This time, though, the vampire standing in front of me knew it was there, and I was forcing him to drink it anyway.
“I didn’t mean to,” he cried.
“You didn’t mean to,” I repeated. “You didn’t mean to… what? Drug a human?” I asked. “Or help your friend drug a human?”
I refrained from saying ‘my human.’ Instead concentrating on holding my composure in check so I didn’t lose it in this club and cause all of the patrons to never come back.
He didn’t answer, realizing that whatever he was going to say wouldn’t be good enough.
I didn’t know what he saw in my eyes, but I could imagine whatever it was wasn’t good for him.
So he drank the drink, all the while the two women that he’d been standing next to watched on with horror.
It didn’t take long for understanding to dawn on Keisha’s face. It took a second longer for Acadia to understand, but when she did, her face paled.
I could tell the moment it penetrated what had almost happened to her.
The thing about vampires’ metabolism wasn’t that it filtered faster, but also that it hit faster. So where it would’ve taken a few long minutes for the drug to hit a human’s bloodstream, to travel to all of their senses, it took less than thirty seconds for the vampire in front of me to show signs.
I guestimated that he’d be affected by this for over twenty minutes, if not a few minutes longer.
“Pavlov,” I called. “Please escort this piece of shit to the same room that Fox took the other. Force him to do the de-throating.”
Pavlov started to laugh, but nonetheless did my bidding, leaving me alone with two very freaked out women.
“You will be taken home,” I told Keisha.
Her eyes stayed on me as she nodded. “Okay.”
My eyes flicked to Chen, and he understood in less than a second.
“My lady.” He held out his arm.
Keisha took it shakily, and walked away, taking a few glances over her shoulder to make sure she was doing the right thing by leaving Acadia with me.
I gave her a reassuring nod, and she slumped in relief right before she disappeared out the door.
Render was there, watching the comings and goings, and I waved him off.
He nodded once and returned to his position at the door.
Nobody else would be let in this night, though, that I knew.
Unfortunately for the people outside, as well as my wallet.
“Come with me,” I ordered, trying not to let my eyes slide down her delicious body and take in her too-short dress that I wanted to rip off of her with my teeth.
She crossed her arms.
“I’m busy.”
I stopped, stunned that she didn’t follow.
“Oh?” I asked carefully.
She swallowed but held her ground.
“Yes.” She nodded.