I let out a long exhale. “Hi, Dad.”
II
SAGE
16
Spilled Blood
Five years ago
Ibit the skin around my thumb as I kept watch, my eyes darting back and forth to make sure no one was coming down the hallway.
A loudbumpfrom the closet behind me caused me to hiss and wince, and I cleared my throat, lightly pounding on my chest to cover up the muffled sounds.
Not that anyone would hear them over the music and loud conversations from the ballroom, but I couldn’t take that chance.
“Keep it down,” I said through the corner of my mouth, straightening my vest and bow tie.
The door finally whipped open, and Nellie strode through in a cloud of heavy perfume, and this time I coughed for real. “Sweet Hecara, Nell, is all that necessary?”
She kicked back her foot, securing the back strap of her shoe around her heel before sighing. “Yes, Sage, this is supposed to enhance your omega scent. I want the Premier to be able to notice me from across the room.”
“He’d probably notice you from across the city-state,” I grumbled, closing the door. “You know I’m really putting my neck out for you with this, right?”
Nellie patted me on the cheek and gave me an air kiss. “I know, trust me. And once I get the Premier’s attention and become his new girlfriend, I will be more than happy to share the rewards I’m gonna reap the fuck out of. Fine dining, designer goods, front row seats to all the best shows…”
She sighed happily, flipping her wavy blonde hair over her shoulder. It was said the Premier had a type, and Nellie fit it perfectly, with her dark skin, petite frame, and pouty smile.
Well, she was probably most alphas’ types, honestly, especially here in Noctis. Image was everything, and a gorgeous omega like Nellie never had any shortage of men trying to get her attention. Whenever the two of us went out, I might as well have been invisible.
It should have made her hard to be around, but Nellie was also an amazingly good friend—when she wasn’t asking for the kind of favors that could make me lose my lucrative catering job—and I could never bring myself to hate her. She made sure to let all of her potential suitors know that the moment they disrespected me, they were out.
“And you’ll be right there with me,” she said with a wink.
Nellie had never set her sights as high as the Premier, though, and to be honest, the idea of being their third wheel was far from appealing, no matter what the perks might be.
He was gorgeous himself, but there was something about him that kind of gave me the creeps, too. Like everything wasa facade and the real, darker him was just waiting for the right trigger to be released.
That could have simply been a vampire thing, though.
After pushing her boobs up a little more to peek through her skintight strapless mini dress, she gave me a twirl. “Wish me luck!”
I raised my eyebrows, throwing a half-hearted salute. “Break a fin.”
She giggled and then strutted down the hall towards the ballroom, where the Premier was hosting a fundraiser for animal shelters… or was it blood banks?
Eh, whatever. I got paid and tipped all the same.
It was his office’s first time renting the venue where I worked as a caterer, and when I had mentioned it offhandedly to Nellie a week ago, she’d immediately begged me to help her get in. Apparently, he had just broken up with his flavor of the month, and the blonde omegas of Noctis were lining up to fill the vacant spot.
These kinds of events were typically very exclusive, so getting her an actual invitation was impossible. But I was able to sneak her in wearing one of my spare uniforms, which she ditched immediately for something a little sexier to then blend in with the crowd.
“Sage, there you are!”
I jumped a little, my face paling as I turned around to find my manager, Jakob, looking rightfully annoyed with a tray full of blood flutes. “All hands on deck, here! They’re about to do a toast and we need to get these out ASAP!”
“Sorry, yes, I’ll take care of it!”
