Page 25 of Blood Bought

Chapter Eleven:

Ididn’t leave my roomfor two days. I was scared to show my face outside the door, jobs be damned — I’d pissed Alaris off in ways I couldn’t even begin to comprehend, and with that bracelet wrapped so tightly around my wrist, we had no connection. I couldn’t hear if he was trying to reach out, and I knew he couldn’t hear me when I tried.

But eventually, Aerin and Nesrin came in together and reminded me that Alaris didn’t stop being hungry simply because I didn’t want to come out. I was bathed again, dressed, and dropped on the side of the road this time. Apparently, he wanted to scare the daylights out of me before sending me to find someone for him.

A couple of sketchy encounters with people who were getting the wrong idea from me walking at night later, I was trying to calm my heart rate in another loud club. Malik had forced me to remove the bracelet just in case I got into trouble inside and needed help, but I knew the real reason.

Alaris wanted to know if I was going to try to escape.

It wasn’t as though I hadn’t thought about it, but that was a one-way ticket to making sure my whole family died and I wasn’t going down that road. That didn’t mean I needed to be happy about what I was doing anymore, not when I knew how Alaris treated his bloodwhores when he was angry with me, so I was quieter about my hunt this time.

I ignored anyone who looked innocent, like they didn’t belong there. Anyone who looked to be my age or younger, anyone who had a partner there with them. I avoided the bartenders and the DJ, the group smoking in the corner, and the girl who looked like she was having the time of her life dancing with anyone who wanted a turn.

I didn’t want this life for any of them.

“Come on,” I whispered to the air. “There has to be someo–”

“Are you looking for someone?”

I turned to see a woman a couple of years older than me with red hair and piercing green eyes. She looked so much like Azel that I almost believed it was her, but this woman had a birthmark on her clavicle that Azel didn’t have. “Um... sort of,” I admitted. “I’m Adalind. Do you know anyone around here who likes vampires?”

Her perfectly-trimmed eyebrows shot up. “Who doesn’t love them? They keep us fed, safe, and with enough food to go around. Not to mention like eighty percent of them are so hot you could fry an egg on their abs.”

I don’t,I said silently, and the sip of whiskey I took after went down much easier than it had last time.And they decided not to share that wealth too far south, so I can’t relate.“You’re right. Have you ever been with one?”

“Once,” she said proudly, tugging her dress up to show me the scar on the inside of her thigh. “I can’t tell you who, though. It’s a secret.”

“Fair enough.” I tucked my lips between my teeth and sucked a quick breath in through my nose. “Have you met Alaris? Or Kellian, maybe? You’re very much Alaris’ type, if I’m being honest.”

“Am I?” She glanced around like I was talking to someone else, then grinned. “No, I haven’t had the pleasure yet. Are you hunting for him? Last I heard, they weren’t taking new bloodwhores.”

Funny, that memo must’ve applied to everyone but him.“I am, and I assure you, he is. But you have to understand that he’s –” my sister’s face popped into my mind “– not like you think,” I said quickly. “You’ll understand what I mean when you get there, but you really should know this isn’t usually a one-time thing. Bloodwhores typically stay for a while.”Forever.

“That’s... unfortunate, but it’s not like I have anything else going on, and I’ve been chasing that high since the last time.” She dragged her fingertips slowly over the scar and let her dress fall again. “I’m Sloane.”

Guess I was wrong. They really do just line up. “Sloane, it’s good to meet you. Why don’t you take ten minutes or so to get your... affairs in order, and then meet me out front? He’s dying to meet you.” Or you’ll be dying because you met him, I’m not sure which just yet. I’m sorry.

She nodded quickly and squealed with excitement I couldn’t possibly understand as I ordered another drink and headed out front, where Malik was looking at me with disappointment again. “What?” I snapped, slipping my hand into the pocket of my tight leather jacket. “She’s coming. I did my job, don’t act like you didn’t hear me.”

“I heard you alright,” he confirmed. “I gotta hand it to you, Addy. Your thoughts aren’t as boring as your questions used to be.”

More dread – the feeling that I could never seem to get away from anymore. “Malik, I –”

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