Page 84 of Undying Thirst

“You two go, and take Bastien, Asher and I can handle taking her shopping.” The way Jax offered, his tone bland, made me want to claw his hair out. He’d become different recently, less hostile, and I didn’t trust it.

I glared at the back of his head.

He rolled to the front of a large glass entrance. Fluorescent overhead lights glinted off the surface, but I couldn’t see anything inside until doors swung open. A woman stood with her hands clasped before her in a neat skirt suit, the gray hem reached below her knees. Her hair was neatly pulled back into a high bun.

I tucked one of the loose strands that fell out of my half ponytail behind my ear. I’d brushed the hell out of it, but only made the frizz worse. While I was here, I was getting my anti-frizz product. Tobias opened the door and smoothly exited, then reached back with his hand outstretched. I hesitated only for a moment and took his hand to exit the car. Bastien followed me out, causing the car to jostle a bit from his mass moving across the seats. His fingers curled on the outside of the car as he pulled himself out causing the metal to dip a bit. My eyes bugged out, but no one blinked an eye at the damage.

“Hello, Mr. Crimson,” a commanding female voice said, and heels clicked in approach. The woman calmly and smoothly stopped in front of Tobias. She had the same ethereal aura to her as all the other vampires I’d encountered. “I’m Taylor and I’ll be your escort through the necessary departments. I will ensure this is a successful visit for our esteemed guests.”

“Alistair won’t be making a showing?”

“My Sire sends his regards and said he will visit Crimson Nights to have a drink.”

“Who’s Alistair?” I shook Tobias’s arm.

“He’s a Coven Sire. He owns this shopping center.” Tobias smoothed his large palm down the side of my head. “Catalina, we will return for you when you are done.” The woman’s gaze flicked to me, but didn’t seem phased in any other way. “If you will lead them.”

“Absolutely.” Her gaze lifted over my shoulder. Her blue eyes slightly widened and she gasped.

Bastien could not care less for the attention, he stiffened, narrowing red eyes at her. I caught his hand, scooching close so my shoulder pressed into his torso. His threatening sneer faded. Tobias cleared his throat and she snapped out of the gawking.

“Go with Jaxon,” Tobias said to me then gripped Bastien’s arm and shook until he released me, but he did not budge otherwise.

“A little help, Love,” he drawled.

I grabbed Bastien’s arm and guided him back to the car. He easily acquiesced to my manhandling.

“Go with them.” Bastien’s eyebrows furrowed, but he settled down.

“I’ll see you soon, Cat,” Ren called from the front of the car. My heart skipped a beat. And I muttered some muffled version of okay. I closed the door and stared at Taylor expectantly. For the briefest moment, confusion flashed over her features.

“Ah, yes, if you follow me.” Taylor clicked forward on her expensive heels. Were those mother-effing Louboutin’s? I was so jealous.

A throat clearing dragged my attention up. Jax raised an eyebrow from where he waited a few feet away with his arms crossed. Hurrying to his side, I laced my hands in front of me and didn’t look at him. Entering through the open glass door, a few lounge chairs artfully littered the carpeted room, but no one sat. A girl nervously shifted her eyes side to side as she shuffled on her feet. Her wide-eyed attention was on Asher slouching near the door.

“It took you long enough,” Asher announced, straightening.

“This way, please.” Taylor waved a hand at the opened elevator. “You, human, hurry,” she snapped at the girl still standing by the door, frozen in whatever thought held her in its grip. She jolted and scampered forward. I’d never seensomeone actually scamper, but that was the only descriptor that satisfyingly encapsulated her flurry of movement.

Human . . .

The girl didn’t even merit a name? I crowded next to Jax, but made sure to have enough distance so we didn’t touch. Asher leaned his shoulders against the fabric coating the elevator, one foot crossed over the other. The doors smoothly slid shut.

“Did you open all the shops?” Taylor’s vibe rubbed me the wrong way. The dismissive way she looked at the girl was frankly fucked up.

“Yes,” ‘the human’ whispered.

Taylor swung her gaze toward me and I smoothed my glare. I’d reached new levels of comfort, here I was, glaring at a vampire without fearing for my life. Jax pressed his palm into my shoulder, raising an eyebrow at the woman. My eyes widened in the reflection of the gold-plated elevator doors as Taylor looked away.

The corner of my lips twitched up slightly.

Jax could have been a statue with his lack of expression. Asher on the other hand, had this Cheshire grin he did nothing to hide. Smugness radiated from him. I was too busy trying not to nervously clench my hands to say anything.

The elevator dinged open. “After you, Mr. Crimson.” Taylor swept her hand forward.

“Gladly,” Asher took hold of my hand and tugged me into the brightly lit mall. His long strides made it hard for me to keep up.

“Asher.” He peeked back and grinned. “Not all of us were graced with crazy, long legs,” I huffed, taking a bit to catch my breath. Usually, the wave of pressure passed quickly.

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