Page 89 of Wicked Bite
The called continued as he marched out toward the street and took off in the opposite direction.
A wide smile spread across Theon’s face and a deep chuckle rumbled in his chest. He lowered his mouth to my face and his breath fanned across my ear. “Time to go, Princess. It looks like I’ve been a bad boy.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
PIPER
Theon was suave in a street-savvy kind of way. He didn’t hold the same panty-dropping charm as Grayson, but his talents were obvious. Charisma was a strength of his. It showed in the way he moved and how other vampires reacted to him. As we walked down a dark back alley, I noticed other Night Spawn lingering about, just hanging out and chatting. When Theon passed, they stopped to give him a nod of respect, like he was royalty of the night.
Here the merriment of Christmas was left behind and the sound of a club filled my ears. Music, laughter, and the familiar smell of liquor occupied my senses. Theon stopped at a door and gave a little knock. A peephole slid open and a set of dark eyes looked him over. A moment later, it slid shut and the door swung wide open. Theon motioned for me to join him, and I moved to his side. The hall was long and dark with a faint red glow.
“I suppose the royals haven’t mentioned any of these places to you?”
“No.” It was difficult to think with my mind occupied by the burning up my throat and aching pain in my chest.
The hallway opened into a larger industrial-looking room. The lights weren’t as bright in this bar. They were calm and dim, easy on the senses. The bar itself ran the entire length of the back wall and had every blood type on tap. The wall behind it was covered with shelves of high-end liquor. While the place was packed, it wasn’t bodies grinding on each other. The music was light and subdued so everyone could talk over it. Lounge areas were decorated in dark leather with burgundy tables. Candles of varying shapes and sizes sat on the center of each table and along the many shelves on the walls. An array of lounge areas were spread throughout the entire place and were occupied by vampires all dressed in their normal human clothing to blend in with the world outside. Glasses of blood sat in front of everyone, and my mouth watered.
“We have all the options to offer.” He motioned to the taps. “You can have anything you like that isn’t spiked with drugs. They tend to mess with the minds of the vampires. It’s no good for the newly made. Though all our top-shelf liquor is there for your liking as well.”
None of that held any appeal for me. I groaned and turned away from him, heading back for the door. This place was cool, and maybe I’d come back later, but something in me called to a deeper purpose. My hunt would continue. I felt it in my bones. That driving need to satisfy the thirst was paramount. My thoughts weren’t as muddled as before, but it was taking over. I could feel it.
Theon grabbed a glass of blood from the bar and handed it to me. “This is my favorite vintage. Perhaps you’ll like it too, Princess.”
I took the offered glass and held it to my nose, smelling it. My stomach rolled. “Pass.”
“Picky, aren’t we?” He chuckled and took a sip from the glass,
“Obnoxious, aren’t we?” I didn’t have time for this. I needed to feed now.
“It’s okay, Piper. I like a woman with some bite.” He gave me a dazzling smile, and I turned away.
“I’m rather tired of dazzling men.” I started walking away.
He grabbed my arm and spun me back to face him. He licked his lips and smiled. “Am I dazzling?”
“Get over yourself.” I rolled my eyes. “Cute British accents no longer have an effect on me.”
“Oh, is sass foreplay for you too?”
I pulled my arm free. “Thirsty and leaving.”
He handed me another glass, and this time I didn’t even smell it. I just put it to my lips. I tried to take a drink, but I couldn’t even swallow. I spit the blood right back into the glass. “That was awful. I think my throat closed.”
He crooked his finger at me, then turned and walked away. “Come along.”
I groaned and followed him. He stopped in a dark corner of the bar and backed into the shadows. He leaned against the wall and gave me a devilish grin. “I have what you want.”
“Oh yeah, what’s that?”
Theon lifted his hand and ran his sharp nail down the side of his neck. Blood welled and my eyes locked onto it. He studied my face. “Oh yeah. That’s what you want . . . take a taste.”
I licked my lips and my fangs ached to sink into his skin. I was so hungry. I needed it so badly. But did I possibly dare?
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
GRAYSON
“How do you bloody well lose a sodding newly made vampire? You! A two-hundred-year-old assassin who hunts people down like a rabid dog.” Angry, frustration, and worry all warred within me. There was no telling which one would win out.
