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so. She felt
like she was blowing this right now. That somehow they knew
Stefan’s power didn’t work on her.
    “If anyone asks, the house was only a few
miles away from campus, but you don’t remember the exact route of
how to get there.” His words made her wonder where she was located
right now, but she didn’t dare ask. “Do you understand?” Paige
nodded in response. “Good. Now repeat it back to me.”
    In a steady monotone, Paige recited his
words back to him. Stefan searched her gaze before rising to his
feet. He started to walk away from her, but Ian rested his hand on
his arm, stopping him before speaking, “It didn’t work.”
    Despite her yearning to jump up and flee the
room that his words caused, she kept her face relaxed and her eyes
ahead when Stefan turned to look at her. From the corner of her
eye, she could see the scowl marring his brow. “Ian, I’ve never
failed at manipulating someone’s memories.”
    “I know,” Ian said. “I don’t know how I
know, and I don’t know why I do, but it didn’t work on her .”
    Stefan stared at him before turning on his
heel and coming back to her. Paige’s heart rate remained even and
calm, her eyes straight ahead and her face slack, but her stomach
was a squirming mass or worms tumbling over top of one another. How
could Ian possibly know when the others didn’t?
    Before Stefan could touch her again, Ian
stepped forward and took hold of her chin. “You’re far older than
us, Stefan, more adept at doing this, but I know it didn’t
work. Isn’t that right?”
    Ian turned her head toward him and bent to
look into her eyes. Paige didn’t fight against his grip, she
remained lax and immobile, but as his gaze burned into hers, she
knew he wasn’t buying it. A knowing smile curved his mouth. Before
she knew what he planned, he moved closer and pressed his lips to
hers.
    Reacting as if she’d been shot, Paige threw
herself backward so forcefully she almost toppled out of the bed.
Blankets tangled around her legs, she struggled to maintain her
balance as Ethan lurched forward and wrapped his arm around Emma’s
waist. He pulled her away from the bed and positioned his body so
he stood in front of Emma and her friends.
    Finally managing to right herself, Paige
spun toward Ian. “How dare you!” she spat.
    He simply grinned at her while he rocked
back on his heels. “I think that means she remembers us, don’t
you?” he inquired again.
    Her teeth ground together so hard she
thought they might crack as she glared at him. She didn’t know if
she was madder at him for rattling her in such a way, or herself
for allowing him to slip past her cover. Either way, it didn’t
matter; they knew the truth. Their powers were useless against her,
for now anyway.

CHAPTER 6
    “How is that possible?” Emma breathed.
    “I don’t know.” Stefan turned to Ian. “How
did you know?”
    Ian didn’t know the answer to that question.
“I just knew.”
    He couldn’t take his eyes away from the
fiery turquoise ones across from him. There was no denying Stefan
hadn’t been able to pierce the veil of her mind. “Shit,” Ethan
muttered.
    “You’re human,” Ian said to Paige. She kept
her mouth closed as she stared straight ahead. “I’m certain of
it.”
    “Are you sure she’s not one of the not
entirely human, no one seems to know what they are, hunters?” Emma
inquired.
    “No,” Stefan answered. “I’ve come across
them before, I’ve killed one of them before.” Paige inhaled sharply
as her gaze shot nervously toward Stefan. Ian suspected Stefan was
trying to bait her into losing her composure and possibly revealing
why he couldn’t change her memories. “They’re different than she
is.”
    “How?” Mandy asked.
    “For one thing, they’re stronger. A vampire
never would have gotten one of them so easily. They’re abnormally
fast, one of the things that has led to many of the rumors about
them, but her reflexes are one hundred percent