A loud knock echoed through the room. I glanced at my brother, who had one leg draped over the back of the couch and the other planted on the floor. His gaze was trained on the television.

“You expecting company?” I asked him.

“Nope.” He tilted his head. “It’s a human, though.”

That wasn’t surprising, considering there were more humans than vampires in this town. But what was one doing knocking on our door? I crossed the room and stopped at the front door. In the blink of an eye, Jax was next to me. Whoever it was knocked again.

“Impatient little thing,” Jax muttered.

I grinned and opened the door. A short woman with black hair twisted atop her head and large, dark eyes stood on our doorstep. She was dressed in a navy blue pantsuit that looked a size too big and had bright red lipstick caked across her lips. A briefcase was clutched tightly in her right hand. I raised a brow.

“I need to speak with Mr. Halstead,” she said, pushing her thick, wire-rimmed glasses up her nose.

My instincts told me this woman was trouble, despite her barely five-foot frame. “I’m Mr. Halstead,” I said, then added, “Trenton.”

“I’m Mr. Halstead, too. Jaxon.” He thrust his hand out at her, and I had to swallow back a laugh.

She jutted her chin out, her gaze unwavering. “I’m looking for your father. Sean Halstead.” She adjusted her briefcase, so she was now gripping it with both hands in front of her.

“And you are?” I asked.

“Miss Findley.”

“Well go get him for you.” Jax yanked the door from my grasp and swung it shut in her face.

“What the hell?” I glared at him.

“She’s gray-ish purple. Conservative. Smart. And way too serious.” He dragged his hand through his hair. “She’s trouble, Trent.”

Jax’s ability to read a person’s aura never failed to be useful. I sighed. “I figured as much. So, what do we do? Get Dad or kill her?”

He laughed. “As tempting as that is, she’s not bad. Let’s find Dad and figure out what she’s doing here.”

Minutes later, me, Dad, Jax, and Miss Findley were seated at the dining room table. She set her briefcase on top of the table and flipped it open. “Thank you for meeting with me, Mr. Halstead.” She pulled out a packet of papers, closed her briefcase, and settled her gaze on Dad. “My name is Jessica Findley, and I’m the Truancy Officer for Keene Valley schools.”

My jaw dropped. She was a truancy officer? I couldn’t stop from laughing. Dad shot me a dirty look, and I clamped my lips shut. Jax cursed under his breath.

“We’ve had some complaints that your sons aren’t attending school.” She briefly glanced at us. “They are school aged, are they not?”

Dad cleared his throat. “Yes, they’re both seventeen.”

“And why aren’t they enrolled in school?” She pushed her glasses up her nose again.

Dad’s jaw clenched, and I waited to see what he’d say. It’s not like he could tell her the truth. “I don’t have an answer for you,” he said simply.

“You do realize not enrolling your sons in school is a crime, don’t you?” She slid the packet of papers across the table. It was a copy of the law she was citing.

“Wait a minute,” Jax said, leaning forward menacingly. Miss Findley instinctively leaned back in response. “We’re seventeen, which means we’re not legally required to attend school. Anyone can drop out at sixteen.” He smiled with satisfaction.

I sliced a look in his direction, wishing he’d shut up. Provoking this woman wasn’t going to help our cause.

She cleared her throat and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Well, yes, but—”

“I’ll get them enrolled today,” Dad said without bothering to look at the papers. Disbelief rolled through me. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have things to do.” He stood, and just like that, she was dismissed.

Before she left, though, she said, “If this matter isn’t resolved by the end of the day today, I will be back.” Her heels clicked noisily down the porch steps.

It was then I noticed Old Man Moore standing on his porch, staring at our house. And there was a faint smile on his face. Obviously, he’d been the one to make the complaint that led to Miss Findley’s visit. My hands curled into fists, and my gums ached with the familiar need to bare my fangs. I was going to kill him.

“I am not going to high school,” Jax said, arms crossed.

“Me either.” I mimicked his stance as we faced our father. “You realize how ridiculous this is, right?”

He nodded. “Yes, I’m well aware of how ridiculous this is, Trent, but what would you have me do? Kill her? Surely, someone knew she was coming here. If she disappeared, we risk exposure.”

I scowled.

“Not if we killed the entire town.” Jax’s lips twitched.

I elbowed him. I really wished he’d outgrow the let’s-kill-everyone phase he seemed to be stuck in. “I could always chase her down. Wipe her mind. Make her forget all about us.”

“And then what? Let Old Man Moore report us again? I don’t think so.” Dad shook his head. “You two wanted to come back here, remember? This was your idea, so either go to school and try to fit in naturally, or we move. The choice is yours.” He disappeared downstairs.

We’d only just returned to Keene Valley, and it was one of my favorite towns. I didn’t want to move again. But I also really didn’t want to go back to high school. The risk of exposure was too great, though. Even though we were stronger and faster and more deadly than any human, secrecy was our greatest weapon. Blend in—always.

Jax looked at me, a mixture of anger and despair in his expression. “Are we really doing this?”

“Do we have a choice?”

He sighed heavily. “Not really.”

“It could be fun.” I shrugged. “Humans are entertaining. And you were complaining yesterday how bored you are.”

“Right, because school will cure my boredom.”

I laughed.

***

The following morning, Jax and I entered Keene Valley Central, just like normal teenagers. The hallways were packed with students—humans—who were chattering excitedly, laughing, smiling. God, was this really the highlight of their lives?

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Jax muttered and shook his head. “What the hell were we thinking?”

“We weren’t.” Frowning, I glanced around. We’d graduated once, back in 1932 when we were truly of age. Being back here now was cruel and unusual punishment. “My locker is right there.” I pointed to an ugly green locker a few feet ahead.

Jax grumbled and veered off. I had no idea where he was going, but I was sure we’d catch up later. As much as I loathed being back in school, I was going to make the best of it—unlike my brother. When I approached my locker, the one next to it was wide open. Curiosity sparked in my chest as I opened mine.

A moment later, slender fingers slammed against my face. The sound of knuckles cracking echoed around me. I stood there a moment, stunned. Did someone seriously just punch me in the face?

“Ow,” a sweet, melodic voice cried softly.

I closed my locker door. “Did you just punch me?”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean… it was an accident. I’m sorry.”

To anyone else, she sounded genuinely sorry, but to me… I could hear the slight tremor in her voice, smell the faint scent of fear. And her heart beat wildly, pumping blood through her body at an astounding rate. She smelled entirely too tempting.

I took a deep breath, then slowly pushed her locker door closed. “Are you okay?”

She looked at me, tilting her head back enough to meet my gaze. Big, gorgeous doe eyes peered up at me, unblinking. I was in so much trouble already. But when I realized her head only came to the middle of my chest, that was nail number two in my coffin—I had a weakness for short girls.

“I should be asking you that. Are you okay?” She stepped closer, inspecting my cheek. I caught a whiff of vanilla and lavender, and I had to stifle a groan. “Are you sure I didn’t hurt you?”

I laughed. It was cute she was so concerned. “I’ve taken worse. I’ll be fine,” I said.

“Okay,” she said, drawing out the word. “Is it normal for people to punch you? Because you seem very cool about this whole thing.”

I re-opened my locker and rummaged around inside, not bothering to answer her question. I was positive telling her that my brother and I beat each other up for fun would scare her. Or make her think I was some sort of freak.

“Well, I’m sorry,” she said again.

“Apology accepted.”

“Thanks.”

I closed my locker—again—and leaned against it. “Are you positive you’re okay?”

She’d been cradling her hand to her chest, and I was really worried she’d hurt herself. When she turned toward me, I let my gaze roam down her body… her very fit, curves-in-all-the-right-places body. Something long dormant awakened inside of me, stirring emotions I didn’t realize I still possessed.

“May I see?” I nodded toward the hand she held protectively against her chest.

Cautiously, I took her hand and gently ran my thumb across her knuckles. God, she had the softest skin. I bet the rest of her was just as soft. She cringed but didn’t pull away. Her knuckles were red and starting to swell, but nothing appeared to be broken. She stared at me intently.

“Would you like to take a picture?” The corner of my mouth quirked up into a smirk.

She quickly averted her gaze. “Uh, I think I’m good.” She removed her hand from mine and made a fist. “Thanks.”

“You should probably go to the nurse. Get some ice before that starts to swell.”

Her eyes widened as if she were horrified. “Thanks, but I’m fine. Really.”

I nodded. “Well, this has been an interesting first day. I hope this isn’t how they greet all new students.”

“What?” She cocked her head.

“Apparently, my welcome was a punch in the face.” I’d told Jax school wouldn’t be boring. He was never going to let me live this down, either—getting punched in the face by a girl. A human girl no less.

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I’m new, too. I’m Chloe.”

Chloe. Such a simple yet pretty name. I loved the way it rolled off my tongue with ease and perfection.

“C’mon, Trent.” Jax nudged me, barely giving Chloe a second look. “Stop screwing around with the locals, and let’s get to class.”

“Oh, I’m not a local,” she said.

“Like it matters,” Jax muttered.

“Knock it off, Jax.” I was going to kick him in the teeth. “I’ll see you around, Chloe.” Without another word, I walked away, Jax beside me.

“We’re not even here half an hour and you’re already hitting on a girl?” Jax rolled his eyes. “I told you this was a terrible idea.” He glanced over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes, then quickly turned back.

I punched him in the arm, hard. “Jealousy doesn’t look good on you,” I said.

We stopped outside the room where our first class was, and for the briefest moment, I wondered if maybe Jax was right. Maybe moving again would have been a better idea.

“She’s pure white, Trent,” Jax whispered. “Blinding white.”

My brows rose in surprise. Pure white meant purity. Goodness. Compassion. In all my decades as a vampire, Jax had only pointed out a pure, bright white aura twice. Chloe made three. And that made her all the more attractive. I should stay far away from her, though. My aura wasn’t anywhere close to pure, neither were my actions, and I had no right to taint her with what I was.

I turned, unsure where I was planning to go, when someone barreled into me. I scowled, until I realized it was Chloe. Then I grinned. “My face wasn’t enough? You need to assault my chest, too?”

Her face flushed a sexy shade of crimson. I stepped around her, muttering about how screwed I was and how I was a horrible guy. Finding an empty seat, I tracked Chloe as she headed straight for the back of the room.

Right then, I made a decision—if I had to suffer through high school, it was going to be with her.