Page 27 of Blood Bought

I hummed. “Good to know it wasn’t you, then. It started with the Fauxs last night. The second they heard my name, then scampered away like they’d catch something from me. Then the humans followed suit. I don’t know why.”

“Well, they all know not to touch you.” He shrugged, walking out into the snow to look up at the snowflakes without a jacket for himself, but he didn’t look cold. He looked calmer, much calmer than the last time I saw him.

“I take it Sloane was good to you?” I asked, taking a slow step forward as I tugged the blanket around me a little tighter. “I could hear how good you were to her.”

“Yes,” he admitted, closing the distance between us to dust some snow off my cheek with his thumb. “Sloane was good to me, I’ll be keeping her around for a while.”

It surprised me how much that thought bothered me, but I knew I should be happy he didn’t kill her. “Guess I chose well, then. She reminded me of Azel, so I knew she was your type. I’m sure you two will be... very happy together.”

He stared at me for so long it would have been awkward with anyone else, just not with him. “I’m sure we will. Thank you.”

I wasn’t stupid enough to ask if that meant I could have a partner of my own, especially since no humans would speak to me at the moment. I could, however, ask another question. “Does that mean I don’t have to play bait for a little while?”

“No. Ciro needs some help, he’s already sick of the one he had and sent her downstairs. Think you can find someone for him?”

My heart sank, but I didn’t get the hint that it was truly a choice. “He’s a harder sell than you are and I haven’t even met him. People don’t like him because they don’t trust him.”

“People don’t like me. Have you looked in a mirror?” Alaris tugged the blanket closed more like he cared about my body temperature, and then he rolled his eyes at me. “Stop being so dramatic. If I didn’t care about you keeping your toes, I wouldn’t have left my breakfast to bring you my blanket.”

“Should’ve put the bracelet back on the second you walked out here,” I mumbled. “But you’re wrong. People do like you. Their faces light up when I say your name.”

“Just not the face that matters, hmm?” He moved around me and started walking toward the castle. “You have fifteen minutes out here before I carry you inside to get warm. I suggest you go inside before then if you don’t want that.”

That traitorous little attention whore that lived inside of me absolutely wanted that, especially since Alaris was so different like this. Sated, satisfied. It was incredible what good sex and a full stomach could do for him, and I found that I liked it.

I just hated how he got there.

In the end, I chickened out nine minutes in and slipped my bracelet on again before running back inside, immediately gravitating toward the fire he must’ve lit on his way up. The flames felt incredible injecting heat under my skin, and I was finally starting to get sleepy enough that not even my thoughts could keep me awake when I heard it again.

Moaning.

Screaming.

A headboard slamming against a wall too fast to be human.

I glanced around quickly with my jaw slack. “Why is that so loud? I didn’t realize it was that loud!”

One of the Fauxs raised their eyebrows at me. “What?“

“The sex! Is it always that loud?”

He glanced around, bewildered, then shook his head. “I don’t hear anything. I think you’re nuts.”

More loud, desperate moans... and then Sloane screamed Alaris’ name.

“How don’t you hear that!”

“What the f—”

“Quiet, Tristian. Shoo.” Azel was suddenly taking my hand and leading me away from the fire, but she didn’t say a word until I was in what I assumed was her room. It had plants and crystals everywhere, a purple shade blocking the sunlight and multiple stacks of cards laid out on her table, but before I could take in more, she was tugging that bracelet off and the world was quiet again. “I’m sorry. That was a low moment for me.”

I scoffed, breath coming in quick, ragged spurts. “You bewitched it so he wouldn’t be able to hear me but I’d have to hear him?”

“Only when his dick was hard. Sorry.” She mumbled more words and then slipped it back on, holding her hands up in surrender. “I felt shitty about it almost immediately after. I wanted you mad at him, but that was too far.”

“Trust me, he was doing a fine job of that all on his own.” I closed my eyes just to make sure I couldn’t hear them anymore, then took a step back. “He’s keeping her. So maybe you should piss her off instead of me.”

“He is?” Azel frowned. “I haven’t even seen who you mean, but fucking why? He never keeps them long because he doesn’t want to give them the wrong impression.”

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