Page 109 of Bite
“Of course,” he answers curtly. “We’ll come to you.”
She nods, catching his dismissive tone, then drifts away, leaving the three of us alone. Not for long– two blinks later, Lucien approaches.
“Sire,” he murmurs, bowing his head to James in deference.
“Lucien,” James replies, voice edged with warning.
Lucien dips his head to me next, though he doesn’t meet my eyes. Whether out of respect for James or the fear of being the only other vampire alive who’s tasted me, it’s probably for the best.
“Hi,” Bex chirps, stepping forward and offering her hand.
Lucien’s lips quirk in a grin and he takes it, bringing it to his lips and bushing a kiss across her knuckles.
“Tiffany,” she purrs, fluttering her lashes.
Uh oh. I know that look. She thinks he’s cute.
“It’s a pleasure,” Lucien drawls, releasing her hand. His gaze slides down her figure, catching on the silver bracelet at her wrist. “Are you on the menu tonight, beautiful?”
Bex cocks a hip, biting her lip seductively. “I could be.”
The two of them peel off, and James’ hand slides into mine. He squeezes gently– a steady anchor in the sea of bodies and noise.
My own bracelet is long gone, replaced with the glittering five-carat diamond on my ring finger.A hell of an upgrade, if you ask me.
The music shifts, strings swelling as the orchestra prepares for the first formal dance of the evening. James bows in anexaggerated, mocking gesture, and I curtsy back because I know it amuses him when I indulge his old-timey antics.
We take the floor. For the next three minutes, it’s just the two of us. The rest of the word falls away– the politics, the predatory smiles, even the crush of bodies at the edge of the floor. A hundred eyes watch us, and they’re not just watching their king tonight.
They’re watching theirqueen.
Hours later, the ballroom has shed its glamour like a snake shrugging off dead skin. The string quartet is gone, replaced by a playlist that leaves much to be desired. The air in here is a cocktail of expensive perfumes, spilled wine, and the iron tang of blood. Many of the donors now have smeared lipstick or bite marks, while the vamps bare their fangs with abandon and press their mouths to flesh openly, forgetting manners and reverting to their baser instincts.
Not long ago, the sight of public feedings made me shiver and shrink. Now, I barely register it as anything more than ambiance. Maybe that means I’ve gotten in too deep. Or maybe it just means I finally know which world I belong to.
I linger at the edge of the party, watching James entertain a trio of European investors. He’s in full host mode– charming, sly, every move calculated for maximum impact. I can’t help admiring the way he shifts between dialects, his voice dropping to a seductive hush as he steers the conversation. He glances up and catches me staring, his lips parting in the barest suggestion of a smile, eyes dark with promise.
A warm hand closes over my shoulder. “It’s dying down,” Bex sighs, appearing at my side with fresh bite marks at her throat. Her lipstick is half-erased, but her green eyes are sharp as ever. “You holding up?”
I nod, looping an arm around her waist. “Are you kidding? I’m thriving. I could stay up all night.”
She snorts a laugh. “You say that now, but wait till the hangover hits.” She pokes me in the ribs, then narrows her eyes, casting a quick glance over the ballroom. “Where’s your vampire overlord?”
“Glad you asked,” James murmurs, seemingly materializing from out of nowhere. Bex startles, but I just sink into him as he steps up behind me, banding an arm around my waist and drawing me back into his chest. “Ready to head out?”
“Uh, yeah,” Bex says, backing up and throwing a thumb over her shoulder. “You two be gross. I’m gonna get going.”
She quickly flees, blending into the crowd before I can even give her a proper goodbye.
“Aw, is playtime over?” I pout, glancing up at James over my shoulder.
He smiles, slow and wicked. “Oh, darling. It’s just beginning.”
He guides me through the thinning masses, across the open foyer and up the grand staircase. The lights are dim up on the balcony, shadows pooling in the corners. Below, the party seethes on, but the intensity of James’ presence makes everything but him fade to background noise. He draws me to the edge of a railing cloaked in shadow, chest pressed against my back, his body enveloping mine. I rest my head against his shoulder and for a moment, we just stand there in silence, watching the night unfold beneath us.
It’s beautiful. It’s monstrous. It’s ours.
His hand settles at the small of my back, fingers splaying across the bare skin left exposed by my dress. “You’re enjoying yourself,” he murmurs. Not a question, a statement.
