Page 11 of Only Fangs

Collin shook his head, trying not to think about how much a specialist appointment was going to cost him. Already paying for this check-up had put a strain on his finances. He’d have to cutdown on food expenses for a while. Maybe he could skip a few dinners, or eat cereal instead…

He’d find the money somehow.

Suppressing a sigh, he said his goodbyes to the doctor and left the office, heading back home to the gated community where he and the other mortals lived within the city. It was a small community, as there weren’t a lot of mortals left, but they stuck together, and they took care of each other.

But Collin couldn’t ask his community for money. No one here had much. How could they, when they’d spent most of recent history hiding away from a society of supernaturals that threatened to enslave them? It wasn’t until the dragon-shifters that ruled the city offered them their protection–and this gated community–that they’d been able to start making money at all.

Most mortals still lived on welfare, and while the welfare they received was enough to get by, it wasn’t enough to pay for expensive vet procedures. Especially not for other people’s pets.

And Collin had always wanted to make his own way rather than rely on the dragons.

That was what drove him to start streaming. The dream of having his own business, his own income. Of being able to take care of himself without depending on anyone else. But even now, even when he was successful at what he did, even when he made money every month, he had to admit that he was a failure.

Because in the end, it wasn’t enough.

If he didn’t have the funds to save Luna, he might as well not have any money at all.

When Collin arrived home, he made Luna a meal and watched her go to sleep without touching it. Gently, he patted her soft fur and made a decision.

He wasnotgoing to give up on her, no matter how much treatment might cost. He’d work as hard as he could to get that money and he’d do it fast.

He opened his laptop and logged back onto his admin panel to check his schedule. He’d planned to stream tonight at midnight, but if he moved it up a few hours, he might catch more viewers. More viewers meant more revenue, and he needed to earn as much money as possible, as fast as possible, if he wanted this plan to work.

He might even be able to fit two streams into one night if he pushed himself.

With that goal in mind, he started working. He posted a teaser, scheduled a livestream for eight pm sharp, and then began prepping. He showered, trimmed his hair, shaved, and then sat down for a few minutes of meditation to clear his head.

He didn’t usually meditate for his shows, but he needed to relax if he was going to be comfortable performing two times.

It was only too bad that he kept getting distracted by emails hitting his inbox. He’d subscribed to a few newsletters aimed at streamers in the area, and the streaming community was positivelybuzzingwith news about the upcoming masquerade. Everyone was looking for someone to go to the party with or to collaborate with. Apparently, Mikael’s invite had sparked interest in the entire community. The vampire really did have the biggest following of them all.

Collin clicked out of the email and tried to focus on his breathing again, pushing aside thoughts of Mikael.

Thoughts of possibly meeting him at the masquerade.

Mikael didn’t need him there. Enough other people were going.

Collin chewed the inside of his cheek as a thought occurred to him.

Ifhewent to the masquerade he might find popular streamers to collaborate with who weren’t vampires or otherwise dangerous to him. Aside from being a party thatMikael wanted him to attend, the masquerade was turning into a networking event.

And opportunity that he could not easily pass up in his situation.

He swallowed.

Fuck.

He really wanted to avoid going, but he didn’t have that luxury anymore. He had to go.

But how was he supposed to attend a party at a vampire club?

He was a mortal, and he’d be surrounded by predators who would instantly realize what kind of prey they’d stumbled upon.

Collin rubbed his face, sighing, and then he remembered another mortal who’d managed to live hidden among the paranormal population for years before he’d become the mate of one of the royal dragon shifters. His story had become popular around the community and Collin remembered it well. Silvan had pretended to be an incubus. To achieve that, he’d used a glamor charm–and scent blockers.

Collin was going to have to get his hands on scent blockers, and a really good costume.

Because if Mikael realized he was attending the party, Collin was fucked.

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