“Good news? There are seven billion people out there, and I’m only compatible with one? No way. Those are the worst odds ever.”
My outburst brought on a fit of husky laughter. It took Blackmore a couple minutes to cough and regain his composure, but the twinkle in his eyes never went away. “That’s a very astute observation. Our community tends to believe being a soulmate is romantic.”
I sniffled a little. “Man, it’s been only bad news for the last twenty-four hours.”
The sweet old man patted my hand. “Good and bad things have a way of evening themselves out. I’m sure your bad luck will not last forever.”
I was mulling over his words when a wave of raw power washed over me.
“Do you feel that?” I asked Professor Blackmore.
“What exactly are you feeling?” His tone reverted back to one of scholarly curiosity.
I sat up a little straighter and stared at the door; the sensation came from somewhere beyond it. Power flowed over my skin, building on itself as its source came closer. The rush made me feel giddy.
I glanced at Professor Blackmore. I could tell by his expression he still hadn’t noticed the surge of energy.
I heard a doctor shouting down the hall. “You are not authorized to be here!”
Suddenly, a familiar form filled up the doorway. “Hello Gabrielle.”
Professor Blackmore had been wrong. My bad luck was only just beginning.
Chapter 8
“This is who you had the doctor call?”
Andre. I tried not show how shaken I was by the surge of power that accompanied him. It was there still, thrumming like background noise—very loud background noise.
However, unlike me, Andre seemed unfazed by the situation.
“Do you two already know each other?” Professor Blackmore asked.
“Unfortunately,” I said under my breath.
Andre sauntered in, assessing the small hospital room then drinking me in with his eyes. “So,” he crossed his arms and leaned casually against the door, “you’re becoming a vampire?”
“Apparently,” I said. Of course we couldn’t just part ways after our bad date.
“Well then, we need to introduce you to the coven and begin training.”
“Training?”
“To control your new powers. We don’t want you—how did you put it the other night? Oh, eating any of your future dates.”
Oh no.
It sank in then. I was becoming a vampire, and Andre was a vampire. We were both going to be kicking around for a long time, and now that we were part of the same clan, I had a sneaking suspicion that we were going to see each other. A lot.
So much for going our separate ways. Life really screws you sometimes.
***
Andre had called an emergency meeting for any vampires in the area. I was to be introduced in an hour. On the way to the meeting, we made a pit stop at my dorm so I could take a shower and change.
When we arrived, the woman manning the desk did a double take as Andre strolled in behind me.
“Miss, guest hours end at 9:00 p.m. I’m sorry, but your friend has to …” She trailed off as she took me in. “You’re that girl—they said you died.”
“I didn’t,” I replied. “I became a vampire.”
She gasped at my words and made the sign of the cross.
Call it a sore spot, but her reaction ticked me off. “This is what you have to deal with every day?” I asked Andre. He raised an eyebrow. “No wonder you have anger management problems; you’ve had to deal with these people for centuries.”
“I do not have anger management problems.”
The woman’s eyes darted back and forth between me an Andre, wild and frightened. I could smell her fear, and it sent a shiver down my spine. I felt Andre’s hand on my shoulder. The touch brought on a zing of electricity.
Pull it together. He didn’t say it, but the gesture did.
“Can my ride please come up? We are on a tight schedule. I have to meet my clan—”
“Coven,” Andre corrected.
“Excuse me, coven in less than an hour, and I need to get ready.”
She was shaking her head vigorously back and forth—which I took for yes. I grabbed Andre’s hand and, ignoring the zing of energy and the live current now circulating between us, led him to my room.
My place was empty when I arrived, something I was exceedingly grateful for. It would be difficult to explain to Oliver and Leanne everything that had happened to me and still make the meeting on time.
I felt Andre behind me; the thrum of his energy stretched and receded like a rubber band when we were near. He walked over to my bed and picked up his blanket, his expression smug.
He lifted one of those deliciously sculpted eyebrows. “I think someone likes me.”
I snatched the blanket from his hands. “Don’t get too excited. I was cold.” I was also a liar, and he knew it.
His look became heated, and he smiled suggestively. God help me, I was getting turned on. He began walking towards me, and that electric charge between us surged.