Arielle had made it clear she wouldn’t be deterred from living the life she was accustomed to, whether or not she was engaged. I was just an inconvenience to be handled.
I scanned the crowd, though I’d lost sight of Arielle. Even the bodyguard seemed to have vanished, though he was competent, so I could guarantee he had an eye on both of us—particularly Arielle.
My skin began to crawl as a few other people brushed past me, even though I was mostly tucked out of the way. The glances back at me confirmed those had been intentional, along with a few winks from different guys and girls. When I skimmed over the crowd, one thing stuck out—tons of humans were in here, and very few monsters. I hated how we were forced into different boxes, how the society I’d grown up in continued to push separation, even though we lived in the same city, the same continent, shared the same air, the same water.
I didn’t plan on going out to the dance floor—I’d be swallowed alive. And I didn’t want the attention from people who only wanted me for my body, who would make me feel as small as I always had in my own family.
No, I’d rather give everything over to Ursuline.
Their singular attention lit me up like nothing I’d ever experienced.
I tugged my phone out of my pocket and shot them a text.
I hate it here.
Part of me needed them to know I’d rather be with them.
Thethump, thump, thumpof the music poured through the speakers, and I did my best to drown it out. I closed my eyes, trying to stave off the panic of feeling boxed in that thisplace brought to the surface. The bodies undulated, so many unfamiliar faces, and trying to look at all of them made me feel like I was drowning all over again. Even with my eyes shut, the tension in the air, the heat brewing from the mass of bodies left a mark.
“What are you doing here by your lonesome?” a low voice asked.
I blinked my eyes open and frowned as the flashing lights attacked my vision again. A huge guy stood to my right, far too close for comfort. He leaned against the wall beside me, crowding in my space.
I opened my mouth and then realized I had an easy out. “My fiancée wanted to come dancing.”
“And where are they at?” he asked, not moving in the slightest and scanning the crowd.
My stomach twisted like a wet rag. Apparently that wouldn’t deter him. I searched the crowd again to see if I could find her quickly, to hide behind the excuse. She wasn’t difficult to spot.
Arielle stood on one of the platforms, dancing her heart out. Guys swarmed around her on the pedestal, and she beamed up there, soaking in all the attention.
“Over there,” I said, pointing her out.
The guy let out a laugh. “She looks occupied.” He loomed over me, but not in a way that I liked. His blond hair was combed to the side, and he was muscular, like he spent an overabundance of time at the gym. When he flashed me a smile that came across sleazy, I wanted to back away. “You want to get a little busy too?”
“Pass,” I said, gritting my teeth. Was this how the rest of my life would be? Following Arielle into clubs I hated, getting hit on and having to fend off strangers?
“Come on,” the guy said, trailing a finger down my chest. “Don’t be like that.”
I jerked back and searched for the bodyguard. Maybe he’d let me wait in the car. “I’ve got to get out of here.”
“What about your fiancée?” he said, moving in a few inches closer, until he was almost on top of me. This close, he reeked, the sweat and body odor mingling with whatever strong cologne he’d bathed in. The smell of alcohol poured off him too. Clearly, he’d drunk enough that his filters had gone by the wayside, if he even had them. “You don’t want to leave her behind, do you? If both of you want to take a spin, I’m happy to oblige.”
“What part of no don’t you understand?” I said, thrusting my chin forward.
“That body’s too hot to waste,” he said, trailing a finger down my arm.
I stepped away from him another pace. He was drunk, which might give me an advantage if I bolted.
“What’s the harm in just talking?” He stepped in closer again, and my stomach churned.
“Get the fuck away from him.”
The familiar voice was one I’d been longing for, one I could barely believe I was hearing.
Except Ursuline glided in behind the drunken asshole, and they placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Who the hell let you in?” he stuttered, trying to scramble away from them. “Fucking freak.”
