Page 4 of Bloody Temptations

Belinda was a scycathian in a former life—a being from Grezia. It was said that back before the world got its shit together they were fearsome warriors, kind of like berserkers, but without the horns. Vampirism has made the muted grey of her skin morepronounced. That—and the fact she could crush my skull with her biceps like it was no biggie—makes her origins super obvious.

I roll my eyes at her and spend an extra second fluffing at my hair in the mirror behind the bar before I step away. Belinda gives me one of her patented ‘knock it off’ looks, and smiles at Lifo—-who is far too happy to have her attention.

“Why don’t you let me help with those?” Gods’ shit, I swear actual heart shaped beams shoot out of Lifo’s eyes at Belinda’s suggestion.

I take that super-gross moment as my cue to get the fuck out of here.

“I’m gonna go help the guys on the floor. I’ll be back.” I call out to no one in particular. I’m still riding my high; tonight’s my night. I can feel it. And I’m gonna make the most of it.

3

Finn

It takes me alittle too long to find something to wear, so I’m barely ready when Bedeer and his friends pull up at my place. In the end, I’ve settled for a plain white tee that’s a little too big and a pair of skinny jeans that are a little on the too small side. But as I squeeze myself into the car, Willan assures me they make my ass look great, so at least I have that going for me.

Because it’s apparent I missed the memo on the dress code. The awareness of my faux pas only gets worse when we make our way into the club. Black and see-through, black and vintage lace, black and leather. So long as it’s black.

I feel like a glowing neon light.

Bloody Temptations is like nowhere I’ve ever been before. Back home in Twin Heads I was only ever brave enough to go to our local gay club, Slash, once. But that club had a very, very different aesthetic to the black and red, goth-pop thing this place has going on. They’ve plastered the logo—plump red lips in a sneer, revealing vampire fangs and a drip of blood—everywhere they can. It’s nothing like the chill, cosy vibes of the place I usually chose to drink at, the Black Stump Tavern.

At least Bedeer’s friends are nice. They’ve all been super welcoming and not at all weird about hanging out with a vamp for the night. They haven’t even implied once that I was going to bite them. It’s surprising how many beings think that shit is okay. It certainly was the first few dozen times it happened to me.

“Right, here’s the shots,” Jax announces, shouldering his way up to the table to deposit the tray of drinks.

Jax is neither a mage, witch, or fae. The handsome giant is an orc. Accountant by day, greyish-green sex god by night, apparently. Built like a brick house, the orc is almost busting out of the tiny black booty shorts struggling to contain him.

I eye the tray of drinks warily. Honestly, it feels weird getting drunk at midnight now—it’s like the middle of the day for me. Everyone else has been pregaming, though, so they are far ahead of me. Even Bedeer managed to get in some drinks between work and picking me up. I’ve been warned I’ll have to catch up. Which explains the two shot glasses filled with blood.

“Got extra for you too, my dude.” Jax grins down at me, nudging me with a friendly elbow, confirming my suspicions.

Socialising isn’t exactly my forte—I tend to end up making a massive dork of myself—so I gratefully throw back one shot, and chase it with the other.

“Yeah, boy! That’s what we’re talking about!” Lusce drums on the table. He’s taller than I thought he’d be from the photos Bedeer showed me. His long silver hair skims down his back in a perfect, smooth wave. He’s just as pretty in real life as the pictures. His liquid silver eyes match his hair, and his complexion looks like he’s never even heard of teenage acne. It has to be a glamour trick. No one isthatblessed, surely?

Jax throws a heavy arm over my shoulder and shakes me with a chaotic laugh. I’m not a hundred percent sure if he’s aware that he’s effectively shoving my face into his armpit, with all its glorious black hair, or what that sort of thing does to me, so I wriggle out of his grasp while everyone around the table laughs.

I can already feel the red hot flush on my cheeks, courtesy of the two shots.

“Fuck’s sake guys, calm your shit. You’re acting like a pack of wild animals.” Jesminda smacks the table to get their attention and points her finger threateningly at them.

It’s a believable threat too; the witch’s finger sparks red with magic. Despite the fierce way she’s jabbing at her friends, she’s rather nice. She spent the whole car ride here asking me questions about back home in Twin Heads, telling me all about her job working at her family's market garden and making sure I wasn’t left out of any of the little jokes the group has.

“We’re just playing.” Willan rolls his eyes and waves his hand, smiling at me pinned between Jesminda and Jax.

The moment passes before the uncomfortable feeling of being the centre of attention gets to be too much. I let the conversation flow around me and I’m all too happy to fade into the background and being-watch.

Besides, it’s too loud to hear what they’re saying in here anyway. I think they are talking about Jax’s recent break up. Though the big guy doesn’t seem too cut up about it.

Another drink is pressed into my hand. I feel kind of bad but the guys shut me down. Not that it matters, since my protests are cut off when the club explodes with sound.

“What in the actual f—” I lean into the table to ask what’s going on but I’m almost thrown off my stool when everyone at the table joins in the screaming.

“I thought we might’ve missed it! Willan’s gonna be pissed!”

Before I can ask what Willan, who’s just left us to go to the bathroom, is going to be pissed about, Jax’s arm is back around my shoulder. This time he’s pulling me off my perch. He spins me to face the bar, my feet scrambling to keep me upright, and points a meaty finger towards the front bar.

“Watch!” he yells in my ear, the sound reverberating and tickling my neck.

---