“How much?”
“Nah, you don’t. I just like messing with you.”
“You can’t like messing with her that much if you already turned her,” Melissa muttered.“Hey, Nate,” she called the bartender back,“what do you think of his bind?She’s already a vamp and they’ve only been bound for what, like a week and a half or something?”
“How’d you know that?”I asked.
“Word gets around. Have you guys officially met yet?”
“No. I’m Nate.”He extended a hand.
“Mina.”I shook his hand.
“Interesting.”Melissa tilted her head.“I heard your name is Emery.”
“And I’m not talking to you, so how about you mind your own business?”I matched her condescending tone before turning back to Nate.“It’s Mina.”
“We’ll be friends eventually,”she said. It was weird. She wasn’t even being sarcastic.“As I was saying, he changed her fast as hell. There must be something special going on, don’t you think?”
“It’s not really my place to say.”Nate glanced between us all as I took a swig of my drink.
“He’s right. It’s not,” Dennis said.
“Uh, it kinda is with how obvious you make it. We all know binds are just for fun or a backup, but you seemprettyattached. You must really care.” Melissa gave a patronizing smile. “It’s almost sweet.”
“Wait, so people usually don’t turn their binds?”I asked.
“Ha!No. Most vamps aren’t even nice to them.”She laughed and glanced at Dennis, whose stare wasn’t blank anymore. Her laughter faltered and died.“I mean, not usually. Or not right away. It’s rare but it happens.” Her eyes lingered on him for several seconds before she slid from the stool andwalked away.
“You really don’t like her, huh?”I sipped my drink as Nate left to help someone else.
“Can’t stand her,”Dennissaid.I laughed and almost responded butfroze when I spotted anotherfamiliar faceapproaching.“What’s wrong?”His voice changed from indifferent to concerned.
I didn’t bother to answer since the menace was fast approaching.
“Hey,D.”Kiro grinned as he came to a stop.“No hard feelings, right?”
“Are you shitting me?”I cut in before Dennis could answer.“You broke my ankle for no goddamn reason!First of all, yes, there are fucking hard feelings, and second, why are you apologizing to him and not tome? I’m the one you attacked!”
“I mean…” Kiro gestured toward my outfit, as if that were some type of answer.
“Excuseme?” I stood but Dennis was already between us.
“Touch her again, and I swear to every god there is,I’ll skin you alive. You know I’ve done it before. I have no problem doing it again.”
“I know you’ve killed for her before. You killed Stephen because of her and that other girl. Airy, is it?” Kiro laughed at my minuscule reaction.“But I doubt you cared about that one.”He took in the way Dennis was standing in front of me.“You’re a bit overprotective, aren’t you? I probably would be, too. I’d love to have your bind.”
I grabbed Dennis’ arm as he stepped forward.Our eyes caught for a second and I quickly let go. Maybe this wasn’t something to get between.
“Lighten up, D. No harm done, right?”Kiro winked at me, then backed away when Dennis moved. “I was kidding—” He stumbled over a stool in his haste to put space between them. “Unless, of course, I’m not.” He laughed. The shit-eating grin was back.
“Let’s go.” Dennis reached back for my hand.
“Why’re you leaving so soon? I just got here.”Kirosmiled as I shot him a glare. “Seriously, relax. I’m not gonna kill her, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
Dennispractically yanked me away—I was barely able to chug my drink in time with how fast he was moving.I could tell by the feelings rushing through me—his feelings, somehow—that he was using every ounce of self-controlto suppress the urge to kill.It wasn’t until we were out the door and far from Kiro’s sight that he let go ofmy hand.
Guidelines
