worries. This is interesting.” As if he was watching a TV show or something, settled on the couch

with a beer in hand. Though I couldn’t imagine any of them kicking back with a brew. They just

seemed too . . . old. Or too serious.

Fighting vampires is serious business, yeah. But that seriousness on those unlined faces was oddly,

well, obscene. It wasn’t what they were supposed to look like.

“Terrifying is more like it,” Thomas muttered. “The Red Queen.”

“Second thoughts, Tommy?” Leon’s smile couldn’t have been called nice.

The blond djamphir grinned back, a wide white showing of teeth. “Not on your life, Fritz.” A rumble ran beneath the words, almost like a werwulf’s warning growl.

Oh, hold up. “Wait. Wait a second. You guys know about her?”

“The first-years think she’s a myth. You don’t even learn of her existence until you pass your thirdyear boards.” George looked worried. “Before we got this job a frontline grunt like me would never

even see a svetocha. Now they’re coming out of the woodwork. Even mythical ones.”

“She’s not that old; I remember when she was rescued. She doesn’t qualify as a myth.” Leon sighed.

“There’s no point in sleeping more. Not with orientation and classes.”

“Orientation?” I swear to God my knees almost buckled. I was glad Graves was standing right

there. “Classes?”

“Both for you, classes for us. Except Leon.” Benjamin effectively shut down further discussion by

turning away. “And tomorrow, Dru, I suggest we go clothes shopping.”

I already did. But I didn’t say it. Because getting out and away from the Schola was seeming like a

good idea. A fabulous idea. “Okay.”

“I’ll take you down to the cafeteria first thing.” Now Leon’s unsettling grin was directed at me.

“Food and a bunch of staring eyes. Best just to get it over with, right?”

“Right,” I said grimly and shoved Graves back by the simple expedient of stepping back myself.

How we did that without getting our legs tangled, I don’t know. But we managed it, and I was happy about that. “Sure. Give me fifteen.”

“You don’t need to hurry. An hour will do.”

But I was already closing the door. Graves let go of me, and after I locked everything, I turned

halfway and we sized each other up.

He was blushing furiously. So was I. We stood there, crimson-cheeked, and just looked at each other.

“Graves—” I began, but he spoke at the same time.

“Dru—” His eyes were so green; ever since he got bit, they’d been getting lighter and more intense.

We both laughed. It was crazy, hysterical laughter, but that was okay. I leaned against the door,

chuckling until tears squirted out my eyes. He bent over and hugged his midriff and made little ahah-ah sounds because he couldn’t get enough air in.