Chapter 173

Joseph’s POV

I sent an email to the entire class letting them know that the class would be canceled this evening. With two of my students absent, I didn’t want anyone to fall behind.

Not to mention I wasn’t really feeling up to class.

Since my conversation with Tessa yesterday, my heart hasn’t really been in the right place. I wasn’t sure what to say to her, but I certainly didn’t think anything I did say would make her feel any better.

I knew having a relationship with her in the beginning would end badly. My lifestyle isn’t for a human girl. I lost way too many people since I’ve been alive, and I wasn’t going to lose anyone else. Especially not someone I cared about as much as I cared about Tessa. I had never felt remotely for anyone as much as I did for her and the thought of losing her killed me.

I cleaned up my workspace, packed up my briefcase, turned the light off in my office, and then went home.

By the time I got home, the sun had already risen, welcoming a new day.

I thought a lot about Fae and what she said about Tessa’s blood curing her from the Stardust effect.

I knew Tessa’s blood was powerful, but an antidote to a powerful drug?

How could that be possible?

“As soon as I tasted it, it was like I could think clear again….” Fae said when we were on our way back to the academy. “Then, I saw a gun and the next thing I knew I was shooting Ryan…” she paused as she gathered her thoughts. “I never shot anyone before…”

“You aren’t a bad shot,” I told her. “You killed quite a few rogues without even moving.”

She nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

“Do you think it’s another gift? She asked, peering over at me from the passenger seat. “Like my screaming?”

“It could be,” I told her, shrugging. “You should speak to your advisors about it once we get you back to the academy.”

She sighed; I noticed she was tugging at her fingers nervously.

“Most of the students there think I’m a freak because of my abilities,” she said, shaking her head with dismay written all over her face. “Apparently it’s rare to have a special ability when you’re a new vampire.”

She was right; it was very rare. But not unheard of.

“The moon goddess works in mysterious ways,” I told her in return. After a beat of silence, I asked, “How did Ryan find out about your abilities anyway?”

She was quiet for a moment, trying to figure out how to answer. I allowed her the time she needed.

“I went into the forest…” she admitted sheepishly. “I knew I wasn’t supposed to be there without a companion, and it was also after hours, so I was really not supposed to be there. But I just needed to be surrounded by trees and feel the earth.”

That wasn’t odd; most vampires with abilities draw their strength and power from the earth. So, wanting to be close to or inside the forest was a natural response. However, the academy has strict rules about going to the forest unaccompanied and an even stricter rule about going there unaccompanied after hours.

It must have been just before dawn; it would be dangerous if she were to be caught by the sun. New vampires are more likely to get sick from the sun a lot quicker, kind of like rogues.“And Ryan showed up,” she continued. “I initially screamed to get him away from me. But before he passed out, he blew Stardust in my face.”

The school soon came into view and a couple of elders stood by the gates; they didn’t look pleased.

“I’ll explain to them that it wasn’t your fault, and that Stardust was involved,” I assured her.

She gave me a small smile.

“I still broke the rules,” she breathed. “I’ll take whatever punishments they give me.”

I nodded, understanding what she meant.

As I parked, she took off her seatbelt and reached for the door handle, but then she paused and looked back at me.

“Can you tell Tessa that I’m sorry? I really didn’t want to hurt her.”

I was quiet for a moment, trying to figure out if I was going to see Tessa once I was finished dropping Fae off.

I wanted to.

I wanted to see her more than anything.

But being around her put her in danger; she almost died tonight and now whenever I see her, that’s all I’m going to be thinking about.

How close I came to losing her. Again.

But I didn’t say any of that to Fae. I only nodded.

“Sure,” I said, trying not to sound as drained as I felt. “Now let’s go face the music.”

She nodded and we both got out of the car together.

I brushed the thought of Fae and that entire night out of my mind as I pulled into my villa. I frowned when I saw a familiar car sitting out front.

I thought he was going back to the mountains last night but apparently, he returned.

Walking into my villa, Carter was sitting on the sofa in the parlor with his feet on the footrest and his arms resting behind his head.

“About time you showed up,” Carter said, a smirk playing on his lips. I threw my briefcase on a nearby chair and went to join him on the sofa.

“When did you get here?” I asked. “I thought you went back to the mountains.”

“I came back early this morning before the sun rose,” he answered. Then he smirked. “I kind of like it here.”“Like it here? Or do you mean you like someone here?” I asked, rolling my eyes.

Carter was stupid if he thought a relationship with Ruby was going to work. It would work as well as mine did with Tessa.

It was pointless to even go there.

Carter removed his hands from behind his head and sat up when he saw my expression. I must have struck a chord because he gave me an unfamiliar look. He was suddenly very serious and un-Carter-like.

“She doesn’t remember me…” he breathed and now I saw there was sadness in his eyes.

“You know it’s for the best,” I said, shaking my head. “This isn’t the kind of lifestyle you’d want for her.”

“And what about Tessa? Why does she get to know about all of this? How is that fair?”

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Our abilities don’t work on Tessa,” I reminded him. “Trust me, if I could, I’d erase her memories so fast. I don’t want this lifestyle for her either. That’s why I’m trying to stay away from her and if you knew any better, you’d do the same with Ruby.”

Carter was quiet for a while; I didn’t think he was going to respond.

“Is that why you’re trying to stay away from her? Because you don’t want her around vampires?”

“It’s for her safety,” I told him, sighing. “Being around our kind isn’t safe. She almost died twice because of us.”

“She almost died because of Ryan,” Carter correctly firmly. “If it wasn’t for you being around her, she would have died, and he’d get what he wanted.”

“He wouldn’t have even known about her if I didn’t bring her to our village. I was being stupid and careless,” I muttered.

“I can sell Tessa’s scent for miles away,” Carter said, eyeing me carefully. “Those new vampires that appeared in this city, the reason you were here in the first place, were tracking her scent. If you weren’t here, they would have eventually killed her. It’s because you were close to her that saved her life. Ryan would have eventually found her, or someone else would have found her. Do you honestly think staying away from her is safer than being close to her?”

I hadn’t even thought about that; my heart soon felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.

“I saw the look on Tessa’s face when she returned home last night. She was broken, Joseph,” Carter continued. “If you keep pushing her like this, you are going to push her so far away that you won’t be able to reach her when she is in danger. With blood like hers, she’s definitely going to be in danger again. Some rogues witnessed Fae being cured from the Stardust after she drank from Tessa. Some rogues escaped with that knowledge. They know she is special and soon, a lot more vampires will know this as well. Tessa will always be in danger…”

I stared down at my hands.

He was right. With her kind of blood, she would always be in danger and I was stupid enough to keep my distance from her.

“I’ve been an idiot,” I murmured, more to myself than to him.

But he scoffed and nodded.

“That’s an understatement,” he agreed. “You care about her, don’t you? Because she seems to think you don’t.”

I shot him a look.

“I more than care about her,” I said, keeping my eyes on his.

“Then, if it were me… I’d tell her just how I felt and stay by her side where I know for a fact, she would be safe.”

“Her life span is short… she’s a human. I can’t watch someone else I love die,” I told him; my stomach clenched at the thought.

“It’s better to have love and loss than to never love at all,” Carter shrugged.

He was right; I was crazy if I thought staying away from Tessa was in her best interest. I’m only pushing her away and making it more difficult for me to protect her.

Before I could say another word, my phone went off.

I grabbed it and glanced at the screen, frowning.

“What is it?” Carter asked, staring at my worried expression.

“Tessa just texted me,” I said, glancing at him.

“What does it say?”

I opened the text message and my heart instantly fell into my stomach.

Tessa: Just so you know, I’m fine. I’m actually more than fine. I’m going to my father’s farm for the weekend. Maybe I’ll meet someone there and not want to return. Someone who actually cares about me.