Page 14 of Rejected Mate

“Dinner is served,” one of them announced. I glanced up and saw it was Scarface. I narrowed my eyes, giving him a look that let him know I hadn’t forgotten. Sadly, he didn’t give me the satisfaction of a reaction. Perhaps the cameras were meant to control the shifter females’ behavior as well as the vampires’.

Taking that cue, the camera crew ended their interview with Laurel and headed out, probably to set up in the dining room because how could they miss the opportunity to show off our first group date?

“Let’s go,” I said, pulling Violet along this time.

“But my drink!” she said, stumbling after me.

I pulled her at a fast clip toward the smell of food and the sound of violins. The dining room’s double doors were open, letting the sights and sounds of an expensive banquet hall spill out to meet us. I spotted a long table with chairs all around. Each place setting was intricately beautiful, down to the sparkling silver and gold plates. Goblets of wine and water sparkled in the light of the crystal chandelier. Fresh flowers bloomed from vases on side tables and sat in neat clusters in containers that ran down the center of the long table. Additional vampire staff in butler outfits waited along the walls, ready to serve us.

More keeping up appearances. All of this probably looked great on camera, but it made my stomach churn.

My gaze was pulled to the seven vampire suitors placed strategically around the long table. It wasn’t hard to miss the fact that Ares stood at the head of the table with one seat next to him, ready for some “lucky” girl. If I had to bet money, I figured it would be Laurel. She’d surely made an impression.

I’d just picked out a chair nearest to the cameras when I heard my name.

“Wren,” Ares said, pulling out the chair next to him. “Would you come join me please?”

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