Page 103 of High Stakes and Soulmates
“I live a lonely life, Ezio. I have to take what is cheap and easy, and right now… they’re cheap and easy. Besides Atticus. He’s obviously fancy.”
“You think I could take his credit card too?” I ask.
“I bet you could take Casimir’s and tell him you’re buying something for his dog or his wolf and he’d never question it.”
“I bet you I could,” I say as I get out of the car and come around to his side. “You promise me you feel okay?”
“I know this is going to sound really weird… but I feel amazing. Like… who knew getting mauled could make you feel so good? Okay. The mauling didn’t. But I guess with the werewolfness now messing with me… I feel good.”
“Have you tried turning into a werewolf yet? Like in the secrecy of the bathroom?”
Cyrus laughs. “Sure as fuck not. Do you have my doggy underwear ready yet?”
“No, I didn’t know if you wanted neon pink or lime green. I didn’t want it to clash with your coat color.”
“What color will I be? Man, this sounds horrible,” Cyrus decides.
“You were just thrilled about how good you felt.”
“Yeah, and now I think it’s a horrible idea.” He sighs and I reach over and squeeze his hand. Apparently, telling him I wasgoing to stay away from him isn’t going to work. I can’t seem to keep my hands off him, and when he lets me comfort him like this, it fills me with so much happiness.
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” I say.
“Oh! Don’t, please. I didn’t say it to make you feel bad or something.”
“You didn’t,” I assure him. “I just wish I could have gotten to you sooner.”In my mind, I add,And then I would have turned you into a vampire so I’d never have to live without you.
“You have that look on your face again.”
My eyebrows quirk. “I have no look. My face is perfectly… stoic.”
“No, you definitely have that look.”
“I was just trying out my brooding look. Like Atticus,” I say as watch him brood at Yorick who looks gobsmacked about something. It could have been something thoroughly astounding, or Atticus might have just not reacted appropriately to something Yorick said or did. It’s really a toss-up.
We walk into the club and the moment we do, all attention turns on us. I’m… not quite sure why. I’m not certain whether it’s the multiple brooding ancient vampires or the fact that the person who got mauled here last week actually chose to come back.
Cyrus nods toward the bar where a vampire is serving drinks. “Her name is Lauren, and she talked to me some last week.” She takes one look at us and promptly heads to the other side of the counter.
“Atticus’s face isn’tthatugly,” Yorick says. “Here, let me call her over.” He leans against the counter and taps on it before doing a hair flick like that’ll make her scurry on over but still, the woman ignores him. Yorick hesitates before turning to me. “Is… Is something wrong with my face?”
“Definitely,” Julian says.
Yorick’s eyes narrow. “Puppers… you bit me in the arse the other day, and now today you’re going to tear out my heart?”
Julian pauses before giving him a smile. “Nothing is wrong with your face. You look quite handsome.”
Casimir frowns as he looks over at him. “Excuse me?”
“I bit him!”
“Not hard enough,” he grumbles.
“She must not have seen me,” Yorick settles on. He leans on the bar as he gives her a seductive come-hither motion before biting his lip. She looks right past him to another guy who just casually walks up. “Evidently, this woman is blind to beauty!”
“How about you come over here,” Atticus says, and there’s something about his tone that seems to make the younger vampires uneasy. Lauren grimaces, sets a glass down, and hurries over.
Yorick gasps as Atticus smirks at him.
