Page 56 of Blood Descendants
Ares drops the heart in the center of the collapsed man. He shakes his hand, dripping blood all over the place. But he places his dry hand on my waist, guiding me to a table. “Sit here for just a minute. I’ll say my goodbyes, and we’ll get out of here.”
I feel too shell-shocked and too numb to respond with anything but a nod. I sit in the chair, casting my gaze about the room. Eyes dart in my direction, their looks evaluative. But there’s something different there than previously.
Fear, maybe?
Respect?
The rules of this world are so different than my own. I don’t know how to interpret them. Do I even really remember how to breathe in this moment?
Sysco told me I was a motive for murder tonight. Ares warned me about any bodies he might put in the ground.
Someone actually died tonight because he put his hands on me.
The sound of silverware clanging against glass startles me, my shoulders shrugging up to my ears.
“Excuse me, if I could have your attention, please?” It’sAugustus. He holds a glass up, his eyes casting about the room. “The Barons of New York City thank you for coming to our event. You are all an important piece of this city. Together, we can make this place a strong hold for our kind. Together, we will make a presence here, in the greatest place on earth. And today, it is my greatest pleasure, my honor, to present to you the newest Baron. My eldest son, Ares Hunt.”
“To Mr. Hunt,” Giovanni says, raising his glass in a vote.
“To Ares,” Sysco says, also raising a glass.
“To Ares Hunt,” Harry Kim says, looking bored of this party.
“To Ares,” Cliff votes lastly, raising his glass.
And my fake fiancé stands there, next to his father. He holds his chin high, his eyes dark as he looks around. He looks every bit the part. A dangerous, powerful leader of creatures of the night in the country’s most populated city.
“To Ares Hunt,” the crowd calls out, raising a glass to toast to him.
And all at once, they sip from their glasses.
And the deed is done.
My hands tremble in my lap. It’s so easy to forget with Ares. What he really is. Why we made our alliance. The darkness that comes with this world.
But this is reality. And I can never forget it.
The conversations resume around the room, and I breathe just a little easier when things seemingly go back to normal.
I feel cold as Ares strides across the room, his eyes fixed on me. He reaches out his clean hand, helping me to my feet. “Let’s go home,” he says, and I can’t quite read his tone. But I’m still in too much shock to do so anyway.
I shuffle forward, my hand in his. Eyeswatch us go, but no one remarks. No one stops us. And I realize that Ares is now an important, respected man. Everyone lets him through without question.
Neither one of us says a word as we exit the building. And I don’t know how he knew, but Billings pulls the SUV up to the curb at just the right moment. Ares pulls the door open for me and climbs in after I’m settled into my seat.
The drive back to our building is silent. My eyes look out the window, but they’re unfocused, not taking anything in. My hands are folded in my lap, picking absentmindedly at my expensive dress.
Red.
The sounds.
Ares’ gleaming eyes.
All because that man touched me.
The man who essentially called me his prey.
I saw so much blood, and this time, I didn’t lose it.
