Chapter Four

Nora's P.O.V

Then I laughed. Too loud, too quick. “Yeah, uh… can’t do that.”

Nick leaned forward, suspicious now. “Why not?”

I waved a hand, trying to steer the spotlight off me. “Nick, just worry about Amelia. I’ll handle my own love life.”

But of course, being Nick, he didn’t let it go easy.

“Is it the guy that invited you tonight?”

I froze.

My heart stuttered once—hard.

What?

I turned slowly to look at him, pulse thudding in my ears. “How do you know someone invited me?”

Nick’s eyes widened just slightly. He hadn’t expected that reaction.

Leo glanced between us, something sharp flickering behind his eyes now.

Nick leaned forward like he was connecting dots. “Well… Amelia said some guy approached you at your locker.”

Of course she did.

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. “I’m going to kill her.”

Nick raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying this way too much. “So, it’s true?”

“Yes, okay? Some guy did. I think his name was Dylan or something.” I waved it off like it meant nothing—because it did.

“And no, I’m not interested,” I added, before he could start spinning theories. “I barely know the guy. He just invited me to the bonfire.”

Nick looked satisfied for about half a second before his mouth opened again.

“But—”

I cut him off. “But as I said… I can’t say who it is. So, drop it.”

The silence that followed was louder than anything.

We finally pulled up to the bonfire—music thumping, flames flickering against the sky, silhouettes of bodies already swaying and shouting in the smoke-soaked air.

I couldn’t get out of that car fast enough.

Nick was gone before the car even came to a full stop, door swinging open, boots hitting the dirt like he’d been waiting his whole life to escape that conversation.

I reached for the door handle—

But a hand caught my arm.

Firm. Warm.

I froze.

Turned my head.

Leo.

Still in the driver’s seat, blue eyes locked on me, fingers wrapped gently but deliberately around my wrist.

He didn’t say anything right away.

“Who’s the guy, Nora?”

His voice was low—steady—but there was weight behind it.

I looked away, jaw tight. The fire outside lit his face in flashes, shadows crawling up his cheekbones.

“I… I can’t.”

It came out barely above a whisper.

I tugged my arm free—gently, but firm enough—and opened the door.

Climbed out into the night, the sound of laughter and music hitting me like a wave.

I didn’t look back.

Couldn’t.

Because if I did…

I might tell him the truth.

Leo’s POV

I climbed out of the car, door shutting behind me with a low thud.

And I watched her walk off.

The fire lit her from the side, catching in her hair, her legs moving fast like she needed the distance.

There was something she wanted to say.

I felt it. In her voice, in the way her eyes wouldn’t meet mine. The way her fingers lingered against mine for half a second longer before she pulled away.

She was so beautiful it hurt.

Green eyes like spring after a long damn winter—sharp, alive, impossible to look away from when they locked on mine.

The first time I saw her, I stopped breathing.

Didn’t matter that Nick was right beside her, grinning like an idiot and introducing us like it was nothing.

It wasn’t.

Not to me.

She was off-limits. Best friend’s twin sister. The one line I shouldn’t cross.

But every time she laughed, rolled her eyes at Nick, stood her ground like she was made of fire and defiance—

I wanted her.

Not just the way guys want pretty girls.

No, I wanted her like a storm wants to hit.

Hard. All at once. No warning.

And God help me—

I didn’t think I could keep pretending I didn’t.

But I had a secret.

One that lived in my veins, under my skin, in every heartbeat that didn’t come the way it should.

And she didn’t know.

Nick didn’t either.

No one did.

I didn’t know how to tell her—what it would mean once I did.

Would she look at me the same?

Would she run?

Because what I am… what I really am—

It’s not something you just drop into conversation.

Especially not when the girl you want is human.

Pure, warm, alive.

And I’m not.

Not completely.

So, I stood there in the smoke and noise, watching her disappear into the night,

and wondered how the hell I’d ever look her in the eyes again and say,

Nora… I’m not like you.

I’m a vampire.

Just hunger. Power. The kind that comes with a cost.

And I've kept it buried for years. Hidden beneath tattoos and smirks and late-night fights I always walked away from without a scratch.

Nick doesn’t know.

Because if he did, everything would change.

And Nora—

She’d never look at me the same.

But the pull I feel toward her? It’s not just want. It’s not even just need.

It’s instinct.

Something in me recognizes her—like I’ve been waiting centuries for green eyes and defiance wrapped in a body like that.

And the worst part?

I’m not sure if I want to protect her from what I am—

Or pull her into it with me.

The girls I never want around me—too loud, too fake, all teeth and perfume—were already closing in. Laughing, leaning in too close, asking questions they didn’t care about the answers to.

I barely registered them.

Because across the fire, I saw her.

Standing with Amelia, both of them lit by the flicker of flames, shadows dancing across their skin. And with them—guys. Loud, cocky, posturing like they were trying too hard.

I knew the type.

One of them had to be Dylan.

I didn’t even realize I was staring until—

he threw his arm around her shoulders.

Casual. Like he had a right to.

Like she was already his.

My jaw clenched.

Then—

What I wasn’t expecting—

Nora reached up and grabbed his hand. Calm. No scene. Just firm.

And she took it off her shoulder.

Stepped away like his touch meant nothing.

Didn’t smile. Didn’t laugh to soften the blow.

Just… distance.

Good girl.

My chest loosened, just a little.

Amelia grabbed Nora’s arm, tugging, laughing, while Nick practically dragged the both of them toward the lake.

I followed, steps slow, hanging back just enough to watch without being seen.

Nora stopped at the water’s edge, arms crossed, jaw set. The moonlight cut across her face, highlighting the hesitation in her eyes.

“I’m not going in,” she told Amelia. “I didn’t bring a suit.”

Amelia rolled her eyes, already peeling off her own shirt. “Me neither. Just go in your underwear. You’ve got a smoking body, show it off.”

Nora glanced at her, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips.