Dune grabbed my shoulders, Fin grabbing a chair, and I was pushed down into it. “Have you been eating sugar?” Dune asked seriously. I sent him a toothy smile.
“Yes, well, maybe.“I tilted my head to the side. “What was the question?” I I asked, and
River laughed.
A girly giggle was the only warning I got before Kayla walked in. “The guests
be
here any
minute! Isn’t this exciting?”
My giddy mood deflated at the doorbell rang, Kayla bouncing off to get it. Fin knelt down and grabbed my cheek, pulling on it lightly. I met his gaze and he smiled.
“Hey, if you’re that worried, just stick with one of us for the evening, it will be over before you know it, okay?” I nodded and reached for his hand, taking it tightly as I heard the laughter of strangers.
I have a gut feeling, but Fin is right, if I stay with them, I’ll be fine. Fin pulled
me
to the living room, and I was quickly swarmed, much to my dismay.
“You’re smaller than I thought you were,” one commented.
“What’s it like living with vampires?” Another questioned.
“She’s so pretty!” A girl praised.
“Fin,” I called his name, holding his hand tighter, anxious. I hid my face in his chest, frowning.
“You’re making her nervous, back off,” Kayla scolded, and thankfully they obeyed.
I sighed in relief, making Fin laugh. I glared up at him, and he raised his hands. I grimaced as the entire house seemed to be filled with people in a single moment.
Kayla seemed to be a social butterfly, everyone charmed by her kind words and smiles. Fin tried to entertain me, but I quickly grew bored and tired, wishing I could just go to bed.
At one point, I went to the bathroom, and lost the vampire in the thick crowd. My fingers sank into my hair, pulling it lightly in agitation.
I slid past someone and swore my heart stopped when a hand landed on my shoulder. “Raven,” I slowly turned and looked at Nicholas.
“What do you want?” I reached up and shoved off his hand. Nicholas swallowed.
“I understand why you’re mad, but all I ask, is that you give me a chance to explain myself?” I looked at those green eyes and found myself nodding.
“Fine, give me one good reason why you’re an ass?” I said coldly, but Nicholas laughed and looked at me with admiration.
“Raven, you are such a special girl,” he told me kindly and glanced around the tightly packed living room. “Maybe tomorrow or late this evening would be better, this isn’t a good time, or do you disagree?”
I relaxed a little. “Tomorrow or tonight,” I agreed, shoulders sagging a little. “I’m sorry,” I grumbled, knowing I had a habit of being unreasonable.
The way Nicholas looked at me, like I was his world, had a flush coming to my cheeks. “It’s fine, I should find River, I need to apologize,”
I looked at him in wonder. “Vampires can apologize?”
Nicholas laughed and gave my head a gentle pat. Yes, we can,” he looked at me once last time before he moved out of the room in search of my
guardian.
50 ==
I went into the kitchen, making myself a snack as Kayla cleared off a few dirty plates. “Rayen, could you get Cross for me? I don’t know where he put the light blue napkins,”
I nodded and wiped my mouth. “Sure, where’s he at?”
Kayla looked thoughtful. “Oh! He’s up in the linen closet grabbing towels for me,”
I wrinkled my nose. My family is not your personal maid service. Although, the thought of Cross in a maid outfit was strangely hot, even if I knew he
would never wear one.
YI AT 1 Dading Taal Vampire Lord
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Chapter 44
I stifled a giggle and slowly climbed up the stairs to the darker upper level. I opened the linen closet, fully expecting to see a scowling vampire, but was met with cold air.
I huffed and closed the closet, walking a little ways down a black hallway, knocking on Cross’s bedroom door. “Cross, are you in there? Queen Kayla demands her blue napkins,” I called and sighed in annoyance, realizing he was probably in the maze like crowd.
A hand suddenly slid over my lips, and I stumbled back as the person pulled be backwards. I reached back, stunned, trying to scream through the hand, but it was far too muffled to be overheard by the loud party downstairs.
When my hands failed to pull them off, or harm the male in any way, I began to panic. In my utter desperation, I grabbed one of River’s many decorative but breakable pots and vases, and smashed it against the wall, holding a fragment in my hand.
I didn’t cut the man, but instead sliced my palm, screaming and feeling blood spring out of the sudden deep wound.
The man let me go, and I dropped to my knees, hardly hearing the footsteps before one of the vampires I lived with was in front of me.
Even if they couldn’t hear over all the commotion below, I had no doubt in my mind, I knew they would smell my blood.
Cross looked at me with wide eyes, River behind him, the others gathering on the stairs. My lips twisted, and I held my hand against my chest, shaking uncontrollably.
Chapter 45
