Page 8 of Blood & Betrayals

“You’re strange,” the female at the head of the group says, her voice tinkling like a chorus of silver bells. She slides her hand into mine. “And you shouldn’t be hanging out with a vampire.”

I keep my eyes away from the other fae and yank my hand out of her grip, holding tighter to Alice. I had hoped to avoid this, but… here we go. My eyes lock with hers, violet with a magenta ring around the pupil, just as I expected. Predictably, they widen in shock, and she takes a step back. Several of theother members of her club hurry to her side, each reacting with fear or surprise when I meet their gazes.

“The fuck?” Alice hisses, flashing her fangs. Several fae respond by showing their own, though they are far shorter and less lethal. Alice’s are made for ripping out throats. Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to her. She tugs her arm from my grip and steps in front of me, putting herself between me and the Fair Folk Club. Even my power goes silent as fissures form in the walls around my heart, and warmth seeps in. No one has ever fought for me, never protected me.

I take a step to stand right behind Alice. “If you want to keep those pointed ears on your head, I’d suggest going back to your little suck-off fest,” I growl.

Two of the fae look at each other in confusion. One of the males steps forward, crowding Alice but ignoring her to talk to me over her head. “You’re fae. You belong with us.”

“I don’t belong to fucking anyone, least of all you.”

Alice shoves him back. “She said fuck off.” She flashes her fangs at another when he growls aggressively, her eyes turning red with murderous intent. Alice oozes a killing aura. It swirls around her like a bloody mist, and as a group, the fae take a step back.

“What are you?” a small female asks, her violet eyes flickering between Alice and me, trying to figure it out.

“My name is Alice, but I also go by Mistress of Bloodshed, Lady of Carnage, that evil bitch, and please stop peeling my skin from my face,” Alice says and flashes her fangs again. She flicks her fingers open, her nails darkening and lengthening into black claws. The fae backs up another step.

I put my hand on Alice’s shoulder. “Alice. Let’s go.”

She turns to look at me, the red of her eyes fading to brown. “Yeah, let’s,” she says with a final snarl in the direction of the group of fae.

I grab Alice’s hand again and barge forward, the group of fae parting to let us pass. We stalk toward the other side of the room, where food is still laid out. I can feel their eyes boring into my back, and my power coils tight, ready to explode from me.

Alice chooses a couple of bottles of blood, and I grab an apple before we head back to the dorm. Once I step into the fresh air, my roiling power draws back enough that I’m not worried about implosion anymore. We don’t talk until we’re almost home, and it’s Alice who breaks the silence. “You want to go out tonight?”

Fuck yes. I need to let off some steam. “As long as those fuckers aren’t there.”

Alice smirks and unlocks the door to the dorm. “Yeah, what the fuck was that about? Just cause you’re fae doesn’t mean you belong to them. Like clearly, they’re too late. I’ve already claimed you.”

“Well, thank gods for that because I never want to belong to any fae assholes.”

Alice smirks, flashing her fangs. “Good. Vampires are very territorial.”

I take a bite of my apple, feigning nonchalance. “So, where are we going tonight?” I ask, changing the subject. I am still feeling rattled, but warmth continues to resonate in my chest. Alice stepped forward to protect me. Why? She had nothing to gain. Did she? None of this makes sense, including the defensiveness she provoked in me earlier.

Alice pulls her phone out of her pocket and scrolls through it. Alerts pop up, but she ignores them. “Looks like it’s at some place called the Morningstar House.”

“You drink, right?”

Alice snorts. “Yes, vampires do drink and not just blood. You didn’t grow up around us, huh? I mean, like the beings of the maelstrom?”

How had she caught that already? I thought I was doing pretty well, considering my patchwork research. She is more observant than I realized. As comfortable as I already am around Alice, that could be a problem.

I hurry into my bedroom and come back through with two shot glasses. “I came prepared.”

Alice makes grabby hands at the glasses. “Oh, I love you, Summer.”

I laugh and open the bottle of tequila, pouring two shots. I lift my glass and clink it to Alice’s. “To getting fucked up?”

“To getting fucked up!”

We down our shots, and Alice quickly pours two more, slamming hers. She’s a partier. Good, so am I. Being trashed makes it easy to forget, at least for a little bit.

“I’m going to get ready before I’m too drunk to put eyeliner on,” Alice says and takes another shot before heading to her room.

I take the bottle and wander into my room. Undressing, I pull on my one going-out dress. It’s short, black, and silky, with a thigh slit that ends right below my hip. I slip on a pair of matching black heels. The outfit is the showstopper, so I decide on simple makeup and to leave my hair down, allowing the long, brown locks to lie in their natural waves over my shoulders.

“Too slutty?” Alice asks, twirling in my doorway. She is wearing jeans that look sprayed on and a lace bralette.

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