Jarin’s face paled at Warrick’s words, and I became keenly aware of the threat behind me. Moving slowly, I pulled the blades from Jarin’s throat, then I pivoted as I stepped back, making sure that both monsters were in my line of sight.
Sheathing my blades, I gave Warrick an easy smile. “Jarin seems to think all females exist only to serve his needs. I was merely trying to educate him on the matter, but I appreciate your offer. I’m sure a respected monster like yourself has a greater chance at getting the message across.” All right, so I wasn’t the best at flattery, but at least I wasn’t lying about Jarin being a disgusting male specimen. I just hoped Warrick believed Jarin’s wandering hands were the only reason I’d had my blades to the demon’s throat.
Warrick tilted his head, watching me carefully as he gave me a slow nod, but the vampire didn’t say anything else.
Well, that’s creepy.“Uh, I’ll be leaving now, then,” I said awkwardly and backed away from the pair of them.
Warrick continued to stare at me intensely, his black eyes watching me until I had walked away and was again bathed in the blue light of the ballroom. I skirted around monsters and high tables until smoke drifted past, and I was sure the vampire could no longer see me. Letting out a shaky breath, I thought about making my way back to the rooms but decided it would look too suspicious if I left immediately. So instead, I found an empty chaise lounge that was far from where Jarin and Warrick had been, and I dropped onto the soft furniture.
Now that I was alone, I became more aware of the wild pounding of my heart and sweat coating my palms. I thought of the fear that had crept into Jarin’s eyes the moment he’d spotted Warrick.Why is he so afraid of the vampire?
I wondered then whether Warrick had heard the questions I’d been asking Jarin. If he had…Realization crashed down on me, and my heart began racing faster.Did Jarin refuse to speak because he was worried Warrick would hear him? Does Warrick know what happened to my sister?I was only guessing, but my stomach roiled at the thought that Warrick might have had his hands on Cara. Dark thoughts entered my mind, but I pushed them away. If I thought like that, I’d never find her.
There are thousands of monsters in the city, possibly hundreds of thousands, and they can’t all attend the Week of Orash. Even if Warrick does know something about her location, it doesn’t mean she’s dead,I consoled myself.
Goddess, I needed something. Something that would help me survive the nightmare I was in. A satyr approached me with a tray of goblets balanced on one hand, and I lifted as I gratefully took two of them. Fizzy pink liquid almost sloshed over the sides of the goblets as I sat back down, and I downed the contents of one goblet and then the other.
Placing the empty goblets on a side table, I stood as I contemplated hunting the satyr down for a third, but a hand grabbed my arm and swung me around. Instinctively, I bent and grabbed a goblet with the intention of throwing it at my attacker’s face, but Locke’s smooth voice had my body relaxing, despite the words that came from his mouth.
“What are you doing here?” Locke asked harshly. His onyx eyes burned with anger as he peered around us like he was ready to maim any monster within my vicinity.
The bond between us hummed at the contact of his fingers on my arm, but I ignored it as I held up the empty goblet and forced myself to grin. “Asher said this place becomes quite the party as the night wears on. I wanted to see it for myself.”
Suspicion shone in Locke’s gaze, and I felt the need to really sell the lie.
Not too far away, two monsters with silky blue skin were enjoying each other’s company, and I gestured to them with my head. The male’s muscles flexed as he rutted into the female from behind, and I curved my lips into an appreciative smile. “I thought I could have as much fun as I want until I join a house?”
Locke’s gaze raked over the monsters, and his expression hardened as he released my arm. “It’s not safe for you here. Monsters are unpredictable, especially when they’ve been drinking or taking Silver Sand. I’m taking you back to the rooms.Now.”
“Well, you’re no fun,” I said, acting disappointed, but relief went through me as he led me from the ballroom. In truth, I wanted nothing more than to be away from the eyes of monsters. I hadn’t spotted Warrick or Jarin again, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched.
Locke walked me briskly down the tunnels that wound toward the rooms we stayed in, and we were halfway back when the two goblets of wine I’d consumed started making my head buzz. A giddy smile had climbed its way onto my face when Locke stopped abruptly and pushed me against the wall of the tunnel. The air rushed from my lungs as I let out an “oof.”Seriously, what is it with monsters and walls?I was going to have some bruises peppering my spine when the night was over.
“You don’t ever go to the parties by yourself,” Locke ground out. “Do you think this is some sort of a game?” Fury twisted his serious features, but I was finding it hard to keep a straight face. I wasn’t sure if I should have been annoyed at myself for being stupid enough to down two goblets of wine when I was so vulnerable or if I should have been glad because it made tolerating Locke’s intensity way more bearable.I’m going to go with “glad” right now.
It crossed my mind that it wasn’t long ago that Jarin had pressed my back to a wall, but this was nothing like it had been with Jarin. There was something about Locke that made me feel safe when I was with him. The bond between us made me want to pull him closer, and my hands felt useless at my sides. Still, I managed to glare at the vampire.
“Get your hands off me, Locke. If I want to have fun while I’m still not tied to one of your damn houses, I will.” I couldn’t tell Locke about my plans to find Cara. Now that I suspected his father knew about her whereabouts, it was just another reason for me not to trust him. For all I knew, he was part of whatever had happened.
I had expected Locke to threaten me and give me some lecture about how until he found a way to break the bond between us, I had to lie low, but instead, a cold hand slid up between my thighs, and I sucked in a sharp breath. A slight smile lifted Locke’s lips as he brushed his fingers over my daggers, then he ran his fingers along my panties, pressing the fabric against my sensitive spot.
“I thought Kade, Asher, And Darian were giving you all the ‘fun’ you needed,” he said against my ear. His cool breath tickled my skin, sending a pleasant shiver through me, and the faintest hint of longing sounded in his voice.
Pretending I didn’t know what he was talking about, I said, “As much as I love to train, it’s not quite—” I didn’t finish. My words caught in my throat as Locke pulled my panties to the side and slid two fingers up and down my center. He stroked through the wetness between my thighs as if he was savoring the feel of me, and my lips parted in surprise as need uncoiled in my belly.
I swallowed hard and shifted my back against the wall as his fingers circled my clit, teasing me slowly as if he had all the time in the world. Gritting my teeth, I stopped myself from begging him to give me more.
He smirked down at me. “If you need something, human, you ask us. No one else.” His face grew serious then, his brows lowering as he got right in my face. “Do you understand?”
Opening my mouth, I went to protest because, you know, fuck orders, but he trailed his fingers lower, sliding the tip of one of them into me, and I nodded instead. “Yes,” I breathed.
“What was that?” he asked as he continued to tease my entrance.
“Yes,” I said, louder this time. “I’ll ask you guys if I need something.”
He teased me for a moment longer, his black eyes fixed on my face as if he didn’t quite believe me, but then he said, “Good.” Pushing his finger into me, he slid it in as far as he could before pulling it back out. My breath hitched at the sudden sensation of him moving it in and out of me, and my back arched against the wall, my hands stretching out and my fingers pressing against the cool rock.
Locke braced himself against the wall with a hand above my head, and his nose dipped to the curve of my neck, his cold lips brushing against my skin. He moved his slick finger faster inside me, and I bit my lip to keep from moaning.Oh fuck.I wanted more. So much more, and I cursed the stupid bond that was between us. It had to be the reason I wanted him so badly.
