Page 34 of Blood Bound

My anger from earlier, barely contained, flares up again. I straighten my spine and glare at him. “Back off, bloodsucker. We’re not looking for trouble.”

Kara catches my arm, her fingers digging into my skin. “Ro,” she whispers urgently, “don’t antagonize him.”

The vampire chuckles, the sound grating on my nerves. “Oh, but trouble seems to have found you, pretty witch. You’re a long way from your coven’s protection.”

I can feel my magic beginning to build, itching to be released. But Kara’s right – we can’t risk exposure. If the Conclave finds out we’ve been investigating on our own, we’ll be in deep shit.

“We have wards,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “You really don’t want to mess with us.”

Kara steps forward slightly, her voice calm but firm. “There’s no need for this to escalate. We’re leaving now, and we won’t be back.”

The vampire’s eyes narrow, flicking between us. I can see him weighing his options, trying to decide if we’re bluffing about our protection.

I tense, ready to unleash my magic if this creep makes a move. The vampire’s eyes gleam with evil intent, and I can feel Kara stiffen beside me. Just as I’m about to throw caution to the wind and blast this jerk, a smooth voice cuts through the tension.

“Now, now, Dominic. Is that any way to treat our guests?”

The vampire in front of us freezes, his cocky attitude evaporating in an instant. I whip my head around to see another figure emerging from the darkness. My breath catches as I recognize him – Lucien Marlowe.

Lucien saunters toward us, every movement exuding confidence and power. His pale eyes dance with amusement as he takes in the scene.

“My apologies, ladies,” he says, his voice like velvet. “It seems my associate here has forgotten his manners.”

The first vampire – Dominic – takes a step back, his head bowed slightly. “I didn’t realize they were under your protection, my lord.”

Lucien’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “And that makes a difference, does it? I thought we had an understanding about harassing witches, Dominic.”

I watch in fascination as Dominic seems to shrink under Lucien’s gaze. It’s like watching a scolded puppy, if that puppy were a centuries-old predator.

“It won’t happen again,” Dominic mutters, backing away further.

Lucien’s attention turns to us, and I fight the urge to step back. There’s something in his eyes that sets my alarm bells jangling despite his charming smile.

“I do hope this little incident hasn’t soured your evening,” he says. “The Nocturne Lounge values all its patrons, witches included.”

I exchange a quick glance with Kara, uncertainty roiling in my gut. The immediate threat of Dominic has passed, but something about Lucien’s presence sets my teeth on edge. His smile is all charm, but there’s a calculating look in his eyes that makes me want to run.

“I’m Lucien Marlowe,” he says, extending a hand. “I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced, though I did see you at the recent Blood Assembly meeting.”

I hesitate before shaking his hand, suppressing a shiver at the coolness of his skin. “Rowan Blackwood,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady. “This is my sister, Kara.”

Lucien’s eyebrows rise slightly. “Blackwood? Ah, yes. I’ve heard quite a bit about your family. Powerful witches, from what I understand.”

There’s something in his tone that makes me wonder exactly what he’s heard. I force a polite smile. “We try to keep a low profile.”

“And yet here you are, venturing into vampire territory,” Lucien says, his voice light but his eyes sharp. “I must admit, I’m curious about what brings two such…distinguished witches to our humble establishment.”

I can feel Kara tense beside me. We hadn’t prepared for this kind of interrogation. “Just a night out,” I say, aiming for nonchalance. “We’d heard interesting things about the Nocturne Lounge.”

Lucien’s smile widens, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Is that so? Well, I do hope we lived up to your expectations. Though I can’t help but wonder if there might be…other motivations for your visit?”

My heart races. Does he know about Mia? About our connection to Darick? I struggle to keep my face neutral. “Just curiosity,” I say, forcing a light laugh. “But it’s getting late. We should really be going.”

I’m about to make some excuse to leave when a familiar voice cuts through the night air.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

My heart leaps into my throat as Darick materializes out of nowhere, his eyes blazing with anger. For a moment, I think he’s talking to me, but then his gaze shifts to Lucien, and his whole demeanor changes. Darick’s jaw tightens, his body coiled like a spring ready to snap. Lucien, on the other hand, remains infuriatingly calm, a small smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

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