Page 82 of Deadly Alliances

“Four?” she asked.

“Julian, Tobias, Char, and Alex,” I clarified. “I’m not going to leave him here to become a monster like our father.”

She tipped her head to the side. “Better make it five. Julian’s Initiate, Piper. I promised to help her, too.”

I blew out a breath. “We’ve really got our hands full, then.”

“But we can do it,” she said, the fire I always loved in her smoldering back to life. “Any ideas?”

I pursed my lips, considering. “Well, one. It’s gonna be tricky, but it’s the best chance we’ve got.”

Chapter 31

Shea

The entire surface of my skin was buzzing with both excitement and anxiety as I returned to the party from the Initiate bathrooms. I was beyond thrilled that Arya had come back to her senses and was my partner in this insane escape attempt. I didn’t realize how much I needed her until she hopped on board—not just because she knew her way around this place, but because her encouragement and emotional support bolstered me more than anything else. I was so grateful that she was my best friend.

But the wind got knocked out of my sails when I contacted Caesar and heard about the vampire attack on the camp. The fact that he was okay and dispatched the vampires was a double-edged sword. What would Hadrian do when his minions didn’t come back or respond to his calls? We absolutely had to get out before he sent an even bigger team of scouts into the woods.

The Grand Hall was just as I’d left it, bouncing with dancing bodies and the tang of blood sharp in the air. I wrinkled my nose in disgust at the number of couples pressed up against the walls—vampires not only feeding on their Initiates but apparently playing with them at the same time. Not that I was one to judge because I’d been there, but what Julian and I had was real, whereas the humans here were just toys to the vampires.

I turned away from the lascivious scene and scanned the room for the blonde demoness. Though I was loathe for her to see me and decide to unleash further depravity on me, I needed to know where she was for what I had in mind.

I shivered as the memory of her sucking my boob sent wormscrawling beneath my skin. I had never felt so violated in my entire life, not even when Solomon attacked and nearly killed me in the alley. The sounds she was making as she drank from me, like she got some deranged sexual gratification from defiling me like that. It was utterly disgusting, and completely terrifying. What could I do if she decided to indulge more of her perverted desires? I didn’t want to be one of those humans pressed up against the wall, especially not under her.

As I rounded the large room, I finally spotted her draped over a chaise lounge, eyes closed, with a glass of wine loosely clutched in her hand that dragged toward the floor. If the glass was tipped any more, its contents would spill all over the polished marble, and I had to assume she was passed out drunk.

I didn’t know vampirescouldget drunk, but I was glad of it either way. At least I knew she’d be out of commission for a good while—long enough for me to slip away and quickly visit Julian.

As inconspicuously as I could, I swept out of the room, relieved that at least the other humans were keeping the attention of their vampires off me. I took the elevator up to Julian’s floor, and thankfully, I didn’t come across any vampires along the way to Marguerite’s room.

I gingerly gripped the knob and tried to turn it, but it was locked. All the vampire rooms needed key cards to grant access, but I had something better than that.

“Sahad,” I whispered, and the door clicked.

I smirked, enjoying this fleeting moment of victory before opening the door and quickly sliding in, then quietly closing the door behind me.

Julian was lying in the same position as before, sprawled on the lavender sheets like a rag doll. It broke my heart to see him likethat, but at least I knew he wasn’t in that terrible pain anymore.

“Julian,” I whispered as I flocked to his side.

He startled as if stirring from sleep and fluttered his eyes at me. Even weakened and starved, he was still so beautiful. His cheeks may be sunk in and the skin under his eyes might be thin and bruised, but the sight of him still made my heart skip achingly.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice dry and cracking. His eyes widened as he became more awake, anxiety animating his features.“Marguerite—”

I put my finger gently against his lips. “It’s okay. She’s passed out at the party. And I just had to come and see you while everyone was distracted.”

He closed his eyes firmly for a moment. “You shouldn’t have taken the risk. If anyone finds you here—”

“They won’t,” I insisted soothingly. “Trust me, they’re all having way too muchfundownstairs.”

He relaxed against the bed slightly, but I could still feel the tension in his body beside me.

“Arya and I have a plan to get you out of here,” I said. “I’m not exactly sure when it will happen, but you need to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.”

“How will I do that?” he asked, a deep frown forming on his handsome face. “I’m so weak. I can barely move.”

I cupped his cheek, hating the paper-thin texture of his skin beneath my fingertips. “When the time comes, I’ll remove those damn cuffs and give you as much blood as you need to get your strength back.”

---