“All the fancy evil names were taken at my birth,” was his dead pan reply.
I shook my head. “Sorry. Guess that was rude of me.”
“Don’t apologize. I get that reaction quite a bit. You wouldn’t believe how it’s affected my dating life. My last companion insisted on calling me Azatomic to make me sound fiercer when she introduced me to people.”
“Is that why you broke up?”
“Not exactly. She cheated on me with a demon.”
“Ouch.”
“Well, it didn’t turn out well for her because he ended up sacrificing her in a ritual.”
I didn’t even know what to reply because he seemed nonplussed about it all.
“Who is this yummy new fledgling?” a new voice asked.
A quick turn of my head showed a blond Ken doll. Six foot-ish, ripped—and yes, I could admire his abs, seeing as he wore only a sparkly sarong—chiseled features, and wings jutting from his back. Dark, and leathery appearing. Demon? He seemed too pretty to be an evil monster from Hell.
“This is Skylar,” Tom introduced me. “First time out in public. Skylar, this is Belial.”
“Sophia has outdone herself with this year’s entertainment,” Belial stated as he made no bones about the fact he stared at me. “She knows I like my vampires fresh.”
“I’m here as a guest,” I squeaked, not liking the hungry look in his eyes one bit.
“Really? Seeing how Sophia usually can’t be bothered with fledglings, that means someone brought you.” Belial stated. “Who’s your maker?”
“Cillian.”
I might as well have said the devil—or maybe God, in this case—because both men, er cryptids, recoiled.
“You’re Cillian’s fledgling?” Tom clarified.
I nodded.
“Shit. I didn’t know.” Tom withdrew as if I’d suddenly turned contagious.
“She should wear a sign,” Belial grumbled as he strode away with Tom.
So much for making friends.
Chapter Ten
It would seem my maker had quite the reputation. While I was approached on several occasions by flirtatious males—of the non-human variety—the moment they heard Cillian’s name, they couldn’t flee my presence fast enough.
As for the females… their reaction proved slightly different. A few introduced themselves, and seemed quite nice, even friendly. Then when they heard I was with Cillian, they turned cold and they barely walked away before gossiping about me.
Why would he choose someone like her as his fledgling?
Given she’s only average looking, she must be able to suck a golf ball through a hose.
He must have been desperate to have chosen someone so awkward.
Nothing like hearing people dissect you when you’re feeling your most attractive to make you suddenly lose all confidence. It didn’t help I couldn’t spot Cillian. The crowded room and my short ass—even in heels—couldn’t see over or past the many bodies milling. It took me a while to thread my way from one end of the party room to the other, without spotting Cillian.
He’d abandoned me.
Maybe I should go back to the car. It wasn’t as if I enjoyed myself. So much for getting out of the house and meeting people. What a waste and mistake this turned out to be. A loser before, and a loser now.
