Page 56 of Midnight Kiss

“I’m serious. You’re like glowing or something. What on earth did you do to yourself?”

“You mean apart from being desperately sick?”

Jen laughed. “Exactly. Total glow up.”

Jen and I chatted for a while before she pushed off my desk and returned to hers. I spent the rest of the afternoon catching up on work, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched. That there was someone in between the dark aisles or standing right behind me.

It was ridiculous. Maybe the flu had set me off my game or made me paranoid? But then, I distantly recalled feeling similar before getting sick. Hadn’t I? Everything before the illness was a little fuzzy, and during it too. The only bright and clear spots were my encounters with Alex.

I frowned and rubbed the back of my neck again. What had happened? Why had I fallen sick?

My gaze wandered to the books surrounding me. The quiet rustle of pages didn’t bring me comfort for once, and a cold sweat gathered on my forehead. I got up and headed out of my section, moving down the halls toward the bathroom.

I just needed to splash water on my face, that was all. Splash some water and then get back to work. And eat something. I was still so darn hungry. Maybe I’d splurge tonight and get takeout. Something delicious and meaty.

My entire mouth filled with saliva at the thought, and I pressed the back of my hand to my forehead. What was with me today?

I pushed into the bathroom and stood in front of the sink, staring at my reflection in the mirror above it.

Jen was right. I looked different, healthier, my lips a brighter shade of red even though I hadn’t put much lipstick on this morning, and my hair was voluminous.

“What the—?” I leaned in and touched my face. It looked like I’d put on a beauty filter from an app in real life.

The bathroom door opened, and another woman entered, but I didn’t pay much attention. Too much was going on today that didn’t make sense. First there was the fact that I was miraculously better, then my appearance and the way Jen had reacted … And what about that strange feeling I’d gotten like someone was watching me?

“Beautiful.” The word dropped in the silence.

And I looked up to find the woman who’d entered the bathroom standing right behind me in the mirror.

I gasped and sidestepped, turning to face her. “What are you?—?”

Long raven hair hung over one shoulder, the other side of her head was shaved, and her eyes were a fantastic actinic blue. So blue they were almost impossible. “Don’t be afraid.”

“Uh? What do you want?”

“Emily,” she said.

“Do I know you?” I definitely didn’t, and I glanced toward the door.

She stepped in my path, smiling. “Emily, you are more gorgeous than I ever imagined. Sanctorin was right about you. Such a lovely flower, such a pity that you are doomed to wilt.” She reached out, trying to brush her fingers against me.

I stepped out of her reach. “Who are you and how do you know my name?”

“What does it matter how I know your name?” she countered. “Surely, you know that it will all come to an end soon regardless of?—”

“Get out of my way,” I said. “I’m leaving.”

“But you aren’t.”

I tried pushing past her, but the woman grabbed hold of my arm and I froze.

Pain pulsed over my skin from the point of contact, all the way up to my throat and into my head, and I shuddered on the spot, my muscles tensing, my joints impacting. The agony was so sharp that I opened my mouth to scream, but nothing happened.

She released me, and I stared at her slack-jawed. “What did you do?”

“You smell delicious,” she said. “There isn’t a vamp in the world who wouldn’t want you.”

“A vamp?”