Page 30 of Blood Bound (Blood Mafia 3)

“Mother won’t like you pledging yourself to a hunter.” Her voice is cool and unaffected, though she hasn’t quite mastered keeping her emotions from her face.

“You mistake my intentions, pup.” Blaze glances at me again, clearing his throat before continuing, “I owe you two favors. One for my life, and one for Melony’s.”

“Tell you what, disappear and never come back and we’ll call it even.”

He shakes his head. “The debt must be repaid with a meaningful offer, otherwise I dishonor my pack.”

Right, I’ve clearly crossed into weird pack territory. Before I can think of something meaningful to ask for, the door to the parking garage bangs open and Evelyn struts out in a ridiculously bright pink bandage dress.

Everyone pauses to look at her, even little Melony stares at Evelyn with a look of wonder. I can’t say I blame her, the way the vampire’s hips sway is seductive at best and sinful at worst.

She’s dangerous that one.

Blaze jumps to his feet and puffs out his chest, eyes devouring every inch of Evelyn’s bronze skin. She smirks and twinkles her fingers at him.

“Oh, Demi. You brought me a snack, I knew you loved me.”

This makes Melony growl. “He’s not your snack, bloodsucker.”

Blaze’s eyes flash yellow when he glares at the girl. “Melony.” His voice is hard enough to make me wince.

Damn, the dude didn’t have to humiliate her in front of everyone.

She lowers her head and sniffs.

“Let me know if you change your mind, girl. I’ll bite him for making you cry.” Evelyn snaps her teeth and cackles.

Melony peeks at her through her lashes, fighting a smile at the thought of Evelyn exacting revenge on her behalf.

“That’s better,” Evelyn says, stopping in front of Blaze and craning her neck to get a good look at him. “My, my, my, what do they feed you?”

My head nearly falls off my body when she reaches out and squeezes his bicep. He inhales, taking in her scent and rumbling in approval at what he smells.

“Mm. Strong too.” She tosses Mateo a wink. “Can I keep him?”

Mateo works his jaw and curls his fingers into a fist. “No.”

Patting Blaze’s chest, she sighs. “Maybe next time, wolf.”

Colt’s car pulls around a corner and we step aside, letting him pull into the spot next to where Mateo parked.

“Everything went well then?” Evelyn asks, beaming at me as she walks over.

Zander climbs out of the car and the vampire’s head snaps in his direction. Black replaces the dark brown color of her irises and she hisses. “Who hurt him?”

Ah. This shitty day wouldn’t be complete without at least one more vamp-rage.

Blaze narrows his eyes on Zander, looking him over like he might an opponent in the fighting ring.

Great, yes, thank you. We also need a fucking pissing contest for Evelyn to be the cherry on top of this shitty ice cream sundae.

“Where’s Tyra?” Evelyn murmurs to me when X climbs out of the car with red-rimmed eyes.

“She didn’t make it.” I fight back a wave of tears.

X’s pain is so raw it makes me want to curl into a ball on the ground with her and cry. The way her eyes are dull kills a part of me. There’s no hope there. No light. Only the dark nothingness of depression.

Blaze clears his throat, drawing mine and Evelyn’s attention.

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