I lower my arm and peak through a slit in my hands. I take in the blood covering the snow just in front of me.

"Alex." A dark figure stands far to my left, the eyes glow a bright red. His coat flaps to the side.

"Kian!" I scream. My body listens as I struggle to stand and run, tripping and falling several times into his outstretched arms. I cling tightly as I hear heavy, disjointed footsteps.

"Close your eyes," he whispers. "I've got you."
—
When Lexi and her brother Zero relocate to the Academy, neither of them is prepared for what lies ahead, especially when Kian reveals that the school is also home to vampires.

Lexi has to navigate a world once unknown to her and the strange feelings she has for Kian.

When unprovoked attacks begin to occur in her new home, she is drawn into the conflict. Now, she must find out who, and what, the attacker wants and the lengths they will go to in order to get it.

Blood and Thorns is created by V. R. Morgan, an eGlobal Creative Publishing author.

BLOOD AND THORNS

Bryn comes down for a while, sitting at his recently claimed table; he insists no one else is allowed to sit there, and Amelia indulges him. Besides, we have more tables outside now that the weather's nice.


Z and Travis hang around during the morning and then go off to do their 'own thing', as they put it, for the afternoon.


"Can you just clear away the last of the tables, dears?" Amelia asks.


"I've got it," I say to Mei. "You should get started wiping the counters."


Mei holds a thumb up and takes her last few plates with her, balancing them expertly. It makes me smile; I don't think I'll get to that stage any time soon.


I finish wiping down the tables and gathering the various plates, cups, and cutlery to take to Lucy to wash.


We spend the final hour cleaning everything and preparing for the next day. I spend most of that time with Jamie, helping prep sandwiches, and peeling mangoes. Time goes by quickly, and all too soon, we are able to finish working and leave.


Chapter 37