Page 84 of Fall into Place

“No, it couldn’t.” Nantale sighed.

“What?” Callum whipped around to look at her. “Why not?”

“Because how are we going to find out what’s happening in Felix’s castle?”

“We could send spies, or we could bloody torch the place, fight our way in with brute force—”

“Or I could just ask him,” Tess interjected.

“No,” Callum snapped.

“Callum—”

“It’s out of the question.”

“But Felix likes me!” Tess insisted. “We can find the safest possible way for me to see him, but this is too big a lead not to pursue it.”

“I agree,” Callum said. “I just think there are much less stupid ways to pursue it than putting your mortal life in danger.”

“Mortals’ lives are always in danger.” Angelique rolled her eyes. “That’s the literal definition of mortality.”

“Yeah, she could just as easily fall off a horse and snap her neck, and what good would that do us?” Antoinette sniffed.

“If she snapped her neck, at least we could drink her blood,” Tristan sulked.

“Wait.” Nantale held out her hands, and the room fell silent. “Callum, what if the girl drinks your blood?”

Tess’s throat suddenly felt dry, her breath was like sandpaper scraping against it.

Callum looked at Nantale for a long moment, then nodded slowly.

“Why?” Tess couldn’t think of the right words; she felt woozy. “Why would I—what would that do?”

“It’d make you a lot faster and stronger, for one.” Callum was leaning toward her now, excitement building. “Make it a lot easier for you to escape if something went wrong.”

“But…” Tess couldn’t breathe. She could explain if she could just breathe. “Your blood, the poison.”

“Oh, hmm,” Callum considered. “I think it should be all right, now that I’m better? Sylvie, what do you think?”

Callum turned to Sylvie, but she clocked Tess’s discomfort and shrugged noncommittally.

“But listen,” Callum went on, “if you want to wait we can wait, certainly I’m in no rush for you to talk to Felix. This would just be a safeguard—”

“We don’t have to talk about it now.” Tess stood abruptly, her chair screeching against the marble floor. Everyone in the room looked at her like she was losing her mind—and maybe she was, she felt like she was, but if she didn’t get out of this room right now, she was going to pass out.

“Tess—” Callum reached for her arm, but she jerked it back.

“It’s fine,” she squeaked, her voice high and ragged. “You’re having your book club, I’ve already read the books, I should go, it’s time for me to go.”

And before he could respond, before any of the vampires could say a single thing, she grabbed her books and rushed out of the room. The images were already coming—the snowfall, the whiskey, the pile of clothes. It didn’t matter what dimension you were in, you couldn’t let your guard down for a single second. Tess wasn’t going to drink Callum Yoo’s blood. And she was a fucking idiot to believe him when he said she could ever be safe, on this island or anywhere else.

Chapter 21

QUIZ: Which Blood Feud Vampire Should Be YOUR Valentine?

by Amy Bello, posted on buzzfeed.com

Dear reader, are you single on V-Day? Well, never fear, because the hot vampires of Blood Feud are WAY sexier than any of the losers you’ve been swiping on Hinge (so sad, but you know it’s true). The only question is: Which one will give you the best Valentine’s Day of your life? Take this quiz to find out!