Page 11 of Halfblood Deceived

He’s a demon, you idiot. A demon like the ones who killed your mother. What is wrong with you? She scolded herself.

And then a dark suspicion hit her.

What if he was playing tricks on her mind?

Gargoyles were immune to vampire hypnosis, but Aella could cross their wards. So what if there was another weird failure in her and she was affected by vampire-luring magic?

Because there was no other explanation for her dazzled reaction. He was a vampire, a demon, a monster. The pretty facade was just a mask that hid a predator.

“May I buy you a drink?” the vampire offered.

Aella licked her lips and nodded.

The vampire smiled and placed a hand between her shoulder blades. Aella jumped.

He was warm.

Hot even through the fabric of her dress.

That wasn’t supposed to be possible.

The vampire immediately dropped his hand, arching a brow at Aella’s stunned expression.

“Drink?” Aella asked, voice barely above a whisper.

“Drink,” the vampire agreed, pointing at a couple of vacant stools with a faux serious expression. “Bar. Sitting.”

Fantastic. Now he was mocking her. He probably thought she was dumb, as Micah often did.

Aella scowled at him.

The vampire gave her a closed-lip smile.

With as much dignity as possible, not much considering her feet were killing her, Aella made her way to the bar and sat on a stool. The vampire joined her immediately, making a beckoning gesture to a bartender.

The young woman with short blonde hair and many piercings approached. “What can I get you, Zeydan?”

“The usual, Katy,” he responded.

Katy flashed him a smile and then turned her attention to Aella. “And for you Miss…”

“Aella.” She bit her lip not to face-palm, remembering she was supposed to call herself ‘Jane’ being undercover and all. “I want… Um…” Aella hadn’t the slightest idea of what she wanted and Zeydan’s infuriating little smile wasn’t helping her think. “A martini?”

Katy nodded and got to work.

“Aella,” the vampire said, as if savoring her name. “The name of one of Hippolyte’s bravest Amazons.” His eyes ensnared hers. “Tell me, Aella, are you a warrior?”

Her throat went dry.

Something in that jade gaze was intelligent, piercing…

He knows, said a little voice in the back of Aella’s mind.

Her heart tripped over itself.

That was impossible, wasn’t it? Aella pushed the worry aside and tried to relax her shoulders. “No,” she answered truthfully.

Zeydan hummed. “Are you sure?”

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