Chapter 4

I woke up the next morning – or afternoon – honestly I didn't even know what time it was, but it felt like a jackhammer was pounding against my skull. I opened my eyes and saw both James and Lexi still asleep, or more like passed out, next to me.

Last night came back to me in flashes, none of us had ever drunk as much. I had a feint recollection of me and Lexi ending up on a table – dancing. We were downing shots like crazy though fortunately we didn't spend a single penny as drinks were being bought for us by multiple different guys. I found it strange that we weren't carded but I reckoned that was Daniel's doing. He was a real gentleman though and made sure we had fun while staying the responsible one, checking our drinks before we drank them and ensuring our safe return to the hotel.

We'd celebrated James' birthday and as soon as the clock struck midnight we celebrated Lexi's. I was secretly glad we did, because I wasn't sure I'd be able to do that again anytime soon. At this point I could very well vicariously live through them and pretend I celebrated mine as well, which technically we had done even though it wasn't on the actual day.

Bile threatened to rise in my throat at the mere thought of celebration as I unwillingly peeled my body up from bed and stalked – more like crawled – to the mini fridge I search of water. Much to my dismay there was none to be found, but I remembered seeing a vending machine with all sorts of drinks near the reception area downstairs.

I gave myself a quick once over in the mirror, ensuring that I at least looked half decent, before slowly and quietly making my way out the door. While I did look more than half decent I also looked how I felt, which was extremely hung-over.

I was just about to get the waters when I heard a familiar voice that made me peak around the corner. My breath caught in my throat and I immediately went rigid, I knew I wasn't in any danger especially from him but it was a kneejerk reaction – one I chastised myself for. Even if I hadn't personally known Micah, I still would have known it was him. His almost white blonde hair stood out like a sore thumb – it was kind of his most recognizable feature, if you'd never seen his face.

"I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation ma'am. These kids are from a highly elite private academy in Montana, their parents entrusted them to us. I can show you the documentation if that's what it'd take, but it's imperative that I find them. I don't want to get them in any more trouble than they already are so I really don't want to get their parents involved, but I will if need be."

Micah was breathlessly trying to explain the situation to her, I could see he was starting to get impatient but he would never let that show or be audible in his voice, but she just shook her head. In her defense, she wasn't the receptionist on duty when we booked in yesterday so she really didn't know us. Had I been anyone other than me I would have just turned around and disappeared and Micah would be none the wiser, but my heart tugged at the sight of him and I unconsciously stepped into view.

"Mr. Tanner?"

I questioned, mock horror on my face and eyes wide in shock. I couldn't believe my own acting skills as I stared at him in disbelief. Micah almost smiled, but the woman behind the counter watched him with narrowing eyes.

"Lilith Belikov, you have no idea in how much trouble you are young lady."

He said as he stalked towards me, but his eyes were smiling the whole time. I played along and hung my head in shame.

"Where is James Ivashkov and Alexandra Dragomir?"

He questioned, but he didn't wait for me to respond.

"And you better have a real compelling reason for doing what you did."

Then he surprised me by grabbing my arm – well it was more like a soft caress but he made it look forceful. I let him lead me back from where I came and I mouthed a "sorry" to the lady in reception who shook her head at me in disapproval.

I abandoned the task of getting water and shivered at his gentle touch on my back. I was hyper aware of how close he was and how rapidly my heart was beating as result, but I couldn't let him see how he was affecting me. If I let myself show my feelings I wasn't sure if I could ever bottle them up again, and keeping my feelings in check was something I prided myself in – something my father had thought me to master, but when we arrived at our room door he spun me around making sure he steadied me at the same time.

I suddenly found myself pinned, back against the wall and Micah staring down at me. Before I could register what exactly had happened, his lips were on mine. Hot, wanting – primal even. The kind of kiss that turned your bones to mush and left you wondering whose air you were actually breathing.

In a rare slip of restraint I melted into him, snaking my arms around his neck – which he promptly loosened and pressed to his chest with his own. Just as quickly as it started it came to a breathless close as he pressed his forehead against mine.

"I was really worried about you."

He barely whispered and a slow smile crept onto my face, he pulled back only to give me one last kiss on my forehead before he stepped back and that stoic guardian composure set in as he signaled for me to open the door. I knew what was coming and that all sorts of hell was about to be rained down on us so I sighed, but complied – we were in so much trouble which became all the more evident from Micah's face when he walked into our room making as much noise as he possibly could without James or Lexi so much as stir.

We were trained to always be alert, even when asleep and no one had mastered the art more than James Ivashkov which is why it was so bizarre hearing all the noise Micah was making without James even stirring in his sleep. This was bad and I knew it as soon as Micah upped the ante and proceeded to kick the bed.

"Ivashkov, Dragomir."

He exclaimed and became all the more irate when Lexi opened her eyes before James. Both Lexi and I tried to get James to wake up but it was futile. I hadn't even noticed that Micah had left until he returned with a glass of water and threw it in James' face. James sat up immediately, wide awake. I felt just a little bad for not wanting to drink tap water, because if I had none of this would have even happened. I wouldn't even have been aware that Micah had visited the hotel in search of us and my stupid teenage fawning over him wouldn't have given us away.

Yeah Belikov, stupid idea, that pesky inner voice mumbled and I sighed.

"What the fu…"

James started to say but looked up and stared straight into Micah's face. I saw the blood drain from his face and his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed. I gave him an apologetic smile when he looked my way, but there was no evidence on his face that he blamed me.

"Stupid, irresponsible, dangerous, childish… Do you want me to continue?"

Micah was stalking up and down in front of the bed the three of us were now sitting on. He'd been scolding us for the past hour and it didn't look like he was going to let up anytime soon.

"How did you even know we'd try something like this?"

James asked and Micah glowered at him. I had to admit it was a ballsy move, one I most likely would have done myself had James not. Micah didn't share my admiration of the situation and his gaze was so piercing and heated I couldn't even look at him. I'd been disciplined multiple times in my life, all of us had – usually together – but never had I actually felt so guilty of my actions as I did in that moment.

"Oh come on! You guys have always walked the line between teenage tomfoolery and delinquency, but in these last few months the scales have tipped more to the way of delinquent behavior."

I frowned at Micah and he frowned back like he really didn't want to elaborate because we knew exactly what he was talking about. We didn't know how much he knew and there was a little change that he was bluffing so we'd spill all of our secrets, but none of us gave in though and pretty soon all three of us were frowning back at him.

"The scavenger hunt – where you broke into Headmaster Zeklos' private chambers while he was sleeping, stole a crystal vase of sentimental value and broke it before it could even be tallied to your scores. The Guardians liquor cabinet that you all but emptied so you could go party outside of the wards. Practicing magic in the woods and almost burning it to the ground. Does any of this ring a bell? I should have known your next one was going to be one for the record books, but I would never have guessed you could be so stupid."

With every single thing he counted off I could feel myself grow paler and paler. We didn't even know anyone but the three of us knew, no one could definitively trace those events back to us so how did Micah know? As if he could read my mind he looked down at me and smiled that all knowing smile.

"Some of us actually pay attention to what the students are doing, now pack up and I'll get you guys home before anyone notices."

That was the only invitation we needed to get off our asses. We had all our belongings ready in minutes and while I would never actively admit it – I was rather glad to be going back. What was completely confusing me was the fact that Micah was talking like he hadn't turned us in which in itself was an anomaly, because Micah always followed the rules. He was a lot like my father in that way.

Micah was doing a quick perimeter sweep before we'd all head downstairs to check out, so I didn't even think to check before opening the door when I heard the knock. I'd been expecting Micah back any second but when I opened the door my blood ran cold.

I backtracked automatically and had just enough sense to scream at Lexi to lock herself in the bathroom. Staring back at me – with its chalky skin and red ringed eyes – was the thing I'd only ever seen sketched in books. Strigoi didn't cast a reflection, much like the old timey vampire stories told in the human world, so no photo's or movies existed of them.

Yes I'd been training my whole life to successfully dispose of these creatures, but seeing one in front of me wasn't something I'd expected to experience at this point in my life and because of this I did the one thing that we were taught to never do – I panicked.

James was quick, but not quite quick enough. I hadn't seen it coming, but I felt the chop as I was sent flying through the air making impact with the wall. I was temporarily stunned, but if there was one thing I'd learned it was how to quickly recover from attacks, seeing as it was inevitable due to my small stature.

James was holding his own until a sloppy punch left him wide open and he too was sent flying. I jumped into the fray again without even thinking or considering the risk, clearing my mind completely and concentrating only on what my father and instructors had been teaching me over the past 10 years.

I wasn't supposed to be in possession of one yet, but dad had gifted both me and James our own engraved silver stakes when we turned thirteen. Mom had protested that it was too early, but dad didn't agree and he'd been teaching us how to wield them on every school break since.

I was feinting and ducking with smooth efficiency when I saw Micah return, but I didn't react and with the next attack I managed to throw the stake to Micah without detection as I'd seen his own was still lying on the bed next to out bags. With the same fluid motion he had earlier pinned me up against the wall, he caught the silver stake and pierced it right through the Strigoi's heart – through its back none the less.

There was no wasted motion, it was like art, dance and combat all rolled into one. James had enough sense to open the curtains and we waited, but it didn't burst into flames. The three of us looked at each other in horror and then – to relieve some of the tension – Micah said something I never thought I'd hear in my lifetime.

"Well that's new."

Micah wasted no time getting on the phone with the Alchemists and after he was sure they'd deal with it he checked on James and me in turn, poking and prodding to be certain we were unscathed – at least physically.

Even with all the post-battle adrenaline coursing through my veins every gentle touch of Micah's expert hands sent little bursts of glee through me – manifesting like Goosebumps on my skin. The reaction wasn't lost on him, as result he purposefully took his time as a small smile played on his lips.

The Alchemist assigned to the area, looked at us suspiciously but Micah made him promise that he wouldn't mention that he had seen anyone but him there. The guy agreed but I could tell that nothing in the room bothered him as much as the dead Strigoi openly laying in the sun, but not turning to ash.