Page 59 of Night Wedding
His lips curled into a smirk. “Name?”
Umm, crap. What should I use? I wasn’t on the guest list but didn’t know what else to say. “Nova Adams.”
He scanned down using his finger as a guide. “You’re not on my list.”
I raised my chin. “I’m a guest of Diego Valcourt. Surely he’s on it.”
He continued down and stopped moving his finger. He raised his gaze to meet mine. “He’s on the list, but you aren’t. He should have added you.”
I giggled. “Oh Diego.” I shook my head. “He’s terrible about taking care of things like this. That’s why I do much of his admin tasks for him.”
The guard tipped his chin and searched me from his hawk-like eyes. “You need to be on the list.” He sniffed me. “But if you’re looking to offer yourself as a meal tonight, I’ll let you in.”
I tipped my head and smiled coquettishly. “That’s why I’m here.”
He stepped out from behind the podium and moved the red rope aside. “Don’t give me a reason to regret this,” he warned. “Or I’ll personally make sureyouregret it.” He flashed his fangs and his eyes gleamed red.
Eek, what the hell was I getting myself into?
“I promise.” Then I blew him a kiss and walked down the hall.
My heart beat with a thunderous echo. With each step closer to the unknown, the urge to turn around and flee rose, escalating like a trot to a full-on gallop.
Maybe I should have let Gianna come in with me.
No, that was a bad idea. For one, I couldn’t put her in danger. And two, Gianna likely would have had a fiery response for the vampire guard up front, which could have led to a door slammed in our faces. It was better that I went in alone.
Before I opened the next set of doors, I texted our group.I made it past the bouncer. Am heading in.
The thump of Marilyn Manson’s “The Beautiful People” grew louder. When I pulled open the heavy bronze handle, it surrounded me. A heavy chandelier loomed over a crowd of people chatting in small groups like at a hotel cocktail party. Most of the men wore dark suits or clothing while many of the women wore dresses covering the kaleidoscope of a color palette. Much sparkle on the outfits and bling on their bodies. My simple sundress was out of place. The pale yellow of it didn’t help as it stood out like a bright announcement marking me as prey.
As I ventured deeper, I swallowed. Vampires stared with unabashed hunger at their human meals, whose expressions spelled heated anticipation. A heavy aura of sensuality pulsed off the walls in this bizarre market like blood surging through a vein. This was where Diego and Diana were. Had they already picked out their dinner together? Someone they could take home to bed and share on in some orgiastic feed?
My shoulders slumped. I was totally out of my league.
“Hello there,” a man’s voice said.
I turned to face him. His hair was as dark as Diego’s and eyes deep, dark, and brown.
“I haven’t seen you at one of these events before. Are you new?”
Damn. Should I say I was new here or claim that it’s been a while since I’ve been to one? If I tried to pull off experience, I’d probably end up wedging both flats into my mouth.
“I am,” I admitted with an innocent smile.
He sniffed me, unabashed. “Witch blood,” he said under his breath. “Don’t worry, I’ll get you acclimated.”
His eyes flashed with the gleam of a predator. On Diego, that hungry look excited me deep on a primal level. From this guy, it warned of danger. Everything about him from his expensive suit and watch proclaimed his status. Like a gazelle facing a hungry lioness, I sensed the power balance—and it wasn’t in my favor. I wanted to hoof it out of there but tightened my muscles and remained locked in place.
I searched the groups of people for sight of Diego. He was tall with short black hair and bright blue eyes. My gaze generally locked onto him like a magnet. No luck tonight.
Next, I looked for Diana with her silvery-blonde hair. That should be easy to find amid all the dark outfits.
“I’m Raymond. What’s your name, doll?” the vampire asked.
What was this, some 1950s gangster movie? Who used “doll” in this century?
Should I give him my real name or a fake one? Since I’d already used my real name to get in, I stuck with it. “Nova.”
