Page 26 of Bite of Sin

“I love it here,” Dee sang out, giving me a wide smile. “I give a little blood and get taken care of.”

“Taken care of,” I repeated, still in shock.

“Show her, Dee,” Zan commanded. He didn’t even finish talking before Dee lifted her dark blond hair, revealing the side of her neck. There was a largeKtattooed in black ink. “That shows others that she’s not to be hurt. She’s under our protection.”

“Did you come from a city?” Dee asked me, her eyes hardening. “Isn’t this way of life so much better? The freedom? The fun? Who wouldn’t want this?”

Ice chilled my veins as I forced myself not to react. Was this on purpose? Were the vampires turning humans against their own race? How many other humans were here?

“I found clothes for you. I’ll have them ready for you tomorrow.” Gia stepped in front of me. “You have a place to shower?”

“Yes,” I lied. None of it mattered. I was leaving this city as soon as I could. I’d never see them again. Gia nodded and walked away, going back behind the bar.

“She should stay with us,” Pax mumbled.

“No need,” Zan replied, his voice confident. “She’ll be here tomorrow exactly as I told her. Won’t you, Kali?”

I nearly grinned but managed to keep my cold stare on him. I could taste my freedom. “Yes. I’ll be here tomorrow night.”

He slipped his hand into his pocket, pulling out a necklace with a thick chain. “I want you to put this on. It’ll show others that you work here, and they won’t bother you.”

I should have been snatching the necklace out of his hand to keep him happy, but his smug fucking tone had rage engulfing me. I would almost rather let them kill me than take orders from a vampire. The one thing stopping me was the small hope that Warner was still alive. I only hesitated for a few seconds, but it was enough for Zan’s patience to snap. I cried out when he grabbed me, hauling me onto his lap.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” I snarled, trying to get back to my feet. His arm snaked around my waist, crushing my back to his chest while keeping my arms trapped at my sides.

“I asked you to put it on,” he said, his lips brushing against my hair. “I don’t ask things twice. You should learn that sooner rather than later.”

“If we’re being technical, you didn’t ask—you demanded,” I snapped, my chest heaving from being so close to him. I should feel disgusted that a vampire was all over me. But I didn’t. The hate was deep in my bones, but his touch wasn’t doing what I expected it to. And I really didn’t like it.

“Thatisme asking nicely,” he shot back. “You have a lot to learn if you’re going to stay here.”

Viggo lifted Dee off him and got to his feet. He grabbed the necklace from Zan, ignoring my protests as he pushed my hair to the side and wrapped the chain around my throat. It wasn’t tight, but rage still shot through me as he took forever getting the clasp clipped. He finally got it and stepped back. Zan released me, and I flew to my feet, my fingers going to the small charm on the necklace.

The chain was just long enough for me to glance down at it, and I stared at the round shaped charm in suspicion. It looked old and had an intricate design on the outer part of it with an oval in the center. It was heavy enough that it seemed like something was in the hollow center.

“This is a temporary mark,” Zan said, making me shift my attention to him. “Unless you’d rather have a tattoo like Dee’s.”

“No,” I bit out.

“Good. Then I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

His words had me freezing. It couldn’t be this easy. Viggo was watching, his lips lifting in an amused grin.

“Good luck trying to get it off,” Viggo said, as if he couldn’t hold it back. “There’s a lock on the clasp.”

I brought my hand to the back of my neck, my stomach sinking when I felt around and realized there was a tiny padlock-type thing on the chain. How the hell would I be able to get this off without help? I didn’t care. I could leave and hide it under my clothes. Either way, I’d be gone before the sun came up.

“I think she’s going to run, Zan,” Viggo taunted, talking as if I wasn’t there.

“No, she won’t,” Zan responded, his eyes staying on me. “She’ll behave.”

“Can I go now?” I ground out.

Zan stepped to the side, but when I walked past him, he grabbed me above the elbow, tugging me close.

“That necklace claims you as mine,” he breathed out. “I’m protecting you from everyone else in this city. Do not make me regret it.”

“I didn’t ask for this,” I hissed, my face flushing in anger.

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