I led Quinn down to the end of the staircase. I stood on the last step, able to see not only the front door but right through the broken windows to the lawn. He stood next to me on the ground, facing the other direction, toward the back door. My one step advantage made us almost the same height. Our shoulders touched, the banister between our bodies. Adrenaline was still flooding through me, making me feel inexplicably like giggling.

“You guys throw eggs now?” Quinn asked, raising an eyebrow. “What the hell’s that about?”

“It’s a ninja thing,” I shrugged. “We’ve only started using it recently. One of our history teachers is into that stuff.”

“You’re kinda scary, Buffy.” He winked, then looked suddenly thoughtful.

“What?” I asked.

“I was just wondering if you’d consider teaching Lucy some moves.”

“Lucy? Your sister’s best friend?”

He nodded. “She needs some extra tricks up her sleeve. Our family is proving to be a bit of a liability and she’s only human.” He flicked me a glance. “No offense.”

“None taken,” I returned drily.

“You know what I mean. She’s vulnerable. And her parents will be back soon and she’ll go home. We’re just a little worried.”

He smelled like smoke and incense. I probably shouldn’t be noticing that. What was wrong with me? I wasn’t usually the type to get all flustered over a good-looking guy. Even a really good-looking guy who kind of resembled Orlando Bloom. Plus, he saw me as a fellow soldier. I’d been fighting next to guys long enough to know the look. I tried not to sigh. It would have been a totally inappropriate reaction. I was a hunter. I was supposed to be cool under pressure.

“So, would you?” he asked again.

“What?” I gave myself a mental shake. “I guess it would be okay, if the headmistress approves.”

“Do you always do what you’re told?” he drawled.

I snorted. Flustered or not, I was still me. “That’s what storybook villains always say to the girls to get them to do something stupid.”

There was a pause before he chuckled, as if the sound surprised him. “I’ll just take that as a yes.”

“I’m sure you usually do.”

His grin widened and he nudged my shoulder companionably. “I like you, kid.”

I tried not to groan out loud. I was as bad as Lia.

I had totally developed a crush during a vampire raid.

And he saw me the same way Kieran saw me—as a little sister.

I didn’t exactly have time to analyze the fact that I was crushing on a vampire.

Besides, anyone with eyeballs would crush on Quinn Drake.

Right now I was far too busy running up the stairs toward the screaming. Quinn was at my heels, cursing. “Hunter, wait. Let me go ahead.”

“Not a chance.” I ran faster. He was quicker, of course, being a vampire and all. In fact, he was practically a blur of color streaking past me. It didn’t seem fair. I worked my ass off to be as fast as I could, I ran, I practically lived at the gym most mornings, and I had to put up with York. All Quinn had to do was die.

Not exactly a viable option for me.

Chapter 9

Quinn

When I got to the common room, where the screaming had originated, it was quiet again. I waited for Hunter to catch up.

“So not fair,” she muttered, gasping for breath.

Kieran stepped into the hallway, grim-mouthed. “Man down. Well, boy, anyway.”

“Is it bad? What happened?” Hunter brushed past him to see for herself.

The room was bright considering all the light reflecting through the windows. It was getting warm, too. Definite drawback to those UV bulbs; the students might be sunburned by morning. While they’d no doubt trade a peeling nose and heat blisters over getting eaten by a Hel-Blar, I, however, was feeling like I might cook right through. Sunlight wasn’t good for us. I wouldn’t burst into flame or anything dramatic like that, but I’d get weak and pass out.

In a school full of vampire hunters.

No thanks.

I put on my sunglasses and flicked up the collar of my shirt. The back of my neck already felt tender. In the center of the room, the students were huddled around a couch where a very skinny student was moaning. There was blood soaking his white T-shirt. I tried not to lick my lips. I didn’t think it would go over well.

“Will,” Hunter said. “Shit. Was he …?” She trailed off, wincing. His shoulder looked bad, his shirt torn.

“He wasn’t bitten,” Kieran went to stand beside her.

I stayed by the door, watching the shadows in the hall and trying not to be distracted by the scent of so many humans in one room. If my stomach growled they’d probably stake me before I could explain it was an involuntarily reaction. They craved donuts, I craved blood. It was just one of those things.

“The screaming came from the girl who found him. The blood’s from when he tripped and fell on his own knife.”

I snorted. They were shish kebabing themselves for us now. They may as well offer themselves up on silver platters. Hunter shot me a look, as if she knew what I was thinking. I just shot her back a crooked grin. She wasn’t likely to apologize for accessorizing with stakes and I wasn’t going to apologize for my fangs.

“Hel-Blar tried to drink from him,” Kieran continued tersely. “Apparently got a mouthful before Will got away.”