Chapter 73

Audrey

"Oh, no! I lost my earring....." 12%7

I sighed as I stared at my haphazard reflection in the vanity mirror. My hair had come undone from its updo, my makeup streaked from tears and my dress rumpled. But most of all, my eyes were fixed on my missing carring.

My fingers traced the empty hole in my left earlobe where my favorite gold hoop used to be. It was such a small thing, but after the night I'd just had, it felt like the final straw.

Tina snorted behind me as she unclasped her necklace. "I think you have more to worry about than your earring tonight, Audrey," she chided, meeting my gaze in the mirror.

I shuddered as memories of the night's events came flooding back once again. Running into Edwin in the club, seeing that woman, being comforted by Jake, and then what Jake had tried to do.

After I had run away from Jake at the club, I had called Tina in a panic. We had rushed back to the rental house, where Betty. Avis, and Gavin were already asleep. I spilled everything to Tina-the encounter with Jake, the scream, and.. Edwin.

"I still can't believe Professor Brooks was there Tina said with a shake of her head. "Talk about bad luck. Or maybe fate?"

I turned to face her where she was sitting on the edge of my bed. "Fate?" I scoffed.

She shrugged as she ran her hairbrush through her red hair. "I just think it's strange that he came here to vacation, out of all places, and then just happened to dance with you at the club. You don't think that's sort of... I don't know, uncanny?"

Pursing my lips, I turned back to the mirror and swiped my makeup remover wipe across my face. "You know humans aren't affected by the whole 'fated mate' thing. It was just a coincidence." "Still," Tina said with a sigh. "Did you enjoy dancing with him, at least?"

"I.. did. Before that woman showed up," I grumbled, tossing the makeup wipe into the nearby waste basket. "His... girlfriend." I shut my eyes for a moment in a feeble attempt to push away the pain. "I just don't understand why he would dance with me if he was in a relationship."

Tina was silent for a moment, although I could tell we were both thinking the same thing: what if this woman had also been in the picture on New Year's Eve, when Edwin and I had slept together? I didn't want to believe he would do such a thing, but...

“Maybe they're in an open relationship?" Tina suggested, although her tone was doubtful.

I shook my head and grit my teeth. Maybe so, but he still should have told me sooner. "Or maybe he's just a cheater. I don't know which is worse."

Tina sighed again. "Look, Audrey, I know you're upset about Professor Brooks, but we need to talk about what happened with that guy. Are you sure you're okay?"

fine. It was scary, but I got away. That's what

suspiciously for a moment. "And that

then shut again. All I could do was shake my head. The entire memory of that interaction felt so fuzzy, 1

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21:15 Mon, Sep 16

Chapter 74

shake the thought that whatever had come out of me was not

with me. Something

the moment in the alley-Jake's hands on me, the fear, and then that scream. The way he had clutched his ears, blood trickling between his fingers. The raw, feral energy I had

the same fear and frustration. Like a bomb had gone off

me took over whenever I needed

my friends and I went to a local cafe for breakfast with the intention of doing some shopping afterwards and then spending the rest of the day at the beach again. I was looking

counter for our order. I was lost in thought, barely registering the buzz of conversation around me, when something small and metallic clinked

hoop earring. My eyes snapped up, meeting a familiar gray gaze

Edwin

he hadn't slept much either, his firm biceps stretching the thin fabric of his

the tray, my hand shaking slightly. "Um.. Thanks," I muttered, already turning to leave. I didn't want to look at him,

hand on my arm stopped me. "Audrey, wait. We need

images of that woman approaching us last night flashed through my mind. "What's there to talk about?" I asked, feigning ignorance. "Audrey, come on," he said,

then looked back at Edwin. Against

a quiet corner of the cafe. Once we were alone,

last night, Audrey? After you ran off?"

I thought that this would be about his girlfriend.

blood coming

he was single while a beautiful woman was on vacation with him. But, knowing that he would be able to see right through my pathetic attempts at lying, I gave

I said, keeping my voice to a whisper so as

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