Five

Rose

Liss looked up at Christian with big, teary eyes. I could see him fidget under her pitiful gaze.

I felt sorry for him, really. Lissa and Christian were perfect for each other, but everyone had their pet peeves. Christian's was receiving pity, and Liss was damn good at being sympathetic towards people.

"This is horrible," she cried, voice quivering. "I can't believe it. Who would send you something like that? I can't believe she's alive."

"Yeah, I don't know what to say. It's just one of those things, I guess." Christian was much more the kind of person to go and punch something until he was feeling better. We shared that, if nothing else.

I wasn't afraid to admit I was looking forward to watching him practice his magic. The few times I'd watched him had been exciting.

"Just one of those things?" Liss practically nuzzled her boyfriend's shoulder, whilst Eddie and I watched on uncomfortably. "This is massive. We need to do something, to get your mind off it."

The muscle in Christian's cheek jumped, but he didn't snap. "Really, I'd rather just forget about it. My Aunt is coming in a week and a half, we can revisit it then, when there's something to do about it."

That was a whole other kettle of fish I was trying desperately not to think about.

Liss nodded, and he visibly relaxed. "I'm so, so sorry this is happening."

He sighed. "Yeah, but there's nothing anyone can do about it. I just wanted to tell you. All of you, really." It was why I was guarding him in the field experience: for once he was in more danger than Liss, and I was the best novice they had. "I need to go and help Rose move her stuff into my room, though."

"Oh, yeah, I should help Eddie do the same." We were currently in Liss's room. The library hadn't been the ideal place for talking about this. They shared a long kiss, and I had to look away.

Seeing real affection as opposed to mindless, unattached arousal sent a pang of loneliness straight through me.

We said our goodbyes, and Christian and I left to go and fetch my stuff. I'd packed it all this morning before going to the gym, so there was no chance of whoever my charge was finding my alcohol stash. Three bags waited on the floor of my dorm. Two with bedding and one with clothes and toiletries.

Considering the bomb that Christian had dropped today, it was surprisingly normal. We talked, getting in jibes at each other at every available moment. The topics stayed light.

When evening came around, I wondered whether I should warn him. Maybe it was best to just get it out in the open, and tell him to wear earplugs. But I didn't, because it was too embarrassing. We changed into our pyjamas, and both sat in silence, in the dark, looking up at the ceiling.

Questions about Dimitri plagued my mind. Tasha was coming in a week and a half, and he'd be coming with her. I'd have to face him again. I longed to ask Christian if he knew whether they were dating, but I couldn't without giving away our relationship, and that wasn't an option.

No one apart from Adrian knew, and I'd successfully downplayed it to him as some stupid crush that wasn't much of anything.

"I don't think I've had anyone sleep in my room in about ten years," Christian said, and I guessed he rolled over to face me as his voice got louder and the comforter ruffled. "It's odd."

"I had to share at the ski lodge."

"They put me in my own room."

I wasn't surprised, but it still made me sad. Dating Liss had brought Christian back onto the normal scale for a lot of people, but if his mom was out there and planning a comeback, his past would be back to the centre of attention. Liss could only do so much. "It's kind of nice. I slept in the same room with Liss for so long when we ran off that it's a bit lonely going to bed without having a chat with someone before falling asleep."

"I've got to admit, I'm not the best trivial chatter in the world."

My lips quirked. "That's okay. I think even saying goodnight to someone is nice." And having the warm presence of someone, even in another bed. It was comforting.

"Well, on that note, goodnight."

I chuckled. "Night, Christian."

I woke up, and for the first time in a while, it wasn't with a scream or a shout, or even a bad dream. I scrubbed at my eyes when I heard the murmurs from the bed above me, the ruffle of bedsheets as Christian twisted and turned.

My hesitation was brief. I kicked back my own covers and stood up, unsure of what exactly I should do. Christian was on the opposite side of his double bed, and I had to kneel on one side so I could grip his shoulders. "Christian," my voice was loud, trying to get through whatever was haunting him. "Wake up. It's just a dream."

The blind wasn't very well fitting, and enough sunshine streamed into the room that I could see his face, contorted in horror. His face was even paler than normal, and a cold sweat occupied his forehead.

In an instant, he'd shot up, an arm wrapped around my throat. His eyes were open, but unseeing. "So hungry," he muttered, voice rasping and not his own. I was so shocked I barely reacted until he'd dragged me down and put his fangs at my neck.

I ripped myself away from him, easily stronger, and pinned his hands either side of his head. "Christian, you're dreaming," I said, voice shaky.

He struggled for a few seconds, before blinking rapidly and coming to. His eyes widened and he stared up at me. "Shit, Rose? What's going on?"

Satisfied he was fully back in the world of the living, I let go, sitting beside him, my legs crossed. "You were dreaming. Then you tried to bite me."

"I tried to what?" He ran a hand over his face, averting his eyes. Shame dominated his expression.

"It was nothing, dream-you isn't super strong, fortunately. You were pretty easy to overpower." I fiddled with the end of my pyjama shorts, picking at the frayed edges. "I thought it was going to be the other way around, anyway. You waking up to me screaming. I guess neither of our sleeps have been great the past month."

That seemed to relax Christian, and he sat up, taking a sip of the glass of water on his bedside table. "Yeah, it's been grim. Sometimes I just wake up and I have the same feeling of being starved of blood. I guess there's never been anyone here to try and get blood from before."

"That's horrid," I said, without thinking. "I mean, the blood thing." A shiver ran down my spine. All mine was emotional, but I couldn't imagine actually feeling.

"It doesn't happen that often. Waking up and talking it out seems helps, anyway. Maybe the field experience will be therapeutic."

I gestured for him to pass me the water and took a sip myself. "Hopefully. I think I probably need a lot of therapy."

We chuckled together, and Christian stretched, looking more like himself again. I had the sudden, stupid urge to run my hand through his hair. It had been knotted to the point of no return from writhing around in his nightmare.

Passing him back the water, I got off the bed. Now wasn't the time to replay the face he'd pulled when he'd seen me orgasm. This was the worst time. When we were sat, in the dark, being civil and honest with each other instead of snarky and insulting. When he was wearing a short sleeved shirt for the first time since I'd known him and I could see the defined muscle in his arm.

Shit, this was definitely the worst time.

"We should go back to sleep," I said, voice neutral. "Class starts again tomorrow."

Christian made a non-committal hum. "I suppose so. Thanks for waking me up."

"No worries."

I snugged back into my comforter on the hard floor, and held in a sigh.

Sometime soon, I'd erase Christian's intense, aroused stare from my mind.