“Your cousin. He doesn’t look at you like he’s your cousin.”
I had no answer to that.
“Well, he is.” I slid my hands around his waist but he stayed stiff and cold, staring at Maxim. “Hey. I’m with you, remember?”
He looked down at me and his face softened.
“Yeah, I remember.”
And then he kissed me. Not a gentle, sweet kiss. Not even a horny teenager kiss.
This was something else entirely.
Dylan lifted me up, kissing me long and slow and deep. His hands were all over me. Enough that I actually let out a little yelp of surprise.
I pushed him away and stared up at him in shock. Then I saw the dark look in his eyes. And the triumphant glance he threw at Maxim.
“Not cool, Dylan.”
“What?”
I just shook my head. I didn’t like being the rope in whatever macho tug of war he had going with Maxim. He’d never been that aggressive with me before.
“Have a good night.”
“Sophie— wait!”
I ignored him, stalking to the bike and taking the helmet from Maxim’s outstretched hand. He looked pissed off too. His jaw ticked and I could see the outline of his fangs through his lips.
Thankfully, no one else was standing close enough to see them. At least, I hoped not. I climbed on quickly, wrapping my arms around him. I saw the look he threw at Dylan as I settled onto the bike. He looked like a bull about to charge.
So did Dylan. He took a step towards us as I willed him to stay where he was.
Maxim looked back at me and smiled seductively. “Hold on tight, Princess.” I groaned. Of course, he had to make things worse. He was totally acting like he was my freaking boyfriend or something.
Like I could handle two.
Dylan threw his beer on the ground and started towards us.
“Go.” I pushed Maxim’s shoulder. “Hurry.”
Maxim tore off into the night.
Chapter 21
My arms were loosely wrapped around Maxim’s slim waist. I didn’t want to be holding him like this. Even if he did smell good. He felt even better.
What was wrong with me?
I should not be thinking these thoughts. Not about Maxim of all people. Not when I was with Dylan.
Plus, I was really pissed at him.
“Pull over.”
I knew he could hear me. No human could, not over the roar of the engine. But any of our kind could pick up the sound of a pin dropping at a rock concert. Our senses were finely tuned and exquisitely sensitive. It was kind of annoying sometimes, but I’d learned to mute some things, while focusing on others.
Right now, I was too pissed to bother, letting the roar of the engine fill my mind. It helped block out the relentless guilt and worry.
Maxim pulled over. I yanked my helmet off and stood on the side of the road, glaring at him.
“That was out of line! You know that, Maxim?”
“My most sincere apologies, Your Highness.” He grinned cheekily. “But I couldn’t help myself.”
I grit my teeth in frustration.
“Well, you better learn how. I’m not a piece of meat for you to fight over.”
His eyes darkened and he stared at me with unwavering intensity.
“I never said you were.” He swallowed and looked away. “It bothered me. Seeing his hands all over you like that.”
“Yeah, well he did that for your benefit! So, I got mauled by my normally sweet boyfriend because of you.”
“I’m sorry.”
I crossed my arms, refusing to look at him.
“So, this human is your boyfriend now.”
“Yes.”
“You lay down with him?”
“What?”
“Make love. You have sex with him?”
“Ew!” I bristled. “First of all, that is none of your business Maxim! Second of all— just, no.”
He brightened.
“You are a virgin.”
“What?”
He grinned at me stupidly.
“This is good. No human scum is good enough for you.”
“Who I decide to eventually do those things with is not your concern.”
“Yes, it is, Princess.” He stood from the bike. “What if you fall pregnant? The next Royal heir could be three quarters human, with little Vampire blood. Your choice impacts the future of our entire race.”
I stared at him. I hadn’t thought of it that way. It made me uncomfortable. There was no way I was going to be bred like a cow, or a pedigreed dog.
“Well, it doesn’t matter. It’s not happening. I’m in high school. There are no—” I waved my hand around in the air, gesturing to cover my embarrassment. “Heirs being born anytime soon.”
His face was serious as he looked at me. He looked hungry, almost like he wanted to bite me. Or kiss me. Or more.
He certainly did not seem the least bit uncomfortable talking about sexual intimacy.
I realized suddenly that he’d probably done it hundreds of times. With dozens of women, or more. I frowned, some of the heat gone from my anger.
I touched my throat, realizing my thirst was back. It burned, almost taking my breath away.
“He did that to you.”
“What?”
“The hunger. It’s always worse when you are aroused.”
I stared at him, my mouth open. When Dylan kissed me, it made me want… blood? I snapped my mouth closed.
It made sense. Every time I was close to him, I’d been hungry. And after all these weeks, well, I’d been needing far more blood than usual.
Of course, Maxim talking about such intimate subjects was adding to my discomfort. And potentially increasing, my, um, arousal. I groaned, not wanting to talk about that.
Not now. Not ever.
Maxim held out the helmet and smiled.
“Come, let me make it up to you.”
I tossed my head. His accent was annoyingly charming, damn him.
“How?”
“I’ll take you hunting.” His smile widened, revealing his fangs. He hadn’t bothered to bring them in. “Fresh human blood is the only thing that will help.”
I’d never been hunting. Only a handful of times had Caleb brought me a living person to drink, though only when we were on the move. A sip of a tired waitress in a seedy hotel room wasn’t exactly the greatest moment of my life.
And that had been before I’d felt any of these things. Before my power awoken. Before Dylan.
I nodded and took the helmet, feeling reckless. I was hungry. And Maxim was offering.
I wanted to play.
“Why not?”
Chapter 22
“Want a drink?”
I nodded and Maxim ordered us two shots of tequila. I stared at him in shock. He’s certainly not worried about the rules now. I took the small glass of liquid and cocked my head to the side.
“The high alcohol content makes it sanitary.” He laughed softly. “Well, mostly. You aren’t worried about getting dirty, are you Princess?”
Maxim’s lips nearly brushed my neck as he whispered to me. I felt a shiver and realized what he was doing. He was trying to arouse me.
So I would enjoy the hunt more.
I should have scolded him for calling me Princess. It sounded like a term of endearment, but it was still risky for him to call me that in public. Instead I gave him a bold look and tilted my head back, letting the liquid slide down my throat.
Maxim was trouble, there’s no doubt.
But so was I.
“What now?”
“We can keep drinking until we find prey. Or we can let the prey find us.”
“What do you mean?”
“A pretty little thing like you, wandering around out back by herself.” He smiled and leaned in closer, brushing my hair over my shoulder. “Imagine what could happen with all these big, bad men around.”
I gasped, realizing he meant that I could use myself
as bait. He was right. They couldn’t hurt me. Not unless they literally staked me through the heart. As far as I knew, I was as indestructible as him. Maybe more so.
Not that I wanted to put it to the test.
But this… this appealed to my feminist nature. Anyone who would attack a woman deserved to get drained. I felt excitement start pulsing through my veins.
“Okay.”
Maxim’s smile widened and his hand brushed my back. He’d been too familiar since the moment we met, but for once I didn’t seem to mind it. At least, not right now. I felt warm and loose.
I was ready.
Meanwhile the tickle in my throat has risen to a roar of hunger. Of need.
“Do we… finish them?”
Maxim pursed his lips.
“I don’t think that would be wise.” He bowed his head slightly. “But I leave the choice to you.”
I nodded and pushed away from the bar, tugging my skirt like I was drunk. It was insane that the bouncers let me in and served me, but they had. Maxim didn’t even have to glamour them.
I wobbled a bit, and giggled, waving to Maxim as I tottered towards the back of the bar. I skipped the turn leading to the ladies’ bathroom and went straight down the hallway to the back. I pushed open the door. A few people were standing around smoking and leaning on picnic tables.
Beyond that, it was pitch black.
Perfect.
I stepped uncertainly towards the darkness of the parking lot. It didn’t take long for me to feel the two men come up behind me.
“Hey, there. Where you going sweetheart?”
“I wanted some air. Do you know where the ladies' room is?”
A biker was staring at me like I was a steak. I smiled to myself. Little did he know that he was about to be my dinner.
“You old enough to be in here, sweetie?”
“Who cares?” Another biker grabbed his crotch and sneered. “Lord knows I like a redhead.”
“I’m looking for my friend.”
I looked uncertain, giving him a chance not to be a disgusting pig. If either one of them offered to call me a cab I would let them go without a bite. Even if they just walked away or pointed me towards the ladies’ room.
No such luck.
“I’ll be your friend, angel.”
He reached for me but I skipped away. I darted under his arm, faster than the human eye could see. He looked around and saw me standing a few feet away. He peered at me stupidly, rubbing his eyes.
“I don’t think so.” I crossed my arms over my chest, dropping the drunk and helpless act. “I have enough friends.”
I caught sight of a familiar shape moving rapidly towards us in the dark. I smiled. Maxim was right on time.
“I think we should teach these guys some manners, don’t you?”
Maxim was standing behind the first biker, a blond with greasy looking hair. Mine looked greasy too. I wrinkled my nose, darting behind him in an instant. He turned, his eyes wide.
“What the—?”
I almost didn’t want his blood. He was drunk and a creep, but as soon as I stepped close, the smell overwhelmed me.
He might be gross, but he was also young and strong and healthy. His heart was pumping and his skin was smooth and juicy. And I knew his blood would be sweet.
“Alright, Princess. Let’s have some fun.”
I stared into the man’s eyes and whispered.
“Don’t move. Don’t make a sound. But the next time you want to hurt a woman, remember this feeling.”
“Tell him to wet his pants.”
I laughed and nodded. Maxim was turning out to be a lot more fun than I’d imagined. My fangs descended and the biker saw it. But he couldn’t move, or speak. He could only quake in fear.
“If you ever want to force yourself on anyone again, if you even think about it, you will pee on yourself.”
His pupils widened in response and I knew he would obey me. I leapt up, my feet on his stomach as I latched onto his throat. Blood splashed into my mouth, pulsing fast and strong the second my teeth pierced his skin.
The blood was salty and warm and alive. It quenched the fire in my throat as I sucked, taking the man’s life force inside me. I felt lit up, all my cells plumping up and tingling with pleasure.
“You must stop now, Princess.” I closed my eyes, unwilling to stop. But Maxim’s voice continued. “Unless you want to finish him.”
I tore my mouth away, letting the biker stagger to his knees. I ignored him, staring at the night sky. The stars seemed brighter, the space between them deeper.
I smelled another meal and spun to see Maxim waiting patiently with the other biker.
“I saved him for you.”
I stared hungrily at the blond, then shook my head.
“Please, you should feed.”
Maxim smiled and sank his teeth into the biker. He paused and told the man to lift his arm, exposing his wrist. I stared at the tender skin there.
“We will drink together.”
I grasped his arm and pushed down with my teeth. The taste was different this time, almost sweeter. I realized the man had been drunk on something sugary and that I was tasting it. Maybe brandy.
Or schnapps.
He was even drunker than the other one.
I wobbled a bit, realizing I felt drunk now too. I stifled a giddy laugh as I lifted my head. Maxim finished with me, his eyes on mine as he wiped his mouth and smiled.
He grasped each biker once and whispered four words.
“Go home. Sleep. Forget.”
Chapter 23
The wind blew through my hair, making it wave behind me like a bright
red banner. I hadn’t bothered with the helmet this time. I was immortal and right now, I could feel it in every single cell of my body.
I tipped my head back and stretched my arms, holding onto the bike with only my legs. It was perfect. The thrum of the engine, the speed, even the man in front of me.
I was alive and wild and free.
I felt glorious.
Max slowed the bike and shouted over his shoulder.
“Hold on, Princess!”
I did as he asked, wrapping my arms around him again. He picked up speed again and I rested my cheek against his leather-clad back. I felt so close to him now. As if sharing the blood had bonded us.
He was giving off delicious warmth, something that only happened briefly for his kind. Immediately after feeding, a vamp was most lifelike. Their cheeks flushed and their skin was warm to the touch.
I wondered how long this glorious heat would last in my veins.
We rode towards home. I wasn’t familiar with this part of town, but I was fairly certain he took the scenic route. I was glad. I wanted to enjoy every second of this heady feeling.
When we pulled up to the house it was late. Later than I’d realized. I knew from the look on Caleb’s face as he stood on the porch, fuming.
Bernard shook his head at me as I climbed off the bike. Suddenly, I felt my bravado waver. They looked upset with me. Disappointed.
Again.
“You took her hunting? Near here?” Caleb’s voice was a harsh whisper. “I can smell the blood on you both.”
Oh, they were mad at him. Maxim shrugged, totally unconcerned.
“She needed to feed. Unless you wanted her tearing her young friends to shreds.”
I followed him inside, leaving my guardians on the porch. I dropped to the couch, closing my eyes. The heat was still inside me, along with a healthy dose of the alcohol the bikers had consumed.
Something else thrummed through my body too. A drug. The biker had been high, I suspected. I let myself float, relishing the feeling.
It’s not like I was going to get hooked on biker blood. Still, I realized why the older Vampires hunted in bars. It was easier to deal with a human who was already confused by booze.
And you got a buzz from it too.
“Sasha!”
Bernard hissed at me and I opened
my eyes. I blinked in surprise. There was a flat surface in front of my face with cracked paint. I had floated up to the ceiling.
“Get down here, right now! What if he sees you?”
‘He’ being Maxim, who was getting his ass handed to him by Caleb in the dining room. I focused my mind and dropped easily to the couch, just as Maxim stormed through the room.
He bowed to me, giving me a tight smile.
“Until next time, Highness.”
“You’re leaving?”
“I must.”
“Okay. Well, thanks.”
He smiled suddenly and I saw his teeth were retracted. He looked so human in that moment, with his flushed face and gorgeous smile.
“It was my pleasure, Princess.”
I waved and he left, the bike roaring to life a second later. He peeled off. The three of us sat in silence until the sound had faded completely.
Bernard crossed his arms and looked at me.
“Tell him what just happened.”
“I, uh, levitated?”
Caleb cursed and exchanged a glance with Bernard. I got that the floating thing was weird, but was it bad? At least I hadn’t been outdoors or something.
Or in school.
Hmmm, maybe it was that bad. If I had been anywhere else I might have floated up to the stars for all I knew.
“She might be able to control it. What if she can fly?”
“No one can fly. It’s impossible.”
I closed my eyes again, too relaxed to care. I listened dreamily as they argued around me. I cracked an eye. Caleb was pacing and Bernard looked incredibly upset.
“We must make a plan. Perhaps this has all been a mistake.”
That got my attention.
“What?”
“Attending school at an age so close to your majority. If you reveal yourself in front of others before you learn to properly control your powers, it might be impossible to hide.”
I sat up a little, realizing my little adventure might have been worse than I thought. If they made me leave school…
“No. I’m not— I’m not going into hiding like a damn mole person.”
He crossed his arms and gave me a hard look.
“Is that all that’s been happening, Princess?”
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