IM02 - Hunters & Prey by Katie Salidas Page B

didn’t draw too much attention.
    Leaning in toward Fallon, I scowled. “Don’t make me say this again. Keep your voice down. People are starting to look at us.”
    Her face reddened with embarrassment. “Sorry.”
    “Can you accept me for who I am now?”
    “I’m trying to figure that out. I don’t want you drinking my blood.”
    I rolled my eyes. “I’m not going to drink your blood. I already told you I’m not going to hurt you. Chill, okay?”
    “Then where do you get your blood from?”
    Damn, she just doesn’t give up.
    “I already told you, I have sources all over town. You don’t need to worry. I’m not going to turn on my friends.”
    Please just drop this. I don’t want to give you details.
    My memory flashed. The faces of all my victims slowly came into view, one by one. I saw the terror in their wide eyes, seconds before I sank my teeth into their necks. My stomach turned and I felt sick as guilt washed over me, realizing I’d lost my humanity so quickly. In just a few short months, I had become accustomed to killing. I hadn’t even given a second thought to those people I murdered. I couldn’t blame Fallon for being scared. I would be too, sitting this close to a monster.
    “Fine. Quit with the puppy dog eyes, I believe you. You just got to let me wrap my head around this, okay?”
    I breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
    A few moments of silence passed between us. The strange, familiar prickling sensation tickled against the back of my neck. My head shot up. I scanned the windows, looking for signs of an immortal’s presence.
    I couldn’t tell which direction the creepy prickling feeling came from. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Worry swam in my gut, but I figured I was safe, for the moment, in the company of humans. A hunter like Santino wouldn’t dare attack in public. Hunters guarded our secret as well as they guarded the humans they protected us from.

CHAPTER 5
    *****
    S itting in the café talking to Fallon was as good an insurance policy as any, but I knew it wouldn’t last long. I couldn’t stay here forever. I’d have to face the vampire stalking around outside sooner or later. Copioh didn’t stay open all night, and even if it did, there was no way I could stay here past dawn—there were too many uncovered windows. I couldn’t go home either and risk Santino or any of the Saints following me. I needed a Plan B.
    I tried to blank my face of any worried expressions. I didn’t need Fallon getting scared again. “Hey. You have your cell on you?”
    Fallon fixed me with a narrow gaze before reaching into her small canvas purse. “Where’s yours?” She pulled out a black clam-shell phone. “Guess that explains why you never answered my calls.”
    “Yeah. My phone’s gone. It got smashed up pretty good the night I … uh … never mind. Besides, I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone about myself, remember?” I took the phone from her and dialed Lysander’s number. “You know, the whole secret thing.”
    “Well, the secret’s out now. So I’ll expect you to keep in touch.”
    I nodded as I pressed the send button. Hmm, how do I explain this to Lysander? It rang a few times before his deep voice greeted me.
    I took a deep breath to gather my courage. This wasn’t going to be a good conversation. I knew Lysander would be furious with me once I told him where I was and what I had been doing.
    “It’s me, Alyssa.” I tried to sound casual. “I need you to listen for a second, okay?”
    He cut me off before I could say another word. “Where are you?” His voice carried an urgent tone. “What’s going on? Are you hurt? What is all that noise I hear in the background?”
    I could just imagine the wide-eyed expression on his face.
    “I’m fine. But none of us are really safe. I was right. I saw Santino while I was out…” Fallon’s head turned just slightly to the side so her ear faced me. She was eavesdropping. I knew I needed to choose my