Page 81 of Bound in Blood
Logan was practically vibrating with energy in the backseat of the Uber, eyes glued to the neon glow of the Ferris wheel on the horizon. The twins were right, even if they hadn’t outright said it: Logan hadn’t had anything tolook forward toin such a long time. The sky around them was lit up with flashing colors, and as Logan stepped out of the car, the distant hum of laughter and music and cheap amusement park rides clanking against their hinges filled the air. God, it was even better than Logan had imagined.
Logan had only ever been to the Texas State Fair once, even though he lived within an hour of it. He’d won tickets as a third-place prize in a school science fair when he was ten. His parents had been so proud that they’d taken him out of class the next week, driven to Dallas, and made an entire day of it. He’d had all the weird fried foods and rode every single ride. His dad let him play ridiculously expensive carnival games, and looking back, it was the last solidgoodmemory he’d had with his parents. It was a bit bittersweet, but still one of Logan’s favorite memories.
Now, twelve years later, Logan was determined to make sure this carnival was just asweetmemory. He pressed into both Mateo and Marco’s sides, moving with them toward the carnival entrance. How had they managed to plan something so perfect?
Logan could barely contain himself as they passed through the ticket booth to the fairgrounds, the buzz of neon lights and laughter sending a thrill through his bones. An unspoken advantage to being a vampire: colors were sharper, lights were brighter, and everything almost felt the exact same as when you experienced it as a kid. The air smelled like funnel cake andpopcorn and deep-friedeverything,Logan could almost ignore the ever-lingering smell of human blood.
Almost.
Mateo slung an arm around Logan’s shoulders. “Where to first,tesoro?”
Logan scanned the booths, all the food and games and rides to choose from. Food should be last, obviously, because his dates can’t enjoy it. The Ferris wheel was a bit romantic to do first, so… “Games. Obviously. I want to pay way too much to win a stuffed animal I could have found at the dollar store.”
Mateo’s grin turned sharp. “A competition, then?”
“What does the winner get?” Logan raised an eyebrow.
Mateo’s smile was practically dripping with mischief, golden eyes glinting under the flashing carnival lights. “Marco and I will compete. Winner gets a prize of their choosing. And eternal ‘I’m the better brother’ bragging rights.”
“Wait, I wanted to play games too. What if I win?” Logan pouted.
“Tesoro,this isn’t a Disney movie. You’re not competing for your own hand, or whatever that little gingergirl says.” Mateo cracked his knuckles. “Let your mates impress you with our game-winning prowess.”
Logan squinted at him. “That girl wiped the floor with her competitors in the movie. I think you’re afraid I’ll do the same to you.”
Mateo gasped, clutching his chest. “Howdareyou?!”
Marco, calm as ever, simply smirked, patting Logan’s head. “You’re in,caro.See if you can keep up.”
They weaved through the various games, looking for the perfect one to kick off their little competition, Logan soaking in every detail he possibly can. It was overwhelming in the best possible way. He didn’t even realize how tightly he was clutchingboth his mates’ hands until Mateo did a full, abrupt stop at a booth.
“This one’s perfect!” He tugged Logan (and, because Logan was also holding Marco’s hand, Marco) a bit closer.
The game attendant barely glanced up from his phone as the three of them approached, looking bored out of his mind. “Three rings, five bucks. Land one, win a prize,” he explained, doing the most half-hearted gesture Logan had ever seen toward the prizes above him.
Logan snorted. “Mateo, this is like… the most rigged game here.”
Mateo shrugged. “We each pick a game, yes? I pick this one.”
Logan eyed him suspiciously, but there was no getting out of it now. Since he was the only one who thought to grab cash (thank you, tip money from the bar), he paid the bored-looking teenager fifteen dollars, handing each twin three rings.
“All right, big shot,” Logan teased. “Let’s see if you’re worthy of my attention.”
Mateo cracked his knuckles, stretching out his neck like he was about to ride into battle. “Stand back.” He winked at Logan before aiming and firing the first ring toward the bottles. It flew through the air, bouncing off a bottle with a loudclink!
Mateo’s eye twitched.
Logan smiled, biting his lip to suppress his laughter. “Wow. My hero.”
Mateo scoffed, rolling his shoulders. “A warning shot, obviously.” He threw his second ring.
Miss.
Marco exhaled on a laugh. Mateo was visibly scowling, rolling up the sleeves of his jacket like it would help anything. “This one is it. I feel it in mysoul.”
Logan nudged Marco. “I tried to tell him it was rigged.” Marco nodded his agreement.
Mateo squared his shoulders, taking a full thirty seconds to focus his aim before he threw his final ring, and…
