Chapter 12
Twelve
VAUGHN
The forest has always felt ominous, but since Lilith’s Shadowing, its weight has grown heavier. When I found her, her shoes were soaked in blood, leaving a scarlet trail with each step.
Yet, when I ventured deeper to investigate, I couldn’t find a trace of that blood anywhere. I’ve been coming almost every night since, but whatever scared her that night is nowhere to be found. It’s bothering me ever since. Something isn’t adding up.
My Shadow—a huge wolf made of light—keeps an eye on everything around us, looking for anything off. But the forest feels the same as ever.
Light trickles through the thick trees, making shadows that twist and turn, playing little mind games that only add to the creepiness. And it’s so quiet that it’s almost eerie.
Even though the darkness here could give anyone the chills, I’ve learned to call it home. That’s why I can tell something’s different. We need to figure out what’s going on. If something in this forest is endangering Lilith, I want to find out what it is, and I won’t stop until I do.
My usual patrol through the forest takes about an hour and a half, and every second is spent scanning for any disturbances, unusual sounds, or strange sights. To my frustration, I find nothing out of the ordinary, which leaves me empty-handed as I head back to the academy—again.
The echo of my boots reverberates against the cold stone floor as I make my way through the halls toward the dorms. First, I need to change my clothes, then it’s off to the library. If I can’t find any clues in the forest, maybe I can dig up some answers in a book. Someone before Lilith might have experienced something similar. At least, I kind of fucking hope so.
I have this gnawing feeling inside of me that something isn’t right.
As I near the dorms, I hear that unmistakable sound of feminine laughter echoing through the halls. It’s a sound I’d recognize anywhere, and it pulls me in her direction.
I find Lilith perched on a stone bench in the courtyard, chatting with her Prey friend, who’s lounging beside her with an ease that makes my jaw tighten. His wide-eyed gaze is glued to her, hanging on every word she says, and I can’t help but feel a flicker of irritation for no real reason.
I start brainstorming ways to insert myself into their conversation when suddenly, Lilith’s piercing gray eyes lock onto mine.
Those eyes—eyes that held me captive while her body trembled against mine. Her face scrunched in pleasure as she fell undone, and the way her warm slickness coated my fingers. I’ve replayed that moment over and over for days, while I’m awake, while I’m asleep, never fully able to stop thinking about it.
It was everything I imagined it would be—and more, perfectly etched into my mind. We haven’t spoken since, and honestly, that’s probably for the best. But today, I’m suddenly in the mood for a bit of chaos.
With my most charming smile in place, I strut over to them with confident strides. The moment I come into view, Lilith grabs her friend’s arm and yanks him from his comfortable spot, clearly eager to escape. Their frantic movements only heighten my amusement—far more than I’d care to admit.
“Leaving so soon?” I ask playfully, keeping pace with them.
Lilith rolls her eyes, trying to brush me off, but her hurried steps betray her irritation. “Yeah,” she huffs. “Suddenly, there’s an unpleasant stench in the air, and I can’t stand it.”
“Mm, must be that Prey scent,” I quip, a smirk tugging at my lips.
Her mouth drops open in disbelief as she releases her friend’s hand, leaving him standing awkwardly behind her. He doesn’t seem too bothered, but Lilith... she looks like I’ve offended her entire bloodline.
Gotcha, my little fox.
“I know I’ve said this before,” she begins, stepping directly in front of me, “but I swear you intentionally pretend you can’t hear me. Can you please go annoy someone else and kindly fuck off?”
I shrug nonchalantly, towering over her smaller frame. “Annoy someone else? Nah. No one’s as interesting as you. Fuck you though? Yes, that I can do. Over and over. And you might even like it.”
For a moment, it looks like she might slap me, but she somehow manages to restrain herself, balling her hands into fists at her sides. I can’t help but notice the tiny vein popping at her temple.
Oh, I really get under her skin. My words scratch at her from the inside out, affecting her on a molecular level. And that thought only pleases me more because she has the same damn effect on me. Fucking same, Fox.
“You’re a pest, you know that? Like fleas. Itchy, annoying, and impossible to get rid of.”
“That’s me, all right. An itch you can’t scratch. Must be why you’re itching for more.”
“Um,” her Prey friend—what was his name again? Toby?—clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable. “Lilith, we’ll be late for our class…”
I know their class doesn’t start for another fifteen minutes, but his attempt to defuse the situation is evident. He’s trying to give her a way out, but she stands her ground, refusing to back down. She won’t unless I do it first. I know the little fox better than him, a thought that makes me smug.
And while I’d love to spend the whole day bickering with her—she looks downright irresistible when she’s all fired up—I have things to do. I want to bury myself in research and figure out if anything similar has happened to that might. Maybe I’ll hold it over her, use it against her, or maybe use it to protect her. Maybe all three. I haven’t quite made up my mind yet.
I make a dismissive gesture with my hand, signaling that our little interaction is over—and to annoy her even more. “Go on, Fox. If you want to see me again, you know where to find me after the sun sets…”
Her expression hardens, and I can tell I’ve struck a nerve. I brace myself for a sharp retort, but to my surprise, she doesn’t bite back. Instead, she spins on her heel, grabs her friend’s arm, and walks away.
Somehow, that dismissal affects me more than any filthy words could have.
Once I shake off the encounter with Lilith, I head to the dorms, the urge to smoke hitting me hard. I can’t stop replaying that fiery look in her eyes, driving me to the brink of insanity. A cigarette might help take the edge off.
One of the perks of being a fourth-year is that we have fewer classes and can focus on practical knowledge, leaving us with plenty of free time. Right now, that little advantage is going to be useful.
As I walk through the common room, absentmindedly toying with a cigarette between my fingers, a familiar slender figure steps out from the shadows.
I raise an eyebrow, pausing to give Savina a look. “I think I need to ask Headmistress Bennett to improve the lighting in our dorms,” I remark dryly. “Otherwise, people might keep sneaking around like that.”
Savina tilts her head to the side, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t unsettle me a bit when she does that. “That’s only a problem if you have something to hide.”
“That’s an invasion of privacy, Sav.”
“You’re in the common room, not your private bedroom,” she replies, a teasing glint in her eye.
Touché. I tuck my cigarette behind my ear and study her. “I’m guessing you didn’t come here to discuss floor plans, did you?”
“No,” she says, her tone light and playful. “Honestly, I’m quite pleased to have another female Predator around. Especially one who shares my disdain for you.”
“There’s a thin line between love and hate,” I counter, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “You’d be wise not to toy with it.”
“Oh, trust me—you make it way too difficult to consider… that.” Savina flashes me a bright smile before glancing down at her long nails. For once, she actually looks… genuinely happy. It’s a bit weird. “Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I’ll be passing my no-smoking policy on to her. I could use her help in keeping an eye on any… unwanted activities.”
“Lilith is probably the only person in this world who hates me more than you do,” I say, sarcasm dripping from every word. “So congratulations—you’ve picked the perfect person for the job.” With that, I pivot on my heel and head upstairs to my room, eager to escape Sav’s party-pooping vibe and find some peace before I hit the library.
But when I swing open the door, my mood takes a nosedive. Simon is sprawled comfortably across my bed, while Kai sits coiled like a snake by my window, his gaze sharp and assessing.
“What is this? A fucking intervention?” I mutter under my breath, more to myself than to them. I don’t bother shutting the door; instead, I gesture for them to leave. But they remain rooted in place, so I let out a frustrated sigh and close the door behind me.
Today is quite possibly the worst day they could’ve chosen for whatever this shit is.
“Why do you keep going to the forest?” Simon asks, cutting straight to the chase. It’s clearly a topic that’s been gnawing at him for days. I glance over at Kai, who’s watching me with his usual unreadable expression.
“I should’ve known your stalker tendencies would eventually turn on me,” I say, glowering at Kai, irritation bubbling up again. But he remains as impassive as ever, his posture as unreadable as his face. Gods, I could really use that damn cigarette right about now.
“Fine. If you really want to know, I keep going to the forest because something doesn’t sit right. Same reason you two do.” I roll my eyes at their surprised expressions. “Yeah, I know you keep going there—even if you try to hide it. I can sense that something is off, and I’m trying to figure out what’s going on. You told me not to play around, so that’s exactly what I’m doing. Is that answer satisfactory?”
“And have you found anything?” Simon presses.
Fuck it. I need that smoke.
I light up a cigarette and lean back, tipping my head toward the ceiling as a thick cloud of smoke escapes my lips. Yes. In the privacy of my room, no one can tell me not to.
“Simon, if I’d found anything, you two would be the first to know.”
Kai jumps in, “I find it odd that you’re still on this, especially after Bennett gave us the all-clear. At least on this matter.”
“Yeah,” I reply bitterly. “Bennett wasn’t the one who saw Lilith freaked out and covered in blood. The forest has its share of creepy happenings, but nothing like this. This is… different. Whatever went down out there clearly wanted to hurt her. With everything we’re dealing with regarding the Rogues, I thought it was worth looking into. Clearly, I’m the only one who sees the urgency.” I gesture toward them, the cigarette still lodged between my fingers.
“You’re the only one with such an obsession with her, though. You keep provoking her in the halls…” Simon shakes his head, and I can’t help but notice a twitch from Kai by the window. Yeah, I know you follow her too, fucker.
“Oh, sure,” I cut him off before he can go on. “It’s not like you’re taking her on training sessions outside the academy, and ‘stalker snake’ over here is monitoring her every move.” Simon and Kai exchange a look. “Yeah, as I said, you’re not as subtle as you think.”
I sink into the velvet chair in the corner of my room, studying them both. “Lilith and I might have our differences, but she’s still part of this academy and one of only two female Predators. Besides, as a member of Operation Nightfall, it’s my responsibility to keep her safe.”
“How noble of you,” Kai murmurs, his gaze fixed on the dark sky outside. “I’m sure it has nothing to do with your fondness for playing with your toys.”
I roll my eyes. They think I’m all fun and games, and I guess I’ve brought it on myself with that show I put on, but protecting what’s mine is genuinely important to me. I just happen to enjoy myself while doing it.
I shrug. “I like to mix business with pleasure. Who can blame me?”
Simon stands up, studying me intently, and it makes me a little uncomfortable. It’s like he’s trying to see beyond my expression and into my mind. “If you’d formed a bond with her, you’d tell us, right?” he asks.
“Of course he would,” Kai chimes in. “He’d never shut up about it.”
I give Simon a light shove on the shoulder to create a bit of space between us. “You’re creeping me out,” I say, standing up. The thought of a bond with Lilith hasn’t even crossed my mind, so it’s safe to say no.
This is only a game I enjoy—one that neither of them would really get. Simon’s not the casual fling type, and Kai hasn’t looked at a woman in… well, ever. I’m not even sure he’s ever even slept with anyone.
When Simon’s gaze continues to probe, I let out a sigh.
When Simon’s gaze keeps probing, I let out a sigh. “There’s no bond,” I assure him, even if there is a slight obsession. “But enough about Lilith,” I snap. As much as I enjoy our little games, there are more pressing matters to tackle right now. “I know Bennett is focused on the Rogues, but I believe whatever’s drawing them here might be connected to the forest. That’s why I think it should be our top priority.”
Both Kai and Simon nod in agreement—one of those rare moments when we’re all on the same page. While peace in the realm might feel out of reach, at least we can start by making the academy as safe as possible.