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

The vampire is staring at the wall, his back to me.


I feel around in my pocket. Good. My phone is still there. I pull it a little to see the screen showing there is no signal. I cuss inwardly. And then inspiration strikes. I press record and slip it back in my trousers.


"I should think you would know by now."


Cain lets out a wild laugh that echoes and bounces wall to wall. I think he means to be intimidating, but he comes across as mentally unstable, and desperate. He turns around overly dramatically.


"So, you're going to kill me after all," I say. "That's why you marked me?"


"Mark?" he sobers. "I'm merely correcting a mistake. I made no such mark."


I look around. There's nothing else I can use to distract him. I have my words and nothing more.


I feel a small sliver of satisfaction at the momentary surprise that flickers across his features.


Chapter 49