I quickly finish busing the standing tables and I move on to the booths that line the club. I pull aside the curtains of the first one on the right.
But this booth is occupied. I freeze, staring at the eldest of Tudor’s progeny, her fangs deep in the neck of a woman seated on her lap. A thin trail of blood travels down the woman’s collarbone and chest. The woman’s dress is undone and her round, full breasts are exposed. The vampire holds one in each hand, playing with her nipples. I feel mine harden in response, an instinct I wish I could override. I should have worn a bra today. The vampire’s eyes dart toward me, and travel across my thin silk shirt.
My breath catches in my throat as her eyes rise to meet mine. I swallow thickly, unable to break her gaze. I steel myself against an enchantment, but I don’t sense any magic being worked on me. Still, I find myself completely captivated. The woman moans, and there’s a powerful flutter in my stomach. What must it be like, to allow a vampire to drink from you?
Amara, what are you doing!?
I snap myself out of my trance and stumble backward, pulling the thick curtain back to conceal its occupants once more. On shaky legs, I return to the bar, where a line of guests has started to form. The other bartender shoots me an irritated look. I realize I left my tray on the table of the booth, but it’s too late to go back for it. And there’s nowayI’m going anywhere near that vampire again.
I’m slightly flustered, so I chew a mint leaf to center myself. As I begin pouring drinks, I feel a bit calmer.
The music gets a little louder as the night progresses and the lights grow dimmer. I only have a few hours left in my shift.
“I’m going out for a smoke,” says the other bartender, opening the hinged counter door of the bar before I can even respond.
“Fine, I’ll cover it,” I sigh, taking a wine glass from the shelf to polish it.
“Need any help?”
The voice is low and smooth, like a coffin lid shutting closed. It’s Celine, seated on a barstool, surveying me through her heavy-lidded eyes. How are vampires soquiet? I didn’t even sense her in my peripheral vision.
“No, I’m all right,” I reply.
She smiles at me. She wears a tight, long-sleeved lace shirt, with nothing underneath. It takes all of my mental effort to keep my eyes from the gentle curve of her waist…
“I can ask another bartender to step in,” she says, her eyes glinting purple. I don’t know if it’s the neon lights, or an ethereal power, reflected in them. “If you’d like to…”
“No, thank you,” I reply brusquely, setting down the polished glass on the shelf sharply, almost breaking the stem.
Her fangs protrude slightly from her gums, her lips curving. “I just thought, from the way you looked at me, that you might be interested…”
My heart almost stops. “Definitelynot.I’m just doing my job, that’s all.”
“Suit yourself,” she says casually, watching as I pick up another glass with a quivering hand.
What iswrongwith me? I’m usually so good under pressure. I took down the whole Arundel wolf shifter pack almost single-handedly. I’ve fought evil witches, dragon shifters…but this vampirelookingat me is turning my legs to jelly.
She leans forward over the bar. “Can I ask you a question?”
“You can do whatever you want.”
“What are you doing working at a vampire club, if you don’t like vampires?”
I glare at her. Why are there no customers around? There were lines of people before, but now the bar is totally empty. Everyone givesCeline Côté a wide berth. Nobody wants to interrupt us. I find myself annoyed at her arrogance, at her unquestionable power.
“I need the job. Not like you would understand that.”
“You would be surprised what I understand.”
She’s so still. Like a sculpture made of ice. All of the hair on my arms stands up.
Lavinia would be so upset if she knew I was blowing this opportunity to get close to one of Tudor’s progeny. But I can’t do it. Despite the butterflies in my stomach and the strange, warm ache in my core…I can’t do it. I hate vampires. And I won’t let myself become enchanted by this one. Not even for my coven.
“I have to get back to work,” I snap, turning to the other side of the bar.
THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME
Amara
