Page 39 (1/2)

Chapter 1 - Blood Exchange

I had to ader dull

Infact, for rownup inhad finallybeco place on earth

Not onlywas I, but I'd witnessed for the first time inmy vampire-obsessed existence anactual va bitten

This wouldn't have beensucha tragedyfor me if the recipient of the bite had beenOnyxor Scarlet, the superfabulous Underworldyfriends I'd ivento othic beauty, Luna Maxwell

I'd beenwaiting almost a year to be bitten, since I'd , but for Luna it happened withinhours of ht, onAlexander's lawn,there had beenana withthe ht would happen While playing spinthe bloodybottle, Luna and Sebastian,Alexander's handsoone infor s pierced the soft flesh of her swanlike neck Luna had stared up atat Woodstock She glowed even irl fashionista Most of the partyers missed the action, but those who saw the bite passed it off as a macabre prank

Sebastian had since moved out of the Mansion, and the rest of the va the CoffinClub several toayinHipsterville We hadn't gottenword of their whereabouts, and I hadn't seenanysigns of them at Dullsville's cemetery

For the week following the love bite, Itried etAlexander'sbecause his best friend's impulsive behavior had put not onlyhimself and Luna but evenAlexander's secret in possible jeopardy Happily, tonight Alexander was finally obliging

We were lying in the grass on a hilltop that overlooked Dullsville Frolaraveyard, but Ididn't notice them because Iwas lost inAlexander's lips

Ihadn't broached the tender subject of receiving ,alone with him and without distractions, as my chance for another try

Fiddling witha link chainhanging from his black leather belt, Iasked, "Do youthink it's easier for Sebastianto fall for a girl and to take her blood?"

Alexander furrowed his brow

"Or was it easyto do what he did at the party," Icontinued, "because Luna is alreadya vampire?"

"Ican't speak for someone else"

"But Iwant to knohat youthink"

Alexander paused "Thenyes, Ithink it's easier for him He is veryimpulsive" His tone was clear and matter-of-fact

I sighed

Alexander reached for ers "It means more to me thanthat,"he said directly

"Me too," Isaid, touching his shoulder "But what if I were alreadya vahtfully "What if soround--so Iwon't be bonded to them forever But--"

Alexander withdrew his ar "To be turned--by anyone? Sebastian? Or Jagger?"

"Iwas just thinking out loud," Iquicklyrefuted Ididn't realize I'd hurt him

"It would be that easyto have someone turnyou? Just like that?"

WhenAlexander posed it to me like that, myfantastical solutiondidn't seem so romantic or practical inits reality