Page 60 of Princess Claimed

All around the dark club, spotlights bounce from fixed points on the ceiling and walls, and from drones that dance around the high space above us. But the area Ana walks toward is like a lighthouse, shining at one edge of the club, a beacon drawing her toward it.

We step into the massive circle of light, lit from a thousand directions. From below us, pulsing lights shine up through glass tiles, and from above, they spear down from points so high that it’s difficult to see evidence of any actual lights. It’s so bright it’s hard to look up, and lights shine from around us too, making it hard to see back into the main part of the club. Combined, it gives the illusion that this area is floating in space, surrounded by darkness, a void where the vampires, gyrating and bouncing, are the only ones in the club, in the universe.

“This is so cool!” Ana spins a few times, and the multitude of lights flash off her sequined dress and her porcelain skin. When she stops, the lights dance in her eyes. Fuck she’s amazing.

If this area is a different universe, Ana is its sun.

Closing her eyes, she moves to the music, tentatively at first but then freely, opening her eyes and letting the pulsating sounds conduct every part of her, like her body’s actions were composed and choreographed by the most brilliant musicians and dancers on the planet, working in tandem to present an unrivaled concert.

One I could watch forever.

She tugs on Phil’s hand, but he shakes his head, standing with his legs spread, arms stiff, as he scans the crowd.

She turns toward me.

I am more than willing to dance. My top priority is her safety, but I can keep one eye monitoring the threat level and use my second to drink her in as we dance.

My body moves to the music, and she smiles into my eyes, twirling around, swiveling her hips. Her utter enjoyment stimulates my own. I’m not sure when I’ve had this much fun. Not ever.

This universe now contains only Ana and me. My awareness has room only for her, for the lights, for the music, and I tell myself that she’s safe here. I’m not shirking my duty. She is safe with me. Plus, Phil’s keeping watch.

The music switches to something rhythmic, and the crowd starts to bounce. Bounding in unison, many gain more and more height with each jump, until some are only landing on every second or third beat. The collective effect is like a wave of bodies, rising and falling at different intervals, and I start to fear for the integrity of the glass floor beneath us, not to mention whatever lights are shining from above.

Ana stops to watch the leaping crowd, her face and eyes lit up with amazement, her entire being radiating so much light. I can’t see anything but her.

I shift closer, but she starts to bounce too, and the pure glee in her expression makes me so happy I don’t have the will to stop her. Struggling to think through the possible dangers, I easily follow her movements as she lands and then springs again, bouncing over and over. But then she starts jumping at angles, copying the patterns of some other dancers.

Spinning, I keep my eyes glued to her as she lands on one part of the dance floor, and then another, then another.

“Fucking hell,” Phil mutters.

I glance toward him. Huge mistake. I’ve lost her.

Trying not to panic, I scan the space, searching above and around the dance floor, but dozens of vampires are bouncing up and down, like a chaotic acrobat show.

Silver flashes in my peripheral vision.

I spin toward it, but it’s already gone. And although her dress is the most beautiful, and the sexiest by a mile, Ana’s not the only vampire wearing silver in here. In fact, it’s beyond clear that reflective fabrics are the norm for vampires who choose to dance in this area.

“Ana!” I call above the loud music. “Ana!”

But either she doesn’t hear me, or she’s having too much fun to stop.

I spin around, scanning. I’ve lost sight of Phil now too.

Adrenaline floods my body.

Focusing, I spot a rafter high above. Drones, shining lights, are crisscrossing rapidly below it.

Maybe I’ll have more luck from a different angle. I leap up. Dodging drones, I pass the rafter, and angle myself as I drop, landing on the narrow steel beam, a few stories up from the floor.

The sight below is the definition of chaotic beauty. But it’s no easier to spot her from up here. The lights continuously shift, reflecting off the plethora of shiny clothing and making it hard to even pick out individual bodies, in the flashing, undulating mass of colors and lights. The effect is mesmerizing. It’s impossible to focus.

The music changes, shifting to something slow and soulful. The crazy leaping stops.

I spot her.

A male vampire grabs her hand. He’s wearing a shiny, tight-fitting, gold jumpsuit with a black leather harness strapped over top. Smiling at him, Ana shakes her head no, and then looks over her shoulder as she backs away.

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