This Wicked Game Read Online Free PDF Page B

when Claire had never seen her before in her life.
    But Xander was shaken. Claire could see it in his eyes. He wasn’t going to stay unless she heard him out.
    She sighed. “Okay, tell me.”
    “It was dark, and you were being dragged out of the house, through that courtyard,” Xander said, pointing to 548 Dauphine. “Then you were in a forest or a swamp or something. A Houngan priest was chanting and marking the area around you in a circle of blood. There was a fire burning and three other people in headdresses. The priest had a knife. He . . .” Xander stopped, his expression far away.
    Claire knew that he wasn’t making it up.
    He was remembering.
    “Keep going,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
    “He bled you. He cut open the veins in your forearms and bled you dry.”
    Claire couldn’t speak. It wasn’t just the dream. Everyone had dreams, even scary ones.
    There was something else. Something familiar about the scene Xander had described. It was like she’d already lived it, even though she knew she hadn’t.
    She shook it off, reaching for his hand. “Look, it was just a dream, but if you want to go, we can.”
    He hesitated before pulling her to him. “I’m sorry, Claire. I just know you’re not safe here.”
    She stood for a long time in the confines of his arms, trying to shake the feeling that he was right.



FIVE
    X ander was silent as they headed across town. Claire spent the time thinking about the silver-haired man who had inspired such visceral fear. Who was he? And what did he and the others want with the panther blood?
    When Xander finally spoke, Claire was surprised it wasn’t about the people living in the house on Dauphine.
    “We’ve been seeing each other for over a year now,” he said.
    “I know,” she said quietly.
    “I think it’s time to get it out in the open, don’t you?”
    She looked out the window, trying to come up with something—anything—that wouldn’t hurt him. Something that wouldn’t sound like a repeat of everything she’d said before.
    “I’m the last person your parents would want you to date,” she finally said.
    “This isn’t about them.” His voice was fierce. “It doesn’t matter what they think.”
    She glanced back at him. “Maybe it matters to me.”
    He shook his head. “If it does, then your priorities are screwed up.”
    “It’s not just your parents,” she said. “Next year, you’ll be at Duke or Emory, and I’ll be . . . I don’t know where, but—”
    “Someplace far from here,” he finished. “Probably cut off from the Guild like Crazy Eddie. I know. You’ve mentioned it once or twice.”
    She was taken aback by the bitterness in his voice. She’d known he was upset that she didn’t want to go public with their relationship, but she didn’t realize he was mad enough to compare her to Crazy Eddie, the only person Claire knew of who’d been kicked out of the Guild.
    “I just don’t see the point in pissing off your parents if we’re going to be apart in a year anyway.”
    “Lots of couples stay together when they go to separate colleges,” he said. “College isn’t forever.”
    “You know it’s more complicated than that,” she protested.
    “I guess I thought we were worth complicated,” he said softly.
    She stared at her hands, folded in her lap, not knowing what to say.
    Sasha was waiting outside the yoga studio, her mat slung over one shoulder, when they pulled up to the curb. She had known about Claire and Xander almost from the beginning, and she watched as Xander hopped out to give Claire a quick, distracted kiss good-bye.
    “See ya, Sash.” He lifted his hand in a wave as he turned to go.
    “Bye,” she called back, turning to Claire. “Seriously, that guy gets hotter every time I see him.”
    Claire sighed. “Can we just go?”
    Sasha looked surprised. “Sure,” she said. “Everything okay?”
    “It’s . . . you know,” Claire said. “Whatever. Let’s just go. I could