Page 11 of Watch Me Burn

It doesn’t hurt to double-check. “And you only drink dudes?”

A tiny twitch to her lips, though her fangs are still on display. “It usually is a precursor to sex, so yes. But after Peter…” Her voice trails off for a moment. “Vampires don’t need to drink from the vein much. Blood bags do the most to control the thirst, but it does take a drop to tell if a male is a good fit to be my beloved mate. You’re my dearest friend, Bridget. I would never sip from you without permission.”

I believe her. Her voice rings with truth and, well, this isElise.

That doesn’t mean I can’t be a little hurt. “No. But you sure kept this big ass secret from me.”

Her small grin becomes a frown. “Cadre decree. Only those who need to know the truth about Clarity are allowed to learn that we’re a Fang City.”

Fang City. She said that before… I blink. “Wait. Fang City. Are you telling me that this whole place is full of vampires?”

“Yes, and now you understand why I insisted that I accompany you whenever you left the apartment, especially at night when most of us get thirsty. In Clarity, nearly forty percent of the population is a vamp. You could become any vampire’s donor with just a smile, but if I was there, they knew you were claimed already.”

Is that what happened? I was out on my own tonight, that guy dressed in black was really a vampire who saw easy prey, and he followed me home for his own dinner? If so, what was the deal with the handcuffs? If Elise is proof of how their kind ‘hunt’, a vampire’s beauty is enough to lure a human donor close enough to bite; considering how many people in this city are supermodels, that part at least makes a little sense. Why stalk me like that?

And why would another vampire bepatrollingaround Clarity, prepared to stop him, if all they need is a couple of seeps to be satisfied? Unless…

Oh.

Humans can be greedy and gorge. What about vampires?

Yeah… since I really don’t want to think about being sucked dry by a vampire, I focus on the handcuffs instead.

He tried to cuff me. Why would he do that unless he was trying to get my hands behind my back like the Cadre did? To keep me from using this supposed magic of mine?

I didn’t know I was a witch. I’m still struggling to accept that that’s the logical excuse behind my fireworks. I had no idea I could do anything like that.

Didhe?

I want to ask about him. Elise mentioned he’s in a human hospital. Sedated. That’s what she said. He’s sedated until Thorn and some other Cadre dude get to talk to him, but if she jumped to the conclusion that I’m a witch, and her friend was there to see the aftermath of what happened on the empty street, she might know more about my attacker.

Too bad I never get the chance to ask before we’re interrupted by a solemn, stone-faced man appearing on the other side of the jail bars.

My first impression is that, despite his expression, he’s gorgeous. High cheek bones. Lush lips. Caramel-colored eyes and golden blond hair styled on a side part. He has on a pricey black suit and is carrying a small box.

Oh, and he has a monstrous pair of fangs on display, overhanging his bottom lip as if showing them off on purpose.

He nods at Elise.

She gives him a nervous grin. “Hello, Jasper.”

Oh. Jasper. Isn’t that the other Cadre dude she brought up before? Ah, jeez. Is he, like, Thorn’s right-hand vamp or something?

Considering the way he turns his piercing gaze on me before saying, “Thorn is ready to meet with the witch,” I’m guessing that he is.

Just like I have to accept that they all think I’m something I’m not.

CHAPTER 4

WITCH HUNTER

The blond vampire pulled on a pair of thick leather gloves in order to open the cell door. Once inside, he removed my handcuffs. As soon as he had, he disappeared them into a lined box that he tucked under his arm before gripping the cell bar with the same gloved hand and pushing the door outward.

“Follow me,” he orders.

Glancing at Elise, she bobs her head in assurance. She doesn’t seem worried that her boss wants to see me, and considering she already told me about the cameras in the cell, she was probably expecting this to happen sooner or later.

I want to stay behind the bars. At least it’s safe in the tiny cell. I’ve heard too many whispers about Thorn Wilkins in the six months that I’ve lived here—ranging from how hot he is, how he’s the city’s most eligible bachelor to rumors that he’s not just the head of the Cadre, but a murderous gangster… which is probably closer to the truth, now that I think about it—that I was hesitant to run into him when I thought he was human.

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