Page 91 of Tempted Angel

Bash and Axe each take one of my arms and tuck it into their own.

“Come on, Dove. Let’s show those vampires who throws a better party.” Axe winks, and before I know it, the four of us are standing in the middle of a dance floor.

Fast electronic music thumps through me, and strobing lights flash against the black-painted warehouse. Barely clad bodies writhe against each other. And judging by the overwhelming scents in the air, some are doing more than just writhing.

Sera told me about parties like this when she was here. Usually illegal, they attract anyone who wants to dance, partakein illicit substances, and fuck. I suppose in a vampire city, exchanging blood is also on the table.

So, this isn’t something I’d say I was unprepared for.

But the sheer amount of vampire pheromones in the air…

Lust and sex and desire all underpinned with the metallic tang of blood and the overly sweet scent of death.

It coats my skin, seeps into my very pores. So overwhelming, so thick, I can’t even pick out Axe’s and Bastian’s scents next to me. I clutch their arms as a wave of vertigo buckles my knees.

“Are you OK?” Bash asks close to my ear.

“What’s wrong?” Axe growls.

Both heirs keep me from falling.

The music slowly fades out. “Girls, gays, and theys, it looks like the remaining heirs have arrived!” An amplified voice booms from everywhere.

The crowd, about to riot because the music stopped, now cheers and yells and…

Hisses?

I think it’s a vampire thing.

“Alright, alright, ya bloodsuckers, make way for our illustrious hosts, the heirs of our demonic sister city, Cinder City Syndicate.”

Like clockwork, the crowd parts and a path to the front stage stretches out before us.

Axe turns his demonic charm up to a thousand and puts on the most beautiful smile I’ve seen yet. He raises his free hand and waves to the crowd before leading us down the path.

I still haven’t gotten over the vertigo, or even gotten my feet under me, but the dress is long enough that no one can see the heirs are holding me up. My toes drag along the warehouse floor.

Axe leans closer, “What’s wrong, Dove?” His insistence, the worry in his voice, almost convinces me he cares.

“Oh, and it looks like they’ve brought dinner, everyone,” the amplified voice sneers into the mic. “And what a delicious dinner she’ll make.”

If Axe hadn’t already promised to be the highest bidder, I’d be terrified.

And isn’t that a ridiculous thing? To be thankful for your tormentor’s aid in the situation he put you in.

“Would you all like to see?” the announcer cajoles the crowd, to raucous cheering.

Suddenly what was a black wall behind the vampire announcer flashes with a bright, live projection of me between the two heirs.

“Dove!” Axe repeats.

“Do you mean besides being at a literal auction and forced to make a deal with you?” I hiss, glad I let my fried brain handle that one.

“Don’t blame me for the choices you made, Dove. You came here. You sought us out.”

I stare daggers into his profile as we keep heading toward the dais. His smile hasn’t faltered once.

“I’m serious, Dove. Are you injured?”

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