Page 79 of Halfblood Deceived

“You tell him,” Sebastian murmured.

The man scoffed. “What’s wrong with me? You. You and every other bitch out there who can’t appreciate a nice, old-fashioned man of worth like me. But don’t worry, you’ll regret this day in ten years when you’re past your expiration date and live alone with a dozen cats.”

“Fucking Hell,” Zeydan growled. He hadn’t paid much attention to human interactions for the last decade or so. Clearly, he had missed some disturbing developments.

The young woman stood.

“Drink on his face,” Kerian said.

Sebastian leaned forward, eyes bright with anticipation. “Nah, kick in the balls.”

Kerian chuckled. “They can’t all be like Aylana.”

“Too bad,” Sebastian drawled, just as the woman tossed her martini in the man’s face.

The idiot stood, violence written on his face, but a bouncer practically materialized next to him and frog-marched him out.

“The security team loves this game as well,” Kerian said with a wicked grin

“Still, she might be in danger,” Zeydan said, checking his drunkenness levels to make sure he had the presence of mind to hypnotize the human into oblivion—

Kerian reached out and grabbed his wrist, reading his intention with alarming ease. “Easy. Tim, the vampire who dragged the idiot out, will take care of it.”

“I think this is a good time to remind Zeydan he can’t turn obnoxious humans into nightcaps,” Sebastian chanted.

Zeydan scowled at him. “I do know.” He met Kerian’s amused gaze. “I think you and Kam have placed unnecessary ropes around your neck with such a strict penal code. Some humans need to be eaten without bureaucracy.”

Something dark flashed in Sebastian’s platinum eyes. “I agree.”

Kerian sighed, letting him go. “I don’t.”

“I definitely do, and I’m occasionally part of the bureaucracy,” said a deep voice.

Zeydan turned his head to his left, finding a tall, lean male with pitch-dark, medium-length hair wearing a black shirt, jeans, and leather boots. There were piercings on the male’s eyebrow and lower lip. He was wearing the perfect amount of eyeliner to make his black eyes sparkle like polished obsidian. He was handsome, but something about him screamed danger. His aura was dark, mighty, not necessarily evil, but a bit unnerving.

And then it hit Zeydan—the goth was a demon.

Kerian smiled easily at the demon, canines flashing. His topaz eyes traveled up and down the leanly muscled, black-clad figure with lazy, heated intent. “Your sister would be appalled to hear that.”

The demon shrugged. “Deep down she wishes she could eat the criminals’ souls before the verdict and we both know it.”

Kerian huffed. “Too true. Aroth, meet my cousin, Zeydan. He’s new in town. Zeydan, this is Aroth. He’s part of our bureaucratic tribunal when his sister, Araiah, is indisposed.”

Aroth stretched a hand toward Zeydan. “A pleasure.”

Zeydan shook Aroth’s hand, feeling an undercurrent of chilly empathic power probing near his mental barriers, reading every emotion.

But two could play that game. Zeydan sent a line of his empathic skills straight into Aroth, finding something akin to burning, unquenched hunger, amusement, and a flare of lust that was aimed at Kerian.

“Nice to meet you as well,” Zeydan answered.

They let go at the same time.

Aroth gave Zeydan an approving, amused smirk and then turned his attention to Kerian. “I reserved one of the private rooms. Want to join me?”

Kerian stood at once. “Definitely.” He flicked a look at Zeydan and Sebastian. “Behave, children.”

Sebastian flipped him the bird.

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