Waiting outside the park was a bit odd. People glanced my way and I saw a few quickly glance away if we made eye contact. Though mostly that reaction was from the other Naturals and not so much the Humans. The Humans knew instinctively that I was a predator even if I didn’t have a few scars on my knuckles that proved that I fought and won. The Naturals could smell me and knew I could and would bite first if provoked. That as a Vampire I could kill and sadly because of what Xander went through the Wendell name carried death.

I didn’t blame him, far from it. Even without those darker times I knew I was dangerous.

Heck, I’d done more for less. I thought weakly. Our family was violent… our BloodLine was deadly.

Another uncomfortable glance in my direction had my hackles lifting. This look wasn’t the ‘she’s dangerous.’ It was, ‘Soulless’.

My stomach dropped and my throat threatened to close.

Disgusting. Unworthy. Filth. Broken. Fragile.

Those words echoed and they clawed at my mind. I itched to beat out this worthless feeling but-

I shook my head. Maybe I should leave before everyone showed up? Text that something came up? Run and… and hide once more. 

I knew Xander and Lumir were here. Xander probably knew I was here by now but he’d cover for me-

Arms wrapped around my waist tugging me back a surprising step and my thoughts slammed to a stop. Nobody outside the ring and my family ever touched me. Yet instead of lashing out I felt warm.

Shocked and confused, I looked down to see Ellie grinning from ear to ear.

My mind was still reeling. She touched me? Even though I’m Soulless?

“Hey, bestie! Glad you could make it!”

Bestie? We barely knew each other and we were besties?

I blinked a smirk lifting my lips. “Hey, yourself and I’m happy to be here.” I looked her over, my smirk fading as I took in her appearance. “Ellie, are you alright?”

Her overly bright blue eyes snapped up to my face and in her gaze I saw fear, anger, and sadness. How could someone’s eyes be so expressive?

“I-” She sighed. “Could I talk to you?”

“Of course.”

She nodded and led me away from the heavy foot traffic and to a picnic table off the path. I took a seat watching as she started to pace in front of me.

“Okay so you can be totally angry with me. And you can go home and I won’t hold it against you or anything like that but I’d really like to still be your friend and stuff, but I’d understand if you won’t and-”

“Whoa, whoa, Ellie, breathe.” She sucked in a gasp but I could tell it didn’t help. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, so tell me. Talk to me.”

Whatever it was, if she thought I wouldn’t want to be her friend anymore it had to be serious.

She sucked in another breath. “It’s Xander.”

Instantly my attention was on her. “What about him?” I said slowly to not panic.

“Did you know that he isn’t feeding?”

“I did yeah. He’s struggled with that in the past.”

She nodded, eyes everywhere but my face. “Well there was a tiny accident the other day and Xander almost bit Lumir.”

My mouth fell open, no words making their way through. Was this what mother’s late night call was about?

And Xander almost biting someone?! It sounded impossible- wrong. I knew his stand on feeding, on biting people regardless of his own needs. He only wanted to have animal blood and even then he didn’t like killing.

So him doing that and to Lumir? What happened?

“They’re uh okayish! No biting happened!” Ellie rushed to explain. “It’s just…” Her combat boot scuffed the dirt. “It’s what my parents decided to do after that’s the problem.” She finally lifted those bright eyes on me. “They gave Xander Lumir’s blood and apparently they have been doing this.” She stomped away, kicking a fallen branch into the distance. “They’ve been doing this against his knowledge- against their knowledge and it- it’s fucked up, Kono! How can they do that to him? To Lumir? Neither of them knew till this morning. I saw Lumir, rushing off and he was so upset, he was so hurt and I sorta just knew that he found out?”

The fight suddenly left her and she dropped to the bench but kept a distance between us. Was she scared I’d lash out?

“I went to my Mom and told her off. Told her that this would happen if she hid this from them and she started crying saying something about Vampire’s and dying and a whole bunch of things.” She held her hands in front of her before letting them drop. “Kono, what was she talking about?”

“Vampire’s will get weaker, if not flat out sick if they don’t feed. We have to feed, Ellie. Sure we can get something out of normal food but we need blood to survive.”

“What happens when you don’t get it?” She whispered. And I knew she had figured it out.

“We die.” I answered gently.

Her gaze snapped to my face, horror etched in her expression. “And then Xander…”

“Yeah. I know he wouldn’t like his business aired out like this but yes, he was getting close to a dangerous point. The signs were there all week. That’s why Croix and I were worried.”

“Oh shit…”

“Your parents did what they thought they had to to keep him alive. And I bet they asked my mother before they attempted it.” 

I could even tell why they chose Lumir’s but I didn’t know how much the boys wanted shared. How much they themselves understood. Though they weren’t really doing well hiding their budding relationship. 

“Ellie, I know you’re upset about this, angry with your parents- you’re allowed to be- this was scary and you were concerned for the boys. But this was really the only way. And I bet Xander agrees, that he and Lumir have talked and worked it out. It’s something they’ll have to figure out themselves. Something Xander will have to work out.”

Ellie sat there for a few minutes taking it all in as I did the same.

Really this was the worst case for this to happen. Xander’s always had struggles ingesting blood since the incident and had never recovered from it, but this was worse then I thought if Lumir’s parents had to act this way. If mother had to hide this from him. How ill was he?

Why hadn’t he told us?

I sighed. Because he never told anyone. And only time would fix that shattered trust.

“Well still,” Ellie spoke up. “I’m sorry for not saying anything to you earlier.”

Scooting down the bench I bumped her shoulder gently. “It’s okay, Ellie, you told me now and that’s what really matters.”

“And… you still wanna be friends?”

“Yes! Of course I do!” I grinned when she smiled. “So besties?” I asked. Liking the way the word sounded.

Her face lit up like a mini sun. Then instead of whatever I had thought would happen she threw her arms around my neck and squeezed.

I froze before my arms lifted and hugged her loosely. How was she not scared? Or did she just not have a fear meter? How could she just hug a Vampire that threw her strength around for fun and liked fighting- knowing she wasn’t weak and believing it when I stepped into the ring.

Yet right here I felt alive and not fragile in the slightest. In fact I think Ellie was one of the few people that touched me willingly. 

“Come on, we should head back.” She said leaning back, a smile just as bright as her eyes.

We met up with Kamila and Jamie right as Croix dropped them off, saying he’d be back in time for our lunch with everyone.

And strangely enough Ellie didn’t bring up the fight or anything about Xander and Lumir with her friends. Why? Was I told because Xander’s my brother? Or because of something else?

I glanced up seeing Xander jogging over. “Aloha, Xander!” I said, pulling him into a tight hug.

He kissed the top of my head. “Aloha, Kono.” He leaned back with a soft smile.

I tried to not notice the bags under his eyes and the slight palness of his complexion. He’d get better. I know he would.

“Ellie, Kamila, Jamie.” He greeted then focused back on Ellie. “Ellie, do you know why Lumir was sick on raisin cookies and what I can do to help?”

Ellie blinked with a nod and the three friends rushed over.

“Xander?” I called.

He glanced down. “Yeah?”

“Are you alright?”

His easy expression dropped a little. “I see you and Ellie talked.”

“She’s worried she upset you and through you me. She wanted to clear the air.”

“Did she? Upset you I mean?”

“No, neither of you did.” I took his hand and squeezed. “Xander, I know this will be hard on you and I know you are still struggling even if you don’t say anything. Croix and I see it.” I said gently through our mental bond.

He looked back to Lumir. “It is harder. Normally I can get around someone asking but,” He chuckled. “Lumir doesn’t know how to let those he cares about be hurt without him trying to help. And he won’t stop until he finds a way.”

I smiled at that. “Good, it sounds like you have a good Soulmate.”

He jolted hard, whipping to look at me. “You know?!”

I bopped him hard on the arm. “Xander, I’m sure the whole town knows.”

My tease was met with a moment of panic before it was stuffed away and I remembered his quiet confession about Jolon.

“Kaikaina, it’ll be alright. He can’t touch you anymore.”

I thought he’d let the conversation drop but his quiet words drew me back.

“It’s not me I’m worried about.”

I hugged him tightly. “Well I think you two should try to have fun without those thoughts hanging over you. And besides, Jolon isn’t in town today. So relax. Please? You don’t need anymore stress on your shoulders.”

He hugged me tighter. “Mahalo.”

“Mau.”

He pulled back. “So you coming over?” He asked, nodding towards the blood drive.

“After I check in with- with someone.”

He blinked at my stumble but left me to my thoughts. “I’ll see you later?”

“Yup.”

After running to check up on my mother’s stall I ran back and was instantly pulled in by Amanda into helping set stuff up and move heavy crates for a few other nearby stalls.

Ellie came by with a smile and water when I came near and she’d somehow pull a laugh or a blush from me with her words.

There was no way she was flirting. Just overly friendly. Yeah. Friendly.

“Alright, Amanda.” I said dusting my hands. “That’s the last box and the Blood drive should run smoothly.”

Amanda turned a bright smile my way. “Thanks again and sorry. I would have done it myself but I have to watch those three,” She said pointing at her siblings. “Only one more hour then my Dad can take them off me.”

Laughing I shook my head. “They are cute though.”

Amanda sighed but you can practically feel her love for her family. “One of the things that makes this work so well. That and they’re so well behaved.” 

“True-”

A startled shout drew my gaze sharply away and straight to the person clutching one of the banners. 

It was Ellie.

I was in motion before I could tell my body to move. 

She was up way too high to land safely. 

She’d fall.

No one else was close enough.

All of those thoughts fired through my head as I ran through the gazebo area, not caring who saw me or what that meant.

With a gasp her grip failed and I jumped catching her easily and safely.

We landed with a small skid as my momentum caught up to me. My hand shot out to grab the falling ladder with ease before looking down.

Ellie’s face was scrunched up, waiting for the pain. For the enviable landing. 

Then slowly those dazzling eyes blinked open and we were suddenly staring at each other.

The world seemed to just fall out from under me and-

And oh.

Oh.

Ellie practically glowed. She was everything in that moment. Black cupid bow lips parted to show a soft pink as her tongue darted out to wet her lips. A charming flush of pink rose up to her cheeks. 

Had her grey eyeshadow always made her eyes look that electric blue?

Then I blinked, the image shattering, the world slowly filtering back in but still not fully gone. The image was just there in my mind as if I could call it forth and it would be mine. That every answer would make complete sense and-

All of that happened in seconds and when she blinked again I shook my head.

“Ellie, goddess! Are you alright!?”

Ellie blinked then nodded slowly. “Foot slipped and the ladder started to fall. My foot caught one of the rugs.” She got out. 

Was she in shock? Did she need a doctor?

Then stronger she added. “How… How on earth did you get over here? You were on the other side of the gazebo area. How?”

“All Vampires are fast. I’m fast.” I said, setting her on her feet, checking her over.

She put weight on the foot that must have slipped and got caught and when it held her, she kept weight on it but stayed close to me. The heady feeling that rose in me at that almost had me growling in pleasure.

“You ran that fast- in heels?” She asked, looking at my silver open-toed strap heels.

I grinned letting just a bit of my fangs show and watched her flush and swallow. “I’ve been lifting boxes- heavy boxes all morning in these heels. Sometimes I even fight in them in the ring.” I couldn’t help adding. I was boasting wasn’t I?

Her pupils dilated sharply at my words. “Yeah? You fight in heels?”

“Yeah. I can do a whole lot in these heels.”

Her blush darkened but whatever she was going to add to that was cut off.

“Ellie! Oh my gosh! Ellie!”

I growled at the noise but it stopped when Ellie took my hand.

Amanda, Kamila and Jamie came running over with a few of the other Student Council members.

Ellie reassured everyone with a flawless elegance that left little doubt that she was fine and in control of this whole thing. Through it all she still held my hand.

My scarred hand.

When everyone finally returned to their tasks and we were sitting at a bench because Amanda was adamant that Ellie sit.

Ellie spoke up.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

She looked up and smiled and my breath caught, my stomach gave a swooping feeling and suddenly the neverending feeling of electric warmth was gone. My hand cold like a burn. As she yanked her hand back.

“Oh Geez! Sorry I was just dragging you around and god- I’m sorry-”

I smiled at her rambling that was so like Lumir’s but solely her own and thought:

Oh, this could be nice.