Blood and Snow 5: Prey and Magic (6 page)

“Snow,” he whispered, his voice
gruff
, kissing my neck, along my collarbones, and my shoulders
. “You’re so beautiful.” In response I wrapped
my legs around his hips
.

Did I really want what was about to happen? It seemed
too
fast. My body sure did,
but not too many minutes ago I believed
he
planned
to kill me.

It’s how life works. You fight, you make up. Go with it, my inner voice cooed.

“What the hell is going on?” The lights flicked on, and Professor Pops stood in the doorway, his hands on his hips.

Gabe blocked
me with his body. “Give us
a minute, Pops,” Gabe said quietly.

“I’ll give you five. Get dressed
,
”
he said sternly, giving Gabe a look that said, ‘you know better.’

The door closed.

“I’m sorry,” Gabe whispered.

I swallowed, my emotions to full to speak.
Was I glad or disappointed that we were interrupted?

Definitely disappointed, my inner voice sulked.

My body was
frustrated as well. The r
est of me was kind of relieved. I definitely wasn’t ready for sex.
It was only
a few months
ago that I had
my first kiss.

In the hall I could hear the brothers snickering.

“I guess they made up.”

“I told you he wouldn’t kill her.”

“You owe me twenty bucks.”

Chapter 10

I finally found my voice, and said, “Wow, dinner and a show.”

He looked confused a second, and then started to laugh. “I’m a full service boyfriend.”

Boyfriend? I
snickered
, feeling
the blissful after effects of
drinking Gabe’s blood. Our relationship felt like more than that.
A picture of Christopher in the glass case danced across my mind, reminding me that any happiness I experienced was at a detriment to him. I needed to find the necklace, or all vampires would be destroyed
, including my Hunter
. But who would’ve taken it? My stepmother? Cindy?

What about G
abe’s father? Or someone in his
group?
Wouldn’t they want it if
it could
destroy vampires? I gasped at the questions.
My mind moving in one direction.
Toward Gabe.
Did he
have it?

Kenmei and Professor Pops said it wouldn’t work for anyone but me. So if
he or his father did have it
, would they know what to do with it?
I
didn’t even know what to do with it.

“Snow, what’s wro
ng? You look like you’re in pain
.
Did I hurt you?
”

I shook my head. “I’m fine. Just a lot going on
in here.
”
I tapped my head with a finger. Gabe stood, and pulled me up with him. He handed me my shirt.

Changing the subject, I said, “Do the guys know what you are?”

He chuckled. “Yes. After my brush with a broken neck, and my quick recovery, Professor Pops and I told them. Dorian, Heathcliff, and Salvatore wouldn’t speak to me for a week. They were so mad at me for not telling you, and not telling them.” He huffed. “I should’ve told you all a lot sooner. So much heartache could’ve been avoided if I had.” W
ith a sigh, he sidled over, grabbing my shirt in his hands
. “Can you forgive me? Can you love me?”

Love?

If I truly loved Gabe, then either the
chant—lips
red as rubies, hair dark as night, drink your true love’s blood, become the Vampire, Snow White—was just a lot of mumbo jumbo, or I didn’t really love, love Gabe.

There
is
also the
true love’s
kiss thing, I thought. And
I
remembered Professor Pops told me that a kiss from my true love would return me to human. That hadn’t worked either
, if Gabe was my true love
. I thought about the Vampire Queen, and what she’d told me. That Professor Pops and Kenmei were lying. I have a lot to learn, I thought, sighing internally. To Gabe, I
said, “Yes, of course I forgive you. I’m sorry for running. I
was
such a coward. Had I
stayed
,
a lot of heartache could have been avoided as well.”

He kissed my forehead. “Then we’ll agree it’s both our faults, and forget all about it.”

“Okay,” I uttered,
but a big part of me believed
it
was
impossible to totally forget.
I wanted to tell him that, but I was exhausted. A lot had gone on in a short amount of time, and I needed a break.

He threw on his shirt and I did the same. Then h
e grabbed my hand. “C’mon, let’s go see what Professor Pops has to say.”

I followed, but at the top of the stairs, stopped. Gabe turned and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Does my dad know I left?”

He
shook his head. “I guess your dad tried to call you several times, and when some random person answered he freaked out and called Pops. Pr
ofessor Pops told your dad
you were upset about him leaving again so soon, and that you needed some time.” He touched my cheek with a thumb. “If you hadn’t returned by tomorrow we were going to have to tell your dad the truth. We didn’t want to worry him though.”

“Good,” I said, exhaling that
stored
up stress. I would call him tomorrow morning. “What about Gatsby? Do you know where my cat is?”

“Yeah, the poor thing came meowing at our backdoor a couple of days after you left. We’ve kept him with us. He’s been well cared for, but he sure misses you.”

“I can’t wait to see him.”

We lumbered down the stairs and headed into the kitchen. Professor Pops and the brother
s were there. Most smiled
sheepishly. Some wore more serious expressions.

“Hi,” I said, clinging to Gabe’s hand.

Professor Pops pulled me into a hug. I embraced him happily, enjoying the smell of books, ink, and cigars that was the Professor.

“I am
glad you’re okay. I was
worried
sick.” He held me at arms length. “Where have you been?”

“Yeah, Snow. We looked for you every day, but it was like you vanished,” Salvatore said.

Dorian, his face grave, said, “You shouldn’t have run. We will always have your back.”

I nodded. “I’m sorry. It’s just when I saw Gabe, and thought he was…” I couldn’t finish
the sentence
. “Something inside me broke.”

They all nodded, letting out grunts of understanding, and sympathy.

Except Sebastian.
He said, “How many of us
regular humans
did you kill?” The words sounded light, but I could tell he was nervous about the answer.

“None,” I answered. Focusing on
Professor Pops, I con
tinued, “I remembered what you said
. I counted. I didn’t take too much.”

Professor Pops smiled, his shoulders visibly relaxing. “That is really good news.”

“I guess this means we don’t need to cancel her party,” Daniel said.

They all groaned.

And I laughed. “The masquerade ball? Is that still on?” I tried to hide my distain.
But at this point I’d do anything, go anywhere for them. As long as these amazing guys-men were near me, I knew anything was possible.

Professor Pops clasped my hands in his and smiled big.
“Of course it is, my dear. You only turn sixteen once.”

“Yes, but will she be able to resist all the delicious human blood dancing around the room?”
Dorian
asked
his voice
tinged with curiosity.
As he spoke, he raised his chin
slightly. I doubted anyone else even noticed. I did. What was it about Dorian?

They all turned to me, some smug, others concerned. I shrugged, and then sighed. Drawing out
the time before I responded
. They all seemed to be holding their breaths. Giving Gabe a sideways glance, I said, “Yes. Of course I can.”

“
I know she can too
,” Dorian said, pulling me into a hug.

Gabe shoved him. “That’s enough.
Back off
my girl
.
”

“Let’s have a ball,” Salvatore shouted.

The back door flew open, and we all turned to see Cindy, dressed in sof
t pink pajamas, and fluffy pink
slippers rush into the kitchen and skid to a halt.
Even with bedhead and no makeup she was adorable.

“Snow.
Merryweather
. White,
”
she fumed
, crossing her arms
.

I raised an eyebrow. She’d bragged about her locator spell and about being a big-time witch, so why hadn’t she
located
me? Unless she hadn’t been looking.

Cindy is
n’t
as powerful as she boasted
,
my inner voice huffed
.

“Hey, Cindy,” I said, moving over to her and patting her on the shoulder.
“It’s nice to see you.”

She flinched, but quickly recovered. Throwing her arms around me, she said, “I’m
tres
glad you’re back.”

Afterword

Thank you for continuing the Blood and Snow 12 volume series, and reading volume 5, “Prey and Magic.”
In this volume,
Snow has become a vampire, and is comin
g to terms with what that means
.
What she can’t
quite figure out
is her feelings for Gabe and Christopher.
In volume 6, “Masquerade’s Moon,” she’ll
learn more.

If you enjoyed “Prey and Magic,” do me a big favor. Go back to
Amazon
, and leave an honest review. It only takes a couple of minutes, but will help me out immensely.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

RaShelle
Workman

Additional Works by
RaShelle
Workman

YA Series

Blood and Snow volumes 1-4 (Blood and Snow, Revenant in Training, The Vampire Christopher, Blood Soaked Promises)

“Lips red as rubies, hair dark as night. Drink your true love’s blood, become the Vampire, Snow White.”  Every thousand years the Vampire Queen selects a new body, always the fairest in the land, and this time she’s chosen Snow White. To purchase the Blood and Snow 4 pack, click
Blood and Snow volumes 1-4 (Blood and Snow, Revenant in Training, The Vampire Christopher, Blood Soaked Promises)

Blood and Snow