Ties to the Blood Moon 2nd Edition by Robin P Waldrop

It wasn’t supposed to happen in real life, and certainly not around me.
    I stared at Miss Baylor, waiting on her to laugh and say it was all just a big joke. But she never did. She believed every word of what she was telling me. I just wasn’t sure that I believed it.
    “So … this princess … is she here?” I asked jokingly, but got totally freaked out when she stared at me, but never said another word.
     
    Chapter 9
     
    My phone vibrated in my pocket. I flipped it open to find a text message from William.
    Are you going to hang out with Miss Baylor the rest of the night? I looked up and William was leaned back against the front of his car, resting on his elbow with his feet crossed. Even from across the fire his eyes were mesmerizing. My heart fluttered again, and I wondered how long I would keep reacting to him like that.
    Be there in a sec. I text messaged back.
    “Um, William is waiting for me,” I said, breaking the silence.
    “We need to talk about this, Gen,” she called out as I walked away.
    I briefly turned to face her, and kept walking backwards. “We will,” I told her, but had no intentions of further entertaining the craziness she was trying to feed me. I’d definitely be talking to Aunt Bev later.
    I knew it was late, but I didn’t want this night to end. When I reached William’s car he smiled, but kept his distance, which bothered me. Luna came be-bopping over with her perky attitude and totally silly grin. She looped her arm through mine, pulling me slightly further away from William.
    “Gen, it’s getting late. I have to be home by twelve,” she said, smiling dryly at William as if to say, “ha-ha she’s mine.”
    I peered longingly at William and sighed. “I guess I need to get going.”
    He pushed himself off of his car. “I’ll walk you.” He placed his hand on the small of my back and we started walking. Luna was a few steps ahead. His hand on my back felt like ice, but his touch set me on fire.
    We reached my Jeep faster than I would have liked. I was disappointed after turning to face him, he didn’t even attempt to kiss me. He just opened my door and waited for me to climb in. I was crushed when he said a simple bye and closed my door.
    I stared through the windshield and watched him until he disappeared somewhere on the other side of the bonfire. I sighed heavily and dropped my shoulders.
    During the drive home, Luna was extremely quiet. She stared out the window while listening to Slick Puppies. Whenever she noticed me glancing in her direction, she would smile. But, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, when she thought I wasn’t looking, her smile was promptly replaced with a frown.
    I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I reached, turning the music down. “What happened inside the cave tonight?” I asked earnestly. Of course, she attempted to play dumb, but the look on her face said she knew exactly what I was talking about. I slammed on the brakes, and skidded onto the side of a very desolate road.
    “Gen!” she screamed when the seatbelt caught and jerked her neck. “Why are you stopping?” she asked apprehensively.
    I narrowed my eyes and turned to her. “I want the truth, Luna! Especially if it involves me,” I shouted ominously. I glowered at her while waiting for an answer. I wouldn’t really do anything, like make her get out and walk, but I wanted to intimidate her so she would tell me everything she knew.
    “Miss Baylor has these bonfires from time to time. She’s convinced her great-great-grandfather had a vision quest, and as the shaman of her family, it’s her responsibility to keep searching for the Adlet princess. That’s the only way there will ever be peace between the tribes and the Blood Drinkers.”
    “Okay … so … what does that have to do with me? I’m clearly no princess!” I snapped sardonically.
    “I don’t know that it has anything to do with you, but I will tell you that the fire turning black tonight has never happened