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over them, “she will be unable to control her hunger. It may overtake her at will.”
    “It won’t,” Nora insisted. “I can control it!”
    “Control it?” Madison laughed . “The memories of my first feeding are still vivid to me. As they are for Alexander and for your friend, Hunter. The first feeding changes you. Only after your first feast on human blood do you truly become a part of the Vassiz. It is what your body will demand of you. No, you cannot control it, girl. And until you feed, the urges will overtake you completely.”
    “I can control it,” Nora said stubbornly. “I did it this morning.”
    “It’s true,” Hunter intervened. “A group of game hunters crossed our path. Nora chased after one of them. She hunted , but she pulled away just before taking his blood.” Hunter’s tone turned to one of admiration, and Nora felt warmth spread inside her. “I cannot imagine the will power it must have taken her to do so. Newborns are crazy with bloodlust, but Nora…she overcame it, when her prey was most vulnerable.”
    “Is this true?” Alexander looked at Nora again.
    “Yes.” She nodded, somewhat shyly.
    “Alexander? You do not think to bring her along, do you?” Madison sounded appalled. “She presents a risk we cannot take!”
    “Sometimes,” he said cryptically, “a gamble is all we can place our hopes on.” Then he nodded. “Fine. She will be allowed to come.”
    “What?” Madison’s voice turned indignant with disbelief. “I was fine with them coming before I knew the truth, but I cannot—” She got up and swung her head angrily. “She will endanger our entire purpose!”
    “If she says she can control it,” Alexander replied, “I believe her.” His words were hard, as if he was forcing himself to believe them.
    Madison sniffed angrily. Taking one long, hard glare at Nora, she turned and stalked away. Gray growled in Nora’s lap.
    Alexander didn’t even look in her direction. “Don’t mind her.” He spoke directly to Nora. “She does not know what I do.”
    “And what is that, Alexander?” Nora asked cautiously.
    “I know you are a woman of your word,” he answered. “And I know that if you say you can control your hunger, you truly believe you can. But understand the importance of having that control. If you slip but once, if you lose your grip for half a moment without it being planned on beforehand, the elders will become aware of our location. And it will compromise everything.”
    “I can hold on,” Nora said determinedly.
    Hunter placed his hand over hers and squeezed it tightly.

Chapter Five
    ~The Journey Begins~
     
    Nora slept poorly that night. She went to bed feeling bad for causing the animosity between Madison and Alexander.
    At one point, still half-asleep, Nora flipped over to one side and opened her eyes. She saw Hunter, seated far away, speaking intently with Madison. Nora strained her ears without thinking, trying to make out what they were saying, but heard nothing. Suddenly Madison looked right at her.
    Nora shut her eyes quickly, pretending to resume the steady breaths of sleep. Her ruse must have worked, for when she peeked again, Madison had returned her attention to Hunter. Absently, Nora wondered what they were talking about, but then sleep overtook her again. A sleep that was haunted by those same unremembered nightmares.
    Hours later, Nora opened her eyes. She squinted against the bright sun to look around, and realized she was alone. She reached out a hand to feel for Gray and found him missing too.
    Getting up, she looked around. There were no signs that anyone had ever been in the small clearing, no signs of the fire from last night. She frowned. Where did everyone go?
    As soon as that thought crossed her mind, Hunter, together with Madison and Alexander, came through the edge of the forest and into the clearing. Nora opened her mouth to speak, but stopped as soon as Madison glared at her. Madison sniffed loudly and walked