“You mentioned Klonis had spiked your drink.”
He pressed his chin to his chest and glared, saying nothing.
“That happens, then.”
His eyes lazily closed. “All the time.”
“Better than being sober in this fucked up world.” I spoke before thinking, not wanting to show any vulnerability.
“Sometimes.”
Before I allowed my mind to consider his life at Brimstone as an alpha sex toy or breeder or both, nonconsenting, I held up my glass. “My drug of choice. Maybe even too much at times.”
“What is it?”
“Vodka.” I lowered my lashes. “Highly recommended.”
His only reply was a grunt.
My mind began to consider things that I didn’t think I cared to know. Did Cassius get used often? Did he have any kids? How did all that work? Did they tie him down during his heats?
I’d avoided anything to do with sets, so my ignorance about them, the ranches, the auctions, the sex trafficking was nothing unusual. Plus, this was the first time I’d ever known my friend Bish to hire any. I didn’t swing with those crowds and preferred to play with alpha on alpha.
I grabbed my drink and downed it, then got up. “I need more of this.”
At the bar, I ordered two vodkas, one straight, one with cranberry juice. When I returned, I saw a few alphas eyeballing Cassius, their tongues practically hanging out. I rolled my eyes at them, causing a few snarls. Dragons didn’t actually snarl, but in human form they made a variety of unseemly sounds.
“Here.” I handed Cassius the pink drink. “Try this.”
He took the icy glass and sniffed.
“Just a sip. Believe me. It will help.” I let out a heavy sigh as I sat back down.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw him put the lip of the glass to his mouth. The ice clinked. When the glass came away, I turned to watch. His lips were glistening pink.
“Good?”
He shrugged. At least that wasn’t a no.
The music had stopped but now it started up again. An exaggerated bass pounded through my chest and head. Like the vodka, it drowned out my thoughts. Most pleasant.
“So, your name is Malin?” The set’s voice sounded like a bell coming from deep inside me. The music nearly drowned it out.
I didn’t open my eyes. “Yep.”
“We weren’t introduced but I heard your friends call you that.”
I was such a rude bastard. I’d forgotten the etiquette part about meeting someone new. But then, Cassius hadn’t introduced himself, either.
“I heard Klonis call you Cassius,” I said. “Is that your correct name?”
“Yeah.”
I opened one eye. “There. Introductions all around.”
For a minute, all was well. Then came a sudden question.
“How much did you pay?”
