Page 16 of Blood Bought

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Iwasn’t ready.

The club was loud, completely unlike the small taverns near my house in the south. While the sight of technology was welcome, the flashing, multi-colored lights were making me as dizzy as the people dancing around me to the eardrum-popping music.

There were hands all over me — so many, from so many different people, all passing by or pulling me in to dance for a moment and spin me along to someone else. They were just trying to enjoy themselves, not get eaten as a late-night snack for a vampire who clearly struggled with self-control, so how was I supposed to pick one? How was I supposed to decide who deserved to be taken from their families and potentially killed if Alaris decided he was angry enough?

“Drink?” the bartender asked, leaning in for a better look at me with brilliant, blue eyes. Her long, blond hair was blocking her neck, but I got the feeling it was void of bites. “Haven’t seen you here before. I like your dress.”

“Thanks.” I glanced down at it and then sat, rolling my tongue between my lips as I scanned the wall of bottles. I recognized the whiskey Alaris had given me in his room, but I hadn’t taken a sip of it. “Can I get whiskey, please?”

“Course. You okay? Most young girls get something mixed or fruity.” I couldn’t tell if she was joking or seriously asking, so I nodded quickly to avoid drawing suspicion.

“I work for the Sons, so it’s whiskey or nothing.” I smiled, trying to seem disarming — as much as it twisted my stomach, I couldn’t deny that she was gorgeous, probably exactly the type Alaris wanted. “Have you met any of them?”

She poured me a drink with her eyes on the glass, then slid it over before giving me an answer. “The Sons, no. But Brittany has. Hey Britt!” she yelled behind me, and one of the hostesses walked over to sit on the stool next to me.

“Busy night, huh?”

The bartender nodded. “This is Brittany. What Son did you meet again?”

Brittany was no longer smiling. “Ciro. Why?” All the bartender did was nod at me and go back to work, and Brittany checked me out warily. “What’s your name?”

“Adalind. I actually haven’t met Ciro, but I know Kellian and Alaris. What’s Ciro like?” I asked, already knowing I wasn’t going to like the answer.

“From what I hear, the worst one, but I haven’t met the others. I heard they were gorgeous of course, but nothing beyond the fact that they’re supposedly nicer. Ciro is... a fucking brute.”

My hand curled a little too tight around that glass. From what I’d seen, Alaris wasn’t much better. “Yeah, they’re not like I expected. Have you been with Ciro? Is that a question I’m even allowed to ask?”

Brittany softened a little. “This is all new for you? Have you even...” she trailed off and tapped her neck. “Ever?”

I shook my head. “No. My mother belonged to Alpha Brander and didn’t last very long, so I don’t think I would either,” I said honestly. “I’m here trying to find someone who wants that... who wants Alaris.”

“Bait,” she replied, standing up and looking around for me. “I’m sure you’ll find plenty willing, but I can’t help you. Not after what Ciro did to me. I’m thankful for the vampires that stopped him when he lost control, but I won’t help any of them feed.”

She spun on her heel and walked away, leaving me with that untouched drink and a million questions. If she didn’t think they were worthy, then why should I, and how was I going to convince anyone else?

I took a slow sip and coughed like an asshole when it burned the hell out of my throat, but I forced the rest down in hopes it would loosen me up a little bit. I was running out of time and no closer to finding someone, so I pushed myself up off that stool and walked straight over to the first girl I saw sitting alone.

“Hi, I’m Adalind. Addy, for short. Do you like vampires?”

Hell, I’m terrible at this.

Her eyes widened, a chuckle escaping when she assumed I was joking and then her smile faded. “Really? I mean I don’t hate them but... doyoulike vampires?”

It was my turn to lose a smile. “No, actually. I don’t. Good to meet you, random human. Just say no.”

I spun around and walked into the crowd, trying my luck with a man — but he seemed more determined to bite me than be bitten, so I quickly weaseled my way out of his grip and flat out gave up. I didn’t want this, and they weren’t exactly lining up despite what I’d been told, so I walked outside alone and crossed my arms as Malik stared at me.

“Where are they?” he asked.

“I failed. Guess Alaris will just have to go with the same old blood he’s already got.”

Malik smirked as he saw right through me, then grabbed my arm and dragged me back to the castle without another word. We ran into Renzo first, and one look at me had him clicking his tongue and shaking his head. “Oh, Addy. Come on, he’s in his room.”

Familiar fear prickled up my spine as Malik handed me over and Renzo took me to the room, knocking twice and letting himself in. “She’s back. Alone.”

“No one wanted to come,” I said quietly. “I’m sorry.”

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