Page 137 of Halfblood Deceived

Aella hoped she was getting them the right drinks. A thick fog had covered her mind, and her heart was still racing.

“Aella,” she heard. A warm hand squeezing hers.

She blinked, meeting Diana’s worried blue eyes.

It was as if a bubble had burst. The music, the scents of liquor, perfume, and fresh sweat, the lights—all of it hit Aella in one startling blow. She realized she was currently standing by the bar, holding onto the solid surface as if life depended on it.

“What happened?” Diana asked.

Trinity and Lupita also approached, curious.

There was a lull in the influx of people.

Aella gulped. “This creepy guy, I think he was a witch. He said some nasty things about you and me, and threatened to make everyone ‘see us for who we truly are.’”

Diana’s eyes went wide with horror. “Where is he?”

“Gone. I honestly don’t know how long it’s been. I lost track of time,” Aella admitted.

“Cowardly assholes with big mouths rarely stick around,” Trinity said, giving Aella’s left hand a soft pat.

Lupita harrumphed. “And too bad. It’s been a while since I’ve hexed someone.”

“No, it hasn’t,” Mac argued with a sigh as she leaned on the bar next to Aella. “You hexed our neighbor this morning.”

“Exactly, it’s been over twelve hours,” Lupita agreed. “And he deserved it. He called you something foul.”

At Aella’s curious look, Mac elaborated. “He thinks that Lupita and I are lovers, and that is the reason why I won’t agree to date him.” She rolled her eyes. “He accused me of denying ‘nice guys’ like him the chance to have, and I quote, “more babies like us so our race doesn’t disappear.”” Mac growled low. “I would have loved to banish my glamour and flash my canines at him to show him we’re not even the same fucking species. Or at least tell him I’d rather burn at the stake than date men like him. But before I could utter a single word, this tiny menace was hexing him into thinking he was a pig. He got on his fours and oinked downstairs.”

Trinity and Diana laughed.

Lupita grinned like a cat. “Fitting, right?”

“Perfect,” Trinity agreed, high-fiving Lupita.

Aella frowned, confused. “How can he be a nice guy if he believes and says such horrible things?”

Mac half smiled. “Exactly. But assholes like that are immune to irony.”

“True that—Oh!” Trinity exclaimed, eyes going wide as she looked over Aella’s shoulder. “Who is that?”

Heat flared across Aella’s shoulder blades, down her spine, and curled around her belly. Her pulse sped up.

She knew who it was.

Her very blood knew who it was.

“His name is Zeydan. I’m not sure about his last name,” Diana told Trinity. A wrinkle appeared between her eyebrows, as she flicked a glance at Aella and then looked over her shoulder at Zeydan again.

Aella could feel the vampire royal’s presence with strange accuracy. Zeydan was ten yards behind her to her right, but he was getting closer.

“He’s absolutely gorgeous,” Trinity all but sighed. “Leah had mentioned it, but seeing it is another thing. Those eyes, and that hair!”

“He is admittedly pretty,” Lupita agreed, tilting her head.

“No,” Trinity argued. “Lord Kerian is pretty and hot. He is gorgeous and sexy.”

Lupita frowned, clearly confused. “What’s the difference?”

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