Chapter nineteen

19; Maxine

When I woke up, Caden and Billie were already gone and I decided to prepare for the class I had that morning.

I was just a few steps from the lecture hall when I spotted him. The one person I didn’t want to see, not after my conversation with my mother the night before. He had opened his big mouth and now I was in trouble with my mother.

If mother had kept to her words, this place would be crawling with vampire hunters spoken and after the night with Caden, I didn’t see him as a monster. He was willing to guide Billie, that should count for something.

LHis dark eyes caught mine from across the hallway , and for a brief moment, I considered turning and walking the other way. But, of course, that wasn’t going to happen.

He was already striding toward me with that cocky, self-assured smile of his, the one that had made me fall in love with him but which now annoyed him. made me want to slap him. I couldn’t exactly explain

He had broken his promise! But that wasn’t even all. I found out that the parting gift he had given me, the necklace, it was laced with a linking spell, more like a tracker, with it, he could always know where I was.

“Max!” He called and I stopped and turned to face him. I hated the way he called my name.

It was probably the hormones, rose, why was I feeling like this?

I stopped, crossing my arms over my chest in a defensive gesture. “Henry,” I replied, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice. It didn’t work. “What are you doing here?”

His grin widened, and he took another step closer, a little too close for comfort. “Just thought I’d check up on you this morning. I still don’t like the idea of you in a room with vampire.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

“I know,” he said, the playful glint in his eyes never fading. “But you could use some company. I’ve been thinking about our conversation yesterday. I’m sorry I didn’t try so hard to understand you. I really don’t want anything to happen to you…”

“I’m sure you do,” I muttered, starting to feel the heat rise in my cheeks. I didn’t want to deal with this right now. I didn’t want to confront anyone, not right now, Not before class, and certainly not with the strange feeling in my gut that something someone was about to ruin my already-miserable day. I glanced around, hoping for a distraction. That’s when I saw him: Xander, coming out of the library.

Perfect.

I took a step back, making it obvious I was ready to move on. “I’m sure you’ll get lthe Vinod by you seek Henry,” I said, my tone clipped. “But not today and certainly not from me.”

He followed me with his gaze, and his smile faltered when Xander’s figure came into view. I knew that he was aware of Xander being a vampire and had gotten the dark aura from him as well. Good, that should unsettle him.

But as I tried to walk past Henry, he moved to block my path. His expression darkened, the playful demeanor now replaced with something a little more dangerous. “You can’t just push me aside like that?” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, but there was an edge to it now. Something sharp.

I raised my chin, meeting his gaze head-on. “I don’t have time for this, Henry. You’re not my problem.”

“You’re wrong about that,” he shot back, his tone now harder, more insistent. “You are my problem, Maxine. I’m tired of having to…Gosh! You are my betrothed! I’m bly looking out for you…”

“Don’t!” I stopped him. “Henry, you broke your promise! I’m not running from you,” I said, barely containing my frustration. “I just don’t have any interest in playing your games. What would you tell my mum this time?”

“Not a game,” he muttered, his eyes narrowing. “I just told your mum so she could speak to you, convince you to leave. It’s dangerous and you know… I was only looking out for you.”

Before I could respond, Xander was there, standing between us, his arms crossed, his eyes flashing with that same intense look that never seemed to waver. “Is there a problem here, Max?” His voice was low and calm, but there was a tension in the air that immediately told me this wasn’t just a casual conversation.

Henry’s eyes flicked to Xander, and I could see the annoyance flare in them. “Stay out of this, Vamp,” he said, his voice low but biting. “This doesn’t concern you.”

“Actually,” Xander replied, taking a step closer, his posture relaxed but unyielding, “it does. I don’t like seeing my friends being harassed.”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “I’m not being harassed.”

“You’re not the one I’m concerned about,” Henry muttered, his gaze still locked on Xander, a mixture of resentment and something darker flashing in his eyes. “Stay away from him. He’s not your problem.”

“I don’t remember asking for your opinion, Siphoner,” Xander shot back, giving him back the name he had called him. I wondered how he had figured that Henry was a siphoner, his voice was now hard. He was standing way too close to me for my comfort, but I didn’t move. I was frozen in place, unsure if I should step back or step forward, caught between the tension of the two men.

Henry’s fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tightening. I could see that He was trying to control his anger, but I could see the veins in his neck throbbing. Henry hated vampires a little too much. I didn’t blame him, it was how we were all brought up. “What, you think He needs protection now?” He let out a short, bitter laugh. “You really think he needs a knight in shining armor?”

I knew that Henry was holding back grin attacking Xander because of me.

Xander took a step forward,“Maybe He doesn’t, but he sure as hell doesn’t need your bullshit either.”

I stepped between them, raising both hands in a half-hearted attempt to diffuse the situation. It was becoming too much and I knew that I had to act manly, not like a weak girl.

Jokes on them though, I could take them both out without breaking a sweat.

“Enough!” My voice came out stronger than I expected, cutting through the air like a whip. “Both of you, stop.”

There was a tense silence. Henry looked like he wanted to say more, but he held his tongue. Xander, on the other hand, kept his gaze locked on Henry with a look of cold contempt.

“You’re wasting your time, Henry,” I said, finally breaking the silence. I didn’t look at Xander, my attention was focused solely on Henry now. “Get home and please, don’t do anything,” I was scared that this incident would prompt him to speak to the vampire hunters.

He took a deep breath, clearly trying to regain some composure. “We’ll see about that, Max. I don’t give up that easily.”

“Good for you,” I replied sarcastically, my arms folded. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have class to get to.”

Henry’s gaze flicked to Xander once more, and for a brief moment, I thought he was going to say something more. But instead, he just turned on his heel, walking away without another word. I watched him leave, his posture tense, his every step a mixture of frustration and fury.

When he was out of earshot, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. But I couldn’t shake the sense that Henry wasn’t finished. He was going to be back eorh the vampire hunters.

“Are you alright?” Xander’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I looked up to find him watching me with those dark, unreadable eyes. He seemed concerned.

“I’m fine,” I said, forcing a smile. “He’s just annoying. That’s all. Are you okay though? You must’ve been startled.”

Xander didn’t look convinced. “I’m fine. You don’t have to deal with him alone, you know. You’ve got me.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t need anyone, Xander. I’m fine on my own. It’s just family problems…nothing to concern yourseif with.”

His lips curled into a smirk, and he took a step closer, his arm brushing mine. “Maybe not. But sometimes, it’s okay to let someone have your back.”

I resisted the urge to step away from him, although my heart was pounding in my chest for some reason. “Just, don’t make a habit of showing up to ‘rescue’ me, okay? I’m a strong man.”

He chuckled softly. “I’ll do my best.”

“Good,” I muttered, my gaze briefly flicking back to the now-empty path where Henry had walked off.

I had to do something before the vampire hunters arrived. I couldn’t just sit still.