Owned by the Triplet

ouldn't stop itching. Underneath the thick layer of concealer,

still hu

a law student. I was supposed to be logical. He can say wha

head that I didn't hea

en a screech of tires sliced through the air. I looked up, paralyzed, as a sleek, silver

pavement, my books

d! I am s

ut. For a second, my heart stopped. The heig

s a striking, silver, styled to perfection. He wasn't wearing a suit, but a designer sweater that looked soft enough to melt

me you're okay," he said, r

d, taking his hand. His

complete idiot for not watching the crosswalk. I was on a conference call and...

a bug under a microscope, Silas made me feel like the only person in the world. I don't know why I'

ed to say, brushing

ck at me. "Look, Elena, I feel terrible. Please, let me make it up to you. Let me take you

exhausted. But I looked at his kind face and thought about Alaric's coldness. I n

nds nice." I hope I don't regret t

a smirk before speeding off. He didn't turn on the radio; he just drove, occasionally gl

ver. Silas didn't wait for him to open my door. He was already

the stray hairs near my ear. "You're with me. No o

d on the fiftieth floor. As we walked in, t

ur usual

erre. We'd like

ind me. I felt the warmth of his body as he leaned in, his hands firmly holding the gold chair and sliding it forwar

. I was wearing my campus clothes-jeans and a decent blouse-but surr

ven look at the menu. He just looked at me. "I've already taken the liberty of ordering the tasting menu for us. And t

skip. A bite. Was he joking?

l over the conversation. "What exactly do you do?

-tech, real estate, private security. I spend most of my days in boardrooms listening to men i

ean a girl who can't cr

ning intense. "Someone whose eyes tell a sto

iend-ex-boyfriend-cheated on me. With my

lt heavier. "A man who lets a woman like you go is a fool. And a

ruffle cream in front of us. Silas ate, gesturing to me to go ahead. I

he prompted. "Law is a heavy b

as the wine started to hum in my blood. "There are rules.

tered. He reached across the table, his fingers tracing the rim of my glass. "Don't tell me

ay I'd let a stranger bite me. I thought of the way

a good person

t instead of leaving, he walked around to my side of the table

The lights twinkled below us like fal

is jacket. Instead, he reached out, his hand s

upted. A blinding heat shot from the puncture marks, down my spine, and

legs feelin

, He didn't let go. His grip tightened, and for a split second, that warm, charming bil

ry. Not for fo

ed, my voice trembling so hard

ike garbage, still dreaming about a stranger who had bitten me in a parking lot, and now I was standing on

d, his lips brushing against my temple. "But you

in short, panicked bursts. "I have to

me?" I whispered as

k felt like a bran

r. I was a traitor to my own heart. Why do I feel this w