Page 54 of Bloodlust

Why is it that you only need me after midnight?

I roll my eyes.

Camilla

I'm a night owl. So? You coming?

The Doc

Do I have a choice?

I smirk.

Camilla

I'll send you my location.

After I drop a pin for Hayden, I pocket my cell phone and close my eyes. The crisp night air nips at my cheeks, and I take a deep breath. The humming sounds of the city swirl in the wind.

New York City is never quiet and Manhattan never sleeps. It's alive. Always. Its heart is constantly beating. Full of life. Cities also have cells. Manhattan now is not Manhattan ten years ago. It's different. It's changed. Evolved into what it needed to become.

New York's an empire in itself.

But so was Rome.

And look what happened.

I snap my head to the ruffling of leaves. I squint into the distance as a silhouette emerges from the darkness.

"Sorry," Hayden says, his face illuminated by the soft yellow light. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't." I scoot over on the bench to make room for him. "I'm not scared of danger that lurks in shadows."

"No?" The city seems to lower its voice as he sits down beside me. "Why's that?"

"Because I know it's there." I shift my body toward him and bring my knee to my chest. I take in the charcoal beanie on his head. It's a look I haven't seen before. Casual. Almost cool. I meet his green eyes as I add, "Danger only comes with daylight."

Hayden frowns, rubbing his chin. "Is that why you're a night owl, Camilla? To avoid danger?"

I chuckle. "You can't avoid danger, Doc. It finds you one way or another."

"Is that why you wanted to talk?" Hayden stiffens, his expression hard and serious and borderline concerned. "Are you in danger?"

"Iamthe danger, Hayden," I smirk, tilting my head as my gaze flicks down to his plush lips. "Are you scared of me yet?"

"Not even a little." He clears his throat. I don't buy it. At all. "I mastered fear a long time ago."

"You can't master fear." A shiver courses down my spine as I close my eyes, remembering the morning Zoey came home crying. The morning that my transformation was complete.Please don't. Stop. I can't breathe. Don't kill. I'm sorry! Please!My eyelids spring open, and I look up at Hayden. "Unless you become it."

"Where did you just go?" Gentle curiosity and concern lace his tone. "Talk to me, Camilla."

"A place of no return." I force a weak smile. "Some things are better left in the past, don't you think?"

"Not if they affect your present," he says. "Or worse, your future."

"It's not me who's affected," I say as Pinto runs toward me with a stick in his mouth. I sigh and stand up, taking the stick from him. Hayden follows me as I walk into the field and toss the stick. "It's my assistant."

"Your assistant?" He rubs his chin, watching Pinto slowly chase the stick and bring it back. "What happened to her?"