“Relax?” His hand was a brand on her hers, heat fighting against the cool wind. She tried to tug free, but he tightened his grip.
“I don’t know? The entire place is designed with vampires in mind. There’s a floor with low music, another with loud. The bar specialises in blood infused drinks, and you can get a discount if you’re willing to let a Vamp feed from you.” The only way for a vampire to get drunk was to drink blood from someone who’d already consumed alcohol.
“Being treated like dinner. Is that a kink, Rae?”
She pulled at his grip again, harder than before. He released her with a cocked brow, and the extra momentum knocked her hard against the wall.
“So you’re taking me to a club that’s entirely catered to vampires,” he said, voice a gentle growl. “I don’t fucking think so.”
“Look, do you have any other ideas, arsehole? Because I’m all ears.” she said in a scathing tone. She’d already watched him try to break it, his frown amusing when he couldn’t even dent a single link of the chain.
“Yeah, I could just break your fucking wrist.”
“Try it,” she snarled. “And you’ll be eating soup through a straw for the rest of your miserable life.”
Titus froze, his irises seeming to glow before he let out a rough laugh. It brushed across her skin, warming everywhere it touched.
His fist knocked against the metal door, his eyes alight like flames. “If you fuck me over, the person who owns that dirty flat will pay. It won’t be hard to find out who, you’ve already seen what I can do. Understand?”
Rae bit her tongue, blood a roar in her ears.
“Use your words.” Titus punched every word carefully. “Do. You. Understand?”
“Yes,” she pushed out, her smile masking pure rage. “Just as you understand that without me, you’re fucked.”
They glared at each other, the cool wind picking up to twist strands of her hair around her face. Titus watched her, his gaze so direct, unwavering. He was a man of pure stone, always studying his surroundings with a feral intelligence. Except when he watched her, it was as if she held his entire attention. And right now he was furious, even if he didn’t really give his emotions away.
Her lips parted, but before she could speak the door slid open, and the heavy thrum of the techno music escaped. “After you.”
Titus paused for the barest second before he tugged her along.
“Welcome to Bite, have you been before?” The receptionist danced behind the desk, body swaying as she looked between the two of them, and then at the chain. Her pupils were blown, blonde hair teased into two buns on the side of her head like flattened horns. Small shorts bared her long legs, and while she wore an electric green crop top, it didn’t cover much.
Rae hoped her smile was softer than before. “We’re just looking to watch, not participate.”
The receptionist continued to dance, hips shaking perfectly to the heavy beat. It vibrated the floor beneath their feet, and Rae knew it was only going to get louder. “You’re overdressed,” she said. “And you’re wearingtheno-no colour.”
They both wore head-to-toe black.
“You registered with us before?” she continued, tapping the square on the desk, waiting until Rae placed her palm face down on the surface before clicking a button. The light around her hand hummed red, and then after a second turned green.
Rae flinched, pulling her hand back to reveal a hole in the middle of her palm. A single pearl of blood appeared, and the receptionist swiped it away with a fresh tissue.
“You’re clear, but you won’t be chosen for the cage unless you’ve consumed at least four drinks. We will be checking.” She turned her attention to Titus, who didn’t hesitate to place his palm on the same square. The green light around his palm immediately turned pink, and before the receptionist could wipe him clean, he’d clenched his hand and pulled away.
“Nowyou’reready for the cage,” she purred, lips kicking up seductively. “Your blood must be delicious.”
Titus tensed, lips pressed together.
Rae cleared her throat. “Is Erik in?”
The receptionist nodded her head, the movement tilting her neck to the light, and revealing the scars there. “He’s around.” Blood Kiss, an addiction to the euphoria some vampires could create from their bite. One of the many reasons she stayed away from anyone who had fangs.
She’d attended Bite a few times with Atlas, the only vampire in the guild, and had always enjoyed her experience. She came to dance, to drink, sing, and enjoy herself without the chance of being harassed. If she entered any of the floors without a glow-in-the-dark wrist band, she was off limits, and after a rumoured incident where a Vamp took an unwilling drink was staked right in the middle of the dance floor, no Vamp dared approach. It still left all the other sleazebags, but after dancing with someone like Atlas, or sometimes even the twins, they usually left her alone too.
Rae pushed Titus gently towards the heavy steel door. The music amplified until it rattled her bones, the limited lighting causing her to stumble. Titus caught her arm, his hand a brand. “Thanks,” she mumbled, her voice drowned out as she waited for her eyes to adjust to the dim lighting.
Titus released her as quickly as he’d caught her, pausing at the edge of the rail and looking down to the floor below. The entire club was designed with concrete and steel, not that you could see much of the industrial design. It was dark, uncomfortably so, with only the UV lights brightening pale clothing, and the reflective paint on the sharp edges.
