“Good.” He stepped back, tugging his tuxedo jacket to cover his somehow still pristine white shirt. “Look how beautiful you look in red,” he said, gesturing to the blood that was still wet across her skin. “If you had obeyed me, I wouldn’t have had to punish you, would I?”
“My Lord.” Floyd met her gaze for a brief second in the mirror before turning to Augustine. “We’re here.”
“Good.” Augustine rotated to face the doors. “Let us greet our guests.”
Panic tightened her muscles, but she turned just as the lift reached the seventy-fifth floor. Eva had always wanted to visit Revelations, the expensive restaurant reserved for the rich and famous. It was bitter that she was finally visiting as Augustine’s pet.
She had seen the place featured enough in magazines, but it still took her breath away when she stepped onto the plush carpet. Three of the four walls were made entirely of glass, giving the most astounding view of the city she adored. The bar was the showpiece in the large room, selkie mixologists creating artistic cocktails while an oversized crystal chandelier hung just above, glittering against the spotlights. The usual dining experience had been removed, leaving only poseur tables strategically placed around.
She was grateful when Augustine’s booming voice greeted everyone, distracting the curious glances she was trying to ignore. He demanded the room’s attention, his strides long as he made his way towards the furthest wall. Eva kept back, blending herself into the background, Floyd keeping close.
“My fellow Lords, how great of you all to attend the opening ceremony of the first of what I hope to be many special events. You are here because you have been invited, or because you have enough money.” He paused until the light laughter stopped, expertly responding to the audience. “In a few days the Pits, the most profitable gladiator fights on Earth Side will open once again. We will all put our differences aside, and enjoy one of the realm’s oldest entertainments, fought by only the fiercest of fighters. And don’t worry, there will be a few surprises thrown in there too.”
Eva tried to filter out the sounds of everyone in the room, heartbeats, shuffling of fabrics and tapping of fingers all blurring together as one white noise. It was hard to concentrate, the applause not helping her hear Augustine’s speech. Not that she cared what he had to say, not when all she needed to know was the location of the exits.
It took a few seconds, but she was finally able to filter out the sounds and focus on the palpable tension, thick enough to cut. Designer suits and thickly muscled men stood off in distinctive groups, flicking hostile glares between one another like disgruntled schoolchildren. There were very few women, the ones that did attend wore similar gowns to her own. Their faces were perfectly painted, smiles fake as they hung off the men wearing suits more expensive than her rent. There was only one woman Eva could see who didn’t seem to wear a gown, instead opting for tight jeans and a black t-shirt that showed off thickly muscles arms despite her slim frame. Her face seemed to be marked with a permanent scowl, eyes darkening when they scanned around and noticed her appraisal.
“Some of the most dangerous businessmen are in attendance tonight,” Floyd said to her quietly, his hand relaxed by his side, close to the gun she saw him place earlier. “I would watch your behaviour, you wouldn’t want to embarrass our Lord now, would you?” Floyd wore his sunglasses, despite it being night and the room being comfortably lit.
“I should say the same to you,” Eva replied just as quietly, conscious of who could overhear their conversation considering she still had no idea how to tell the difference between Breed. “Wouldn’t want Augustine’s authority to be questioned when his fledgling is being ordered by a simple lackey now, would we?”
Floyd stilled beside her, a distinctive rattle vibrating up his chest. It should of scared her, but right then she was beyond rational thought.
“What animal are you?” She knew it was rude to ask of a shifter, but found herself asking anyway.
She felt his hot gaze through his sunglasses. “Bear.”
That explained his size,she thought. “And why is a bear working for a vampire?”
“Because I get to eat disobedient little girls.”
“That’s a weird thing to say toyourLord’s fledgling.” Eva stepped to the side.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m going to go get a drink from the bar, and if you don’t want me to scream, I expect you to back off and go hover somewhere else. Trust me, I’ll do it. I’ll scream so loud the entire party will turn this way.”
Floyd’s hand snaked out to grab her wrist, a sharp nail pressing against her pulse. “No one here will help you. Not only because of those brands, but because vampiric law means he fucking owns you. There is nothing you or anyone else can do.”
Eva tilted her head, looking him dead in the eye without flinching. “I just want a drink, alone without a shadow stalking my every move. Like you’ve said, no one will help me.” She pulled once more, and was pleasantly surprised when he released her without breaking skin.
“Be good, I’ll be watching.”
His glare pricked along her bare back as she walked across the room with purpose, hiding the storm of panic tightening her chest. She met every single pair of eyes who looked her way, realising Floyd was right. They all saw the blood on her throat, the vipers on her wrists and quickly turned away in disgust. The ones who didn’t turn away smiled, but it wasn’t friendly.
Grabbing a flute of champagne from a passing waiter Eva strolled straight past the bar, searching the room for Augustine. She found him in the corner beside Dutch, their attention contained by the slim man with not one, but two women clinging to his arms. Another man stood just off to the side, the suit he wore ill-fitted and his expression uncomfortable.
A fighter,Eva thought, realising that in every group there was one person who distinctively looked different. Dangerous. It was in the way they held themselves, their eyes constantly scanning the crowd for threats.
Lifting the champagne to her lips she sipped at the gold liquid, savouring the slight burn as she stepped closer towards the kitchen, only stopping when she noticed a guard standing before the door.
Fuck!
He looked up to meet her glare, brow raised as he purposely moved his hand towards his hip. He wore a suit, one that looked just as expensive as all the other rich bastards who enjoyed blood sport, except he also had an earpiece. His gaze flared in challenge as he shifted his weight more evenly on his legs.
What did he expect, for her to tackle him in front of everyone?
Eva pursed her lips, recognising him from one of the security back at the penthouse, Mr grass, citrus and parental disappointment.
