Next day

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, but Cortney barely noticed. her skin still humming with the memory of Liam’s touch—cold and electric, wrong and intoxicating. She rolled onto her side, her fingers brushing over the twin puncture marks on her breast, a shudder running through her. Her phone buzzed. Bryce. She snatched it up, her pulse quickening as she read his message:

Bryce: You okay?

The message glowed on Cortney’s screen, her fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Cortney- yeah, I sam perfect

She dropped her phone onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. The marks on her breast throbbed faintly, a reminder of what Liam had done—what he was. She should be afraid. But instead shes excited, and wants more .

A slow, lazy smile curled her lips as she traced the bite marks, her fingers dipping lower, teasing herself again. The memory of his cold hands, his teeth, the way he had taken what he wanted—it sent a fresh wave of heat through her. She arched into her own touch, breath hitching.

She now knows the truth of the rumors, vampires. Her phone buzzes once more Bryce’s unanswered message still glowed on her phone. She should reply. Tell him something, anythingCortney's fingers stilled between her thighs as the phone buzzed again. Bryce's name flashed across the screen like an accusation. She should tell him. That its vampires, thats what happening to the students, that their being infected by creatures of the night But the words wouldn't come. Instead, she let her phone go dark, rolling onto her stomach with a slow, secretive stretch. The soreness between her legs was delicious, the marks on her skin a brand she didn’t want to wash away. Liam had chosen her. And the worst part?

She’d let him. Do it again to her now that shes has felt it. More than that—she’d liked it. In fact she ket any of them thats been turned have her if they desired it.

The hunger between her legs was sharper than the sting of Liam’s bite. Cortney rolled onto her back, spreading her thighs wider, fingers working in slow, slick circles. The dorm was silent except for her own ragged breaths, but her mind was loud with need—anyone, anything to fill the empty, aching space inside her. Her phone buzzed again. Bryce. She snatched it up, her thumb swiping the screen before she could think.

Cortney - Come over

she typed, the letters blurring as her fingers trembled.Bryce’s footsteps echoed down the empty dorm hallway, faster than they should have been. His knuckles rapped against Cortney’s door—once, twice—before he finally pushed it open without waiting for an answer. The sight hit him like a punch to the gut. Cortney lay sprawled on her bed, sheets tangled around her waist, skin flushed and gleaming. Her fingers were still between her thighs, her hips lifting lazily off the mattress as she turned her head to look at him. Her lips parted, but no apology came—only a slow, knowing smile. Bryce’s throat went dry.

Bryce - "What the hell, Cort?" His voice cracked.

She didn’t stop. Her fingers curled deeper, her breath hitching as she watched him, then

Cortney- "Close the door,"

she murmured, voice thick with want. Bryce hesitated, torn between shock and something far more serious.The door clicked shut behind him.

Bryce- Cortney "You’re not—"

He swallowed hard.

Bryce - "You’re not yourself."

He then sees the mark like Stephanie had, and shes acting like she was as well.Bryce’s stomach twisted. The same two puncture wounds—dark, angry, barely scabbed over—stood out against Cortney’s skin. Just like the ones he’d seen on Stephanie’s inner thigh before they. Just like the rumors whispered in hushed tones across campus. Cortney arched into her own touch

Cortney- Bryce..mmm..fuck me?