Tink went to stand under the roof overhang, out of the rain with the other drivers. They were all werewolves, I could smell it so strongly now. The gruff bear’s giant physique was a dead giveaway too. My gaze fell to the collars at their throats: thin sheets of metal maybe two inches wide.
‘Does it keep them from shifting?’I asked Luka.
‘Yes,’he responded.
They glared at me and I looked down at my feet, running up to the main entrance and out of the rain. They hated us and our kind, and I didn’t blame them.
We were two seconds from the giant double doors when they opened. Carmen was waiting to greet us, wearing a tight, red, plunging V-neck dress.
“Mr. and Mrs. Drake, good to see you again.” She gave Luka a sugary smile.
“Good evening, Carmen.” Luka bowed his head slightly and I was grateful he was raised so proper. I would probably fist bump her if it were left up to me.
We stepped inside and my brain short circuited at what I saw. Luka’s hand tightened in my grip as we both took in the scene before us.
‘Shit. It’s a feeding party.’Luka’s words were rushed. ‘I’m going to have to feed on a live woman or they will be suspicious, and it will be rude to decline. You can say you are a new vampire and not yet comfortable with a feeder but—’He was then cut off by a booming voice.
“Luka Drake!” A man detached himself from a half-naked woman’s neck. There were over a dozen lingerie-clad women here, and about the same amount of men in skimpy speedos.All humans.For every feeder, there was a vampire dressed in formal attire like us. It looked like a freaking swinger party. I clung to Luka, closely replaying his words.
He’d have to feed from a woman … my stomach sank.
The man approaching us now, the king I surmised, was the largest vampire I’d ever seen. He must have been seven feet tall, and was extremely muscular, more like a werewolf in stature. But the pale skin, dark eyes, and red-tinged mouth gave away his true nature. His dark hair was slicked back, framing a handsome face, but there was something eerie about him as well, something not right.
Luka extended his hand when he was in reach. “King Constantine. It’s a pleasure.”
The king gripped Luka’s hand, grinning ear to ear. “I’ve always wanted to meet a Drake. How did you find me?”
Luka paused for a moment, seemingly confused. “We were invited.”
“How did you find my city?” the king clarified.
His tone was light but the question was loaded.Why are you here?was what he wanted to know.
Luka nodded. “I’m a newly crowned king in Vampire City over in Idaho. As a part of my inheritance, I was given a map of the other cities.”
Not completely the truth, but hopefully the king bought it.
The king’s eyes widened. “How many are there?”
Interesting … he only knew about ours? He must have, since he already knew Luka’s name and that I was his fiancée.
“Three more,” Luka lied. “New York, Minneapolis, and Austin.”
“Fascinating!” The king then drew his eyes to me and his demeaner completely shifted. His posture straightened and eyes went half-lidded as he reached for my hand.
I plastered a smile on my face. “Hello, sir. I’m Aspen, Luka’s fiancée.”
He bent slowly and kissed the top of my hand lightly.
“Ah, young love, before the cheating and betrayal ruins your marriage,” he said dryly, and then burst into unhinged laughter.
Luka matched his laughter and so I followed, trying to pretend that was a totally normal thing to say when meeting someone for the first time.
The dude seemed a bit deranged, so I was just going to have to read the room and play along.
“Is it true you fight to the death for your crowns?” the king suddenly asked Luka.
My hubby-to-be lifted his shirt and showed the king his abs. They were littered with scars and tattoos. “It’s true.”
