Chosen

Dark Daughters, aren't you? Then it will have to be another time." He moved to me, and I thought he'd kiss me again. Instead he touched my face, briefly caressing my tattoos. His touch made me all shivery and breathless. "If you change your mind I'll be in the poet's loft. You know where that is?"
    I nodded, still finding it hard to speak. Everyone knew the in-residence Poet Laureate had the whole third floor of the professors' quarters building all to himself. More than once I'd listened to the Twins fantasize about wrapping up like giant presents and having themselves delivered to the lurve loft (as they call it).
    "Good. You should know I'll be thinking about you, even if you don't decide to come put me out of my misery."
    He had already turned and was walking away when I found my voice. "But I really can't come, so when am I going to see you again?"
    He looked over his shoulder at me, smiling his sexy, knowing smile. "Don't worry, my little High Priestess, I will come to you."
    When he was gone I sat heavily on the couch. My legs felt like rubber and my heart was beating so hard it hurt. Shakily, I touched one of the diamond earrings. It felt cold, unlike the snowman made of pearls that rested accusatorily around my neck and the silver bracelet that was clasping my wrist. They felt hot. I put my face in my hands and said miserably, "I think I'm turning into a ho."

CHAPTER EIGHT

    Everyone was already there when I rushed up. Even Nala was there. I swear she looked at me with eyes that said she knew exactly what I'd been up to in the library. Then she shot a grumpy "mee-uf-ow!" in my general direction, sneezed, and padded away. God, I'm so glad she can't talk.
    Suddenly Erik's arms were around me. He kissed me quickly and then hugged me while he whispered in my ear, "I've been looking forward to seeing you all day."
    "Well, I was in the library." I realized my tone was way too abrupt and hateful (in other words, guilty) when he pulled away from me and gave me a sweet but confused smile.
    "Yeah, that's what the Twins told us."
    I looked into his eyes, feeling utterly like poo. How could I even take a chance at losing him? I should never have let Loren kiss me. It was wrong. I knew it was wrong and—
    "Hey, Z, nice scarf," Damien said, tugging on the end of one of the snowmen and interrupting my guilty mental tirade.
    "Thanks, my boyfriend gave it to me," I tried a lame tease, but knew that I sounded all weird and overly perkly.
    "By that little comment she means her friend who is a boy," Shaunee said, giving me an eye roll.
    "Yeah, don't stress Jack," Erin said. "Damien's not changing teams."
    "Shouldn't you be telling me not to stress?" Erik asked playfully.
    "No, sweet thang," Erin said.
    "If Z dumps you for Queen Damien we'll be here to help you deal with your grief," Shaunee said. Then the Twins did a little impromptu bump and grind for Erik's benefit. Despite the guilt I was feeling, the two of them made me laugh, and I covered Erik's eyes.
    Damien pointedly frowned at the Twins and then cleared his throat. "You two are completely incorrigible."
    "Twin, I forget, what does incorrigible mean?" Shaunee said.
    "I do believe it means that we're hotter and sexier than a whole herd of corriges," Erin said, still bumping and grinding.
    "You two are dolts, which means you have very little sense." Damien said, but even he couldn't keep from laughing, especially when a giggling Jack joined in the bump and grind. "Anyway," he continued. "I almost went to the library, but then Jack and I got all involved watching a Will and Grace rerun marathon and I totally lost track of time. Next time you want to do research, just let me know, though, and I'll be happy to help you out."
    "He's such a little bookworm," Jack said, pushing his shoulder playfully.
    Damien blushed. The Twins made gagging noises. Erik laughed. I wanted to puke my guts up.
    "Oh, no problem. I was just looking up some, well, stuff," I said.
    "More stuff again?" Erik grinned down at me.
    I hated that he looked so understanding and supportive. If he knew the stuff I'd been researching was making out with Loren Blake…Oh, God. No. He could never, ever find out.
    And, yes, I realize how trifling and ho-ish it was that not long before this I'd been sucking Loren's face and feeling all hot and tingly about him, but now I was practically suffocating in a wave of guilt.
    Clearly I need therapy.
    "So did you bring the candles?" I asked the Twins, resolving once and