By sunset, Adeline had decided that Vampire de Witch was exhausting.
She had survived two classes, one combat lesson, an embarrassing encounter with Azreal, and approximately a hundred questions about where she came from.
She wanted a shower.
Food.
And preferably a room where nobody could find her.
Unfortunately, she had forgotten one very important thing.
She had a sister.
"Adeline!"
Adeline closed her eyes.
She knew that voice.
A second later, someone crashed into her from behind.
"You're finally here!"
Adeline stumbled forward.
"Tricky!"
Her sister laughed and wrapped both arms around her.
Adeline tried to look annoyed.
It didn't work.
Tricky was one of the few people who could make her smile without trying.
Unlike Adeline, Tricky didn't have dark hair. Her long, turquoise curls shimmered under the evening light, and her eyes were an unusual shade of blue-green.
She looked almost human.
Almost.
There was a faint shimmer across her skin whenever she got excited, and Adeline knew that if Tricky stepped into water, her legs would become a shimmering silver tail.
She was a mermaid.
And possibly the most irritating mermaid alive.
"You didn't tell me you were coming today," Adeline said.
"I wanted to surprise you."
"You nearly broke my spine."
"That's how mermaids hug."
"That's not a thing."
"It is now."
Adeline shook her head.
Tricky grabbed her hand.
"Come on. I want to show you the dormitory."
"You've already been here?"
"For three days."
Adeline stopped.
"Three days?"
Tricky nodded proudly.
"Did you read the letter they gave us?"
"Which letter?"
"The one explaining the school rules."
"No."
"Of course not."
Tricky pulled Adeline toward the dormitories.
"You'll like it here."
"I doubt that."
"You haven't even tried."
"I've tried enough."
Tricky laughed.
"You always say that."
Adeline smiled despite herself.
For a few minutes, the weight she'd carried all day seemed lighter.
Then she noticed someone standing across the courtyard.
Azreal.
He was talking to Ezekiel, but his eyes briefly moved toward her.
Adeline's smile disappeared.
Tricky followed her gaze.
"Who's that?"
"No one."
"He's staring at you."
"He's probably wondering why I'm so beautiful."
Tricky laughed.
"You're impossible."
"I know."
Azreal looked away.
But Adeline noticed something strange.
One of the small shadows near his feet moved.
She stiffened.
A demon.
It lifted its head.
Its eyes glowed faintly before disappearing beneath Azreal's cloak.
Adeline looked away quickly.
She didn't want another conversation with him.
Not tonight.
Later that evening, Adeline couldn't sleep.
The dormitory was quiet.
Too quiet.
She sat on the edge of her bed, staring through the window.
The moon hung over the mountains like a silver coin.
Her skin prickled.
The hunger had returned.
Not enough to make her lose control.
But enough to remind her that it was there.
She pressed her palm against her chest.
"Stay down."
A soft knock came from the door.
Adeline jumped.
Tricky stepped inside.
"You talk to yourself now?"
"Go away."
"No."
Tricky sat beside her.
"You look worried."
"I'm fine."
"You always say that when you're not."
Adeline sighed.
"I'm just tired."
Tricky leaned against her shoulder.
"Then sleep."
"I'll try."
Neither sister noticed the faint movement outside the window.
A shadow passed across the glass.
Adeline's eyes flashed crimson for barely a second.
She turned sharply.
Nothing.
Her eyes returned to normal.
Across the courtyard, Azreal stood beneath the balcony.
He had seen something.
Not enough to understand it.
Just enough.
A flash of red.
A strange stillness in Adeline's expression.
And the unmistakable feeling that something inside her had briefly awakened.
Ezekiel appeared beside him.
"What are you looking at?"
Azreal kept his eyes on the window.
"Nothing."
Ezekiel followed his gaze.
"That's the new girl."
Azreal said nothing.
Inside the room, Tricky looked at Adeline.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Adeline forced a smile.
"Yeah."
Tricky studied her.
Then she smiled back.
"Good."
Adeline looked toward the window again.
She couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching.
She didn't know that Azreal had already seen the first crack in her carefully constructed secret.
And she certainly didn't know that his curiosity had just become something much more dangerous.