“You know vampires can hear you even if you whisper,” Monique muttered, a fake smile on her face as we passed a male she knew.
“Only if they are listening.” Josh straightened. “The music is too loud, and everyone is having too much fun to pay us any attention.”
“I’m pretty sure someone is listening,” Georgie grumbled, her top lip twisting in disgust.
I followed her gaze to the top floor. Rodney stood in a small group, staring directly at us. Or more specifically, at Georgie. He grazed his eyes from top to bottom over her fitted gold gown, devouring every inch of her curves, before coming to rest on her face.
Georgie dropped her head, her cheeks blushing under his appraisal.
“Eyes off,” I grated.
His lips curled in the corners so I knew he heard me, but he didn’t take his eyes off her. That was until Josh switched sides, blocking his view. Rodney turned back to his friends.
“I think he’s got the hots for you,” Josh said.
Georgie shuddered. “No, thank you. I prefer my men a little less psychotic-serial-killer type and a little more cinnamon-roll hero.”
I scanned the room. What if Karson didn’t come to the party? What if he did and he was furious I was here and ordered me straight home? He would march me out in front of everyone and not care one bit.
A vampire with spiky bleached blond hair and a nose ring that would rival a bull, audibly sniffed as I neared. The brown in his irises darkened to match the eyeliner that rimmed his eyes.
Josh tensed. My hand fell automatically to my hip and was met with emptiness.
“I wouldn’t if I were you,” Monique said with a clear undertone of warning.
“I love parties, don’t you?” Pixie swooped in and hooked her arm around mine, placing herself between the vampire and me. “Especially watching when a vampire is stupid enough to drink from the wrong human, they’re probably going to die … horribly.” Dressed in a pale pink gown and her dark hair flowing over shoulders, she looked like a doll. But when she slashed a grin at the vampire, her fangs glistened and she looked anything but.
The vampire’s gaze locked on my cleavage, specifically on the necklace Karson had gifted me; I had worn it ever since. His eyes widened and went back to normal as he stepped away quickly and crinkled his nose like I reeked. “You could at least disguise her scent.”
Monique had sprayed me with a vanilla perfume, but clearly, I needed something stronger. “Sorry.” I smiled sweetly. “I forgot to shower.”
The vampire turned his back on me.
“Someone doesn’t have a sense of humor,” Josh said. We all chuckled. Monique was too busy scanning the crowd.
“This is the last place I expected you to be,” Pixie said, pulling her arm out from mine. “I’m going to go ahead and assume Karson has no idea you’re out tonight?”
“Not exactly,” I murmured.
“Well, I’m sure you’re safe. If the rules and the consequences aren’t enough to deter any fools, there’s a number of Karson’s clan here. They will protect you.”
My eyes locked with Challis, who was leaning on a column off to the side. I smiled, but he didn’t smile back. No, he glowered. “Not all of them.”
“Don’t worry about Challis. I would say his bark is worse than his bite, but I’d be lying. Besides, I’m sure Karson’s is far worse.” She laughed, the sound bright and infectious, and I grinned.
“Not helping,” Josh said, scanning the crowd nervously. “Maybe we should take Amy home.”
“It’s going to be fine,” Monque said, swatting his arm.
“I value my life, so as much as I’d like to hang around and share a drink or six with you all.” Despite the warning, I could hear the smile in Pixie’s voice. “I might keep an eye on proceedings from a distance.”
“Coward,” Josh mumbled as she slipped away, hooking her arm through Challis’s and dragging him toward the dancefloor.
Through the crowd, I spotted Ethan, Michael, and Kenneth standing together by the bar, talking. But no Karson. Nerves fluttered in my stomach like a congregation of butterflies had just taken ecstasy. Not fear though. I wanted to laugh, to dance.
Ethan seemed to sense me staring. He glanced up and our eyes met. He looked like he’d been curated at the hands of the gods purely to please women, and he used it to his full advantage. I wouldn’t admit it to him, of course, but I had moments, like now, when I wasn’t immune to his charm. His full lips winged out and I returned the smile.
He met us halfway. “Ethan.” I swung my arms around his neck and kissed him exuberantly on the cheek.
