Page 123 of Bite Me

“No way it’s that quick.”

“I think Luther figured he’d be the first one to claim my blood before he was investigated. Guess that backfired. Dad talked to his father today and I don’t think it went well.” She’s not looking at me, but staring a hole into the bark of the tree next to her, while picking pieces off a dead leaf. “I feel so . . . silly for being so upset. Mom donated. Maybe it’s not a big deal.”

“That was different. She chose to do that. You get to choose too.”

It is a big deal to us. Mom dying of complications from donating changed our family forever, and she never mentioned wanting us to join the Donor Program when we were kids. I think she wanted us to choose that for ourselves.

She shrugs. “Maybe this is what I’m meant to do. Maybe . . . I’m too much of a coward to choose, so the stars chose for me.”

Her voice is despondent, and her cheeks are hollow. Not even the sunshine breaking through the trees brightens her features.

“No. Some asshole pulled the strings behind your back. This isn’t some weird fate thing. Someone is messing with us. They want to use our blood for their own gain.”

She nods as if she understands, but I know her. Evangeline’s vacant expression tells me she’s already made up her mind, and her conclusion is usually that she’s the problem.

“I’m okay. Don’t worry about me. Zant volunteered to be my first donee. It won’t be so bad. I’ll make the most of it . . . That’s what Mom would do.”

A twig snaps under my foot. This sickness that I feel is churning into burning rage. I clench my teeth together as it travels up my throat. Evangeline’s always been the quietest about Mom’s death, but as a child, she took some weird responsibility for it. I’ve never understood why. She won’t really talk about it and only gives vague hints that she wishes she’d done something to prevent it, like if she had wished hard enough, it would have worked out. But her silence never bothered me because I know she misses Mom just as much as I do, and that’s why this is wrong.

Mom wouldn’t want us to be forced into anything.

She’d want us to choose our own fate.

“You and Olivia have your things, and maybe this is what I’m meant for.”

I can’t believe this is happening, and I can’t believe I’m just letting it happen. These people are hurting the people I love, and for what? For money? For blood?

I stand and brush off my skirt.

“Did I make you mad? I’m sorry.”

“No. It’s not you. I’m going to fix this. I promise.”

“Where are you going?”

I don’t answer as I tear through the trees and head back toward the castle. My name echoes through the trees, but it only adds to my momentum. I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t have to sit around and do nothing but be sad about it.

I won’t wait for fate to happen to us. I will choose what happens next. I’m practically sprinting across the lawn, putting my phone to my ear.

“Parker?”

“Yeah, Em. What’s up?”

“I need you to look for Dacre.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“He . . . sent me this message. It’s not like him . . . Maybe I’m wrong, but I haven’t heard from him in days, and I know you can do that thing where you ask around and make things happen.”

“Okay . . . Do you know where to look?”

“Kind of. Meet me in my room in thirty minutes with Olivia, okay? If you don’t hear from me, something happened.”

“Whoa, wait. Where are you?”

I end the call and rake my knuckles on the door to Dacre’s grandfather’s office. He better be here by now. I’m tired of waiting.

“Hello? Sir? It’s Emma Osborne. I need to speak with you.” When there’s not an immediate answer, I pound harder. “It’s important.”