even a moment, even if he didn’t eat lunch. His hand tightened on her waist, his emerald eyes disdainfully scann ed the cafeteria. The buzz about her, which had died down after her grandmother’s death, had now returned tenfold. The nasty whispers were flying rapidly around again . The angry glares and waves of hatred were once more pound ing against her.
Cassie pressed tigh ter to Devon; her hand clenched his as the line moved slowly forward. Though she had tried to become accustomed to the hatred of the students , she still did not like it, nor did she understand it. She knew that the girls wanted Devon, but so much hatred because of jealousy was something that she would never understand.
He bent low to her, his mouth warm as he nuzzled her neck gently through the material of her dark green turtleneck . Cassie shuddered pressing tighter to him as her toes curled instantly. He nudged her gently forward as the line moved. She grabbed hold of a tray, grateful that Devon was with her. The whispers were not so bad when he was near. None of the girls wanted to appear catty or cruel in front of him, and a fter Devon had lifted Mark with one hand and slammed him into a wall , n one of the boys were willing to risk having his anger and strength turned on them. H is presence also helped to keep her stable and grounded, helped to ease the pain that the cruel comments caused.
Reaching the front of the line, Cassie grabbed her food, paid for it , and hurried free of the confining lunch line. Dani and Chris were already at the table, talking softly. Cassie slumped into her chair, taking a deep breath of relief. “How’s it going?” Chris asked softly.
“Just peachy,” she replied, managing a wry smile.
Chris’s eyes were troubled as he turned away, swiftly scanning the cafeteria. “Bunch of jerks,” he mumbled.
“I’m used to it by now.”
Devon’s arm tightened on the back of her chair . Melissa dropped her lunch bag on the table, sliding into her chair she d ug out an apple, biting into it. “What an awful day,” she muttered.
“I second that,” Chris agreed.
Cassie shrugged, her gaze falling on Devon. He was back in her life now , so no matter how awful the day was it could n ever be as awful as the past couple of weeks . Her fingers dart ed up to her neck, joy suffused her as she pressed against the small wounds there . Though she was a fast healer, the marks were still barely visible upon her skin. Touching them now, she was once more swept away by the rush of love that had encompassed her when he had been feeding upon her.
He glanced at her, his eye brows drawing sharply together as he studied her worriedly. She smiled reassuringly up at him , dropping her hand from her neck. Pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek , he lightly stroked her face. Cassie didn’t realize she had stopped breathing until he sat back. The effect he had on her was startling and intense. It didn’t ease either, but grew everyday that she was around him.
“Eat,” he whispered.
She managed a small nod, picking her pizza up numbly as she began to slowly pick at her food. “When is Luther coming back?” Chris inquired.
Melissa shrugged, eyeing her sandwich with distaste. “I don’t know , I haven’t heard from him in a couple of days.” Devon shifted beside her, his hand idly stroking the back of her neck. Though he appeared nonchalant she could sense a sudden tension humming through him. “Probably be back soon.”
Cassie continued to pick at her lunch, forcing herself to swallow the soggy pizza. “You know we should probably go out hunting tonight.”
Devon stiffened beside her, his hand momentarily tightened on the back of her neck. “Cassie…”
“We have to go back out,” she insisted. “They’re still out t here. They are going to star t kill ing people again. I just wish I knew where they ’ ve been. ”
That was the
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