Page 116 of A Blackened Bond

“You look like you’re here for a fun night.” The chair beside me is pulled out, a mousy-haired man taking a seat as a greasy smirk laces his lips. His gaze trails down my dress, his beady eyes staring too long at my chest. “That’s a pretty dress you’re wearing…” He leans in closer, the heavy stench of spirits seeping from his lips. “I bet you would look even better with it off.” He wriggles his fuzzy, thick brows, and a tiny bit of bile rises to my throat.

Who does this gross little troll think he is? You would think, with how he’s acting, that he looks like Ryan Gosling. Only he looked more like that creature from ‘The Leprechaun’.

A shiver rolls down my spine with the thought.

“I’m Marl,” he says, oblivious to my disgust. “Let me get you another drink.” He waves to the bartender serving a group beside us.

“Not interested.” I twist away, sipping my delicious green concoction asMarlplaces his order.

The bartender whips it up, andMarlpushes a large pink frothy drink toward me. “These are the expensive ones. A few sips of this, and you’ll be floating all night.” He pushes it in front of me, an expression on his face like I’ve already gratefully accepted hisexpensiveoffering.

Expensive, my damn ass.

As if I would accept a drink from some random sleaze-ball with clear intentions. I had learnt my lesson with Adam.

I push the drink back toward him, his eyes narrowing at the pink glass as I finish my delicious green beverage and stand up.

I glance toward the door, needing a little fresh air. The room feels a little warm and slightly smaller with all the new people that have joined over the past few minutes.

The music roars around me, a new sound blasting from the enormous speakers throughout the space and pulling everyone up toward the dancefloor.

I push through them, heading for the door, as a hand grabs me from behind.

“Where do you think you’re going?” The Leprechaun-lookalike scowls, his meaty fingers tightening on my wrist. “I bought you a drink, the least you can do is thank me.”

I wonder if the guys would be pissed if I flung this guy through the air like a piñata. It would attract some attention, but the asshole wholly deserved a good beating.

I pull my hand back, shaking his grip away and ready to grab him and snap the hand holding me, when a figure from behind suddenly pulls the prick away. He stumbles back before tumbling to the floor, a few dancers falling back as he hits into them.

I glance over at the new figure, a guy with soft chestnut hair and brown eyes that quickly turn my way.

“He seemed like he was getting aggressive and didn’t seem like someone you knew.” He brushes a hand through his hair, slight flecks of red strands glimmering from the lights as a gentle look takes over his features. “I’m sorry if I intervened unnecessarily, but I didn’t like how he was looking at you. I have a younger sister and wouldhopesomeone would help if she needed it in a similar situation.”

I didn’t really need the help. If anything, he saved Marl from a few broken or fractured bones. But his words seem genuine enough.

I give him a small nod. “Thanks. He waspersistent.”

I glance back at where Marl had fallen. The space now filled with grinding bodies swaying back and forth to the music blaring around us.

Two turquoise eyes catch my gaze from the crowd, followed quickly by a pair of grey-blue eyes and a set of piercing blue ones.

Ezra, Mallyn, and Annex make their way through the crowd and hordes of sweaty bodies and head my way.

A small grin tilts my lips as I watch Annex push a couple grinding beside him out of his way.

Ezra’s smile widens as I watch them before his warm expression quickly falls. He talks hurriedly to Annex and Mallyn before moving toward a scuffle that was breaking out in the area between us.

A fight seemed to be brewing; three men—all with glowing gold eyes—were slowly circling each other. Their gazes are narrowed, teeth gritted, as they flick their eyes back and forth between themselves. A busty brunette is standing just a few feet from them and seems to be the reason for their little showdown.

One of the men partially shifts, his hands drawing claws as he lunges toward the nearest one. The crowd then covers my view, pushing and shoving me out of the way. Some are trying to get away from the fight, and others are trying to move toward it to get a better view.

I’m jostled side to side and shoved back and forth by sweaty bodies until I’m standing near the abattoir’s entrance. And the only clear space.

I look back at the horde of people, some of whom ignore the shifters fighting to continue dancing or chatting amongst themselves.

I see Mallyn’s white hair, followed by Annex’s and Ezra’s, as they place themselves in the midst of the fight.

I can’t see much else from this distance, but I’m sure things will get bloody if Annex gets involved. Feeling a cold breeze drift across my neck, I approach the open abattoir door behind me. I make my way out, happy for the fresh air and lack of heaving sweaty bodies.

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