it.” She turned to Leesa. “I'm thirsty. Let's get a drink. Then we can try to find our men. Andy's definitely here somewhere. Who knows about Rave.”“Okay.” Leesa replied. “Nice to meet you,” she said to the vampire. “Good hunting.”
Leesa's Advent Chapter 32
A surging, seething, murmuring crowd of beings human in name only filled the huge room. Rave shook his head as he scanned the jumble of costumed students, wondering what he had gotten himself into. He had mingled with groups of humans before, but never one so large or so boisterous. This was not his first new experience with humans since he'd met Leesa, he thought, smiling as he recalled their brief kiss. And he was pretty certain it wouldn't be his last.More than a hundred students were dancing to the beat of the classic “Monster Mash,” a song he had heard many times over the years. He liked the offbeat lyrics and rhythm, and found himself humming as he squeezed his way along the wall past the dance area. He had avoided the long lines out front by finding an unattended door in the back. The lock had provided little resistance—he simply ripped the door open and slipped inside, the noise covered by the pounding music. Once inside, he used his heat to weld th
Leesa's Advent Chapter 33
A cold breeze raised goose bumps on her arms. Sensing her discomfort, Rave took off his jacket and draped it across her shoulders. The buckskin, warmed by his volkaane heat, melted the chill from her body almost immediately. She leaned against him and playfully squeezed his bicep. “I'm impressed,” she said, looking back at the broken lock. “You're stronger than you look. Could a vampire do that?” she teased. Rave's expression turned serious. “With one hand,” he said. “Their strength is double mine.” Leesa did not like hearing that. “But your inner fire is enough to overcome it?” “That, and this.” Leesa barely saw him move, but suddenly he was standing fifteen feet away on a patch of weed-dotted broken asphalt, grinning. In a flash, he was back beside her. She swore she felt the breeze from his movement on her cheek. All she could say was, “Wow!” “Our fire and speed against their strength and fangs,” Rave said. “Surprise is usually the deciding
Leesa's Advent Chapter 34
“Once upon a midnight dreary…while I pondered…weak and weary,” intoned the tall young man standing behind the lead singer's microphone. He was wearing a Friday the 13th Jason mask and carrying a bloodstained machete that looked awfully real. His voice was deep and dramatic, and the room grew steadily quieter as he boomed out his lines, reading from a piece of paper.“While I nodded…nearly napping…suddenly, there came a tapping…as of someone gently rapping…rapping at my chamber door.”He certainly knows how to get a room's attention, Leesa thought as she held Rave's hand and listened along with almost everyone else in the place as he introduced himself as Butch Morrison, president of the BPDs.“That rapping is not Snoop Dog or Lil' Wayne, either,” he continued, pausing while a ripple of laughter flowed through the room. “Campus Security has asked me to share a few words with you.&
Leesa's Advent Chapter 35
The top of the hillside was crowned by a stand of leafy maples. In the moonlight, the red leaves appeared dark purple. Leesa knew there were wooden benches spread among the trees—beautiful places to sit and relax in the shade on a warm day, but cold and uninviting on a chill night like this. Despite the bright moon, the area under the trees was shrouded in black shadows. Leesa suspected Rave could easily navigate the darkness of the copse, but the twisted roots would present a hazard for her. Without a word, Rave steered her around the edge of the grove.Leesa's heart jumped when a dark figure detached itself from the shadows and stepped into their path. She squeezed Rave's hand, but relaxed when the moonlight revealed it was only a kid, fifteen at most, exceedingly slim with a boyish face and long blond hair. He flashed them a toothy grin, and she relaxed still further. The boy seemed clueless about how dangerous it was to be out here alone, and she wondered what he wa
Leesa's Advent Chapter 36
“Who's there?”The thick wooden door muffled Professor Clerval's voice, but Leesa was glad he was in his office. She had arrived early for her appointment, and with no yellow glow seeping from beneath the door, she'd been afraid he might not be here yet.“It's Leesa Nyland, Professor,” she called loudly.A moment later, she heard the click of the old lock and the door swung open. The office was dark, lit only by two flickering candles atop the professor's desk. No wonder she hadn't seen any light under the door.“Come in, come in,” Dr. Clerval invited as he stepped back from the doorway. As soon as Leesa was inside, he pushed the door closed and turned the lock.Leesa wondered why he was keeping the door locked. “I'm sorry I'm early,” she said, standing in the center of the small office and letting her eyes adjust to the dimness. The air was thick with the fruity scent of his pipe tobacco, and she saw
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