“What?” I tried to pull away, aware that more than a few people were watching. Right now, I would give anything for a distraction. She couldn’t know that he’d bitten me, and, even if she did, why would it matter?
“I smell–”
A scream cut her off, followed by several more shouts. I turned and found myself face to face with horror. Figures dressed in black filled every staircase and began grabbing vampires. I spotted a red slash across the breast of one of the attackers just as he grabbed a vampire woman and shoved a stake through her heart.
It wasn’t like in the movies. Vampires bled. Her blood gushed over her evening gown, her dark skin going ashen as she bled out. Then, she went totally still. The man threw her on the ground and lunged for another vampire.
And then all hell broke loose.
I don’t know if I screamed because those around me drowned my cries. Within seconds there were more attackers clashing with vampires.
“Get her away from here,” Dominic ordered, shoving me toward Sabine. He moved toward the chaos. Sabine gripped my arm and dragged me away.
“We have to help them,” I shouted at her.
“You don’t stand a chance against them,” she yelled at me as I fought her. “Those are vampires.”
“But the men in black…”
“Are vampires,” she repeated, yanking me along. “I can’t believe this day has finally come. This is why you shouldn’t be here. The bloodlines need to be strengthened, so we can fight these monsters. Instead, I’m babysitting you.”
I wrenched free of her hold. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
We regarded each other for a minute, and then I tipped my head adding an unspoken request. Go.
She could fight. I couldn’t. She was needed there. I wasn’t.
“Run,” she snarled, then launched herself toward the fray.
I looked around for a weapon but found nothing. I doubted I could even pick up one of the antique candelabras.
But Sabine hadn’t delivered me to safety. She’d herded me away from the pack. A vampire in black saw me and started toward me. His hand tightened on the stake he held. It probably didn’t matter if I was a vampire or not. A stake through the heart would kill me.
I ran toward our box, praying Julian was inside, but it was empty. Shoving at the door, I tried to hold it against the attack, but I wasn’t strong enough. Just as Sabine had said. The vampire pushed open the door, knocking me to the ground in the process.
“Carpe Noctem!” he called as he lifted the stake.
“I’m human!” It was the only card I had. But it wasn’t enough to save me. It only changed the game.
“A human?” he crowed, standing over me. “Someone brought a snack. Let’s remind them what humans are meant for.”
I cried out as he grabbed me and lifted me to my feet.
“You don’t belong here, but you knew that.” His eyes were entirely black, and I knew nothing could save me now. “You belong on a dinner plate.”
He dropped his face to my neck, and I braced myself for pain.
None came.
Instead, I crumbled to the floor. Looking up, I saw my attacker’s body sway and then topple toward me. Headless.
Before he fell on me, strong arms lifted me from the ground and rushed me away. I buried myself against Julian’s chest, soaking up the safety I felt in his embrace. Yes, I still trusted him. No matter what he’d done. No matter how he felt about it. I knew he’d never be able to hurt me. I had just faced a monster with no man inside. Julian wasn’t a monster. No matter what he thought.
But when we reached an emergency exit, he stopped.
“Take her to my house and make sure no one gets in,” he ordered someone.
I clung to him as he tried to pass me off.
“It’s okay,” he coaxed me. “Sebastian is going to get you out of here.”
“I’m not leaving without you.” I protested while he placed me on my feet. “If you’re going back in there, I am, too.”
“You are so brave, pet. It is the first thing that I loved about you.” He grabbed me and yanked me hard against his body. His lips crushed against mine, and a sweet taste flooded my mouth.
Venom.
This time it wasn’t an accident. Venom flowed through me, and a fuzzy lightness overtook my brain. Julian released me into his brother’s waiting arms.
“She is going to be pissed at you.” Sebastian sounded a million miles away.
“I don’t care as long as she’s alive,” Julian barked. I tried to move toward the sound of his voice, but Sebastian kept hold of me.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Sebastian told him, “like get killed.”
Killed.
In my foggy brain, I remembered a hard lesson. Vampires could die. I’d just watch one die in front of me. Julian turned to go back to the attack.
