Page 1 of Love Bites

one

BLAIR

The achein my head seemed to pound with the beat of the music, like a nail driving deeper into my brain with every moment. Lights pulsed around us, making me wish I could leave the nightclub.

But, I couldn’t.

I pushed my way through the crowd, heading toward the bar. Though I was physically ill with hunger, the idea of feeding on a stranger was just as revolting as always. I’d pushed it off as long as I could, but eventually, one of my sisters would bring a guy over and force me to have my way with him.

Not sexually.

As a siren, I had to kiss someone to feed on their emotions. It was usually unpleasant for me, but there was no avoiding it if I wanted to stay alive.

My gaze caught on an empty seat straight in front of me. I headed toward it, ignoring a hand that brushed my shoulder and someone who called behind me, “Hey, blondie!”

They could screw off.

It wasn’t my fault I’d been born with golden hair. And while I usually liked that about myself, I was annoyed by the assumptions that came with it.

Then again, my entire family was annoyed by the assumptions that clung to us like last month’s gallon of milk, stinking up everything. Being a siren meant being physically appealing to all people, human or magical, and that was nowhere near as fun as it sounded.

The city we lived in, Mistwood, was the capital and only real city in the magical world. We were completely hidden from humans, outside of the goods they shipped to us.

Everyone in the club was magical like us, though sirens were particularly known for having magic that made us vulnerable in too many ways.

At least vampires had teeth.

We were just their weaker, prettier equivalent.

Not that vampires were ugly. They were known for being supernaturally gorgeous, too. Then again, all magical beings were.

I plopped down on my seat, massaging my temples as my body screamed at me for fighting my hunger too long.

“Are you okay?” The man in the seat beside mine lifted his voice over the music. It was so loud, my ears strained to pick out the words.

“Peachy,” I called back, not bothering to look over at him. He was undoubtedly already feeling the pull of my bitchy magic.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asked.

A sharp pain in my head made me wince. I couldn’t have answered him if I wanted to.

Thankfully, the song that was on ended, and a slightly quieter one began.

“Get her a glass of water with peppermint,” the man beside me said.

Though I knew he was only helping me because of my bitchy magic, I appreciated the gesture anyway.

He was right; I did need water. And peppermint leaves. They were one of the only things that could dull a siren’s hunger, for absolutely no logical reason. It had something to do with the way our magic worked.

The bartender slid the glass to me a moment later, and I grabbed it with one hand, still pressing hard against my temple with my other thumb.

I took a slow, long drink, and my headache subsided just the tiniest bit.

I’d been drowning myself in peppermint for nearly two weeks, so the effect was nowhere near what it should’ve been. That was my fault, though.

“Thanks,” I said, finally looking at the guy who’d helped me.

I sucked in a breath at the sight of him.

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