“There are men at every exit, and we’ve been given permission to stop you by any means necessary.”
Of course he fucking did,she thought before she said aloud in her most innocent voice, “I was just looking for the bathroom.” When he frowned she continued. “You know, I was told that this would stop when you transitioned, but no, I pee just as much as I did before.” Which was actually quite annoying, but not really surprising considering her diet was almost entirely liquid. She hadn’t had to experience eating solid food for a while so wasn’t sure whetherthatstill worked. “Well?” she prompted with an impatient stamp of her foot.
His nostrils flared, and she was sure she would pay for it later. Her mother had always complained when she was awkwardly inappropriate in tense situations, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.
Eva clenched her fist, ignoring the crack in her champagne glass. If they were alone she would have tried to get past him, hoping she reacted just as fast as she had before. She wasn’t an idiot, and even with her supposed vampire strength he was twice her size. So she needed to be faster, fight dirtier. Except Augustine had stopped her feeding.
She wasn’t sure what Breed Mr Parental Disappointment was, but she was sure he wasn’t a vampire. In fact, other than Augustine, Dutch and Floyd, none of the security or workers were anything but human.
“Well this was a riveting conversation, I appreciate it,” she said as she drank the rest of her champagne, turning away from his audible grunt.
Broken glass in hand she walked towards the bar, carefully placing it onto the wood.
“What can I get for you?” the bartender asked politely, her pale blue irises seeming to swirl like the ocean. She grabbed the champagne flute, not commenting on the state as she carefully hid it from sight.
“An emergency exit.”
Her professionalism slipped for the briefest of seconds. “I’m sorry...” She began with a strained smile.
Eva didn’t bother waiting for the rest of her apology. “Vodka then, please. Straight.” If she was going to be stuck there against her will, she could at least have a few drinks before she returned to his bed.
Fuck everyone in this room.
Fuck Floyd and his warnings.
And fuck Augustine.
The woman nodded once, producing her drink quickly, the glass cool to the touch with a slight salty taste. As soon as Eva had swallowed the first another appeared, and she drank that one down too.
“I hope you realise it’ll take a lot more than a few shots of vodka to get a vampire hammered,” a voice chuckled from beside her.
Eva ignored the man, tapping the bar for another. He was right, and that pissed her off even more. When she was human a couple of shots would have definitely affected her, even if it was a slight buzz to calm her nerves. But now there was nothing other than a biting chill in her stomach.
“Another, please,” she said after her third.
“You seem stressed,” the man beside her continued, sliding closer until he pressed her arm. “Maybe I can help with that?”
Eva was ready to snap a sharp reply when she noticed the gold coin he held out in his palm. It glowed beneath the lights, the centre burning bright. She finally looked up, noting his hair was as bright as the coin, his beard a few shades darker orange.
“Cool tattoos,” he continued, gesturing to her arms. “They mean anythin’?”
Eva took a second to reply. “No.” If he didn’t recognise the brand, then he may not know who Augustine was. “How can you help with my stress?” She licked the vodka from her bottom lip.
The man didn’t seem to have the same reservation, his gaze tracking her tongue.
Fae, that would be her guess. His skin was a shade lighter than hers and seemed almost pearlescent beneath the lights. His body was strong, lean beneath his tighter than necessary suit and his eyes were orange, the same as the centre of the coin. He smelt of copper, coins rather than blood and she wondered if he would taste the same.
“Three wishes, that’s what I can offer you.”
Eva blinked, realising her attention had drifted to his pulse. “Wishes?”
Shit. Shit. Shit. What type of Fae offered wishes?
“Leprechaun wishes are superior, and never fail,” he said with a grin. “It’s how I made my fortune.”
Eva stepped back, looking him purposely up and down. He didn’t look like a leprechaun, considering the only fact she knew about them were their shorter stature, but then again who was she to judge someone on their appearance when she was a vampire who bruised.
“What could I wish for?” she asked quietly, remembering from childhood cartoons that there were always rules and restrictions when it came to wish magic. Not that she should base her limited knowledge of magic on silly animations. But it showed her inadequate education growing up regarding Breed in general, and if she ever had a child, she would make sure they grew up knowing as much as possible.
