My main motivation to walk out of that room and on to the stage to be part of this wackjob show was Shaz. He was in rough shape, pouring liquor on the pain and feeding his new bad attitude. Jenner’s security guys surrounded him and promised that they would add to his injuries if I gave them a reason to.
“What exactly are you expecting to see?” I followed Jenner down the hall while furiously rubbing my moist palms on my skirt. Calm and cool, I had this. That’s one of the lies I told myself to combat my nerves.
“I expect to see something that makes me want to touch myself while watching you. Along with everyone else in the room. That’s what they’re here for.”
Finding me so close, he fell back to walk beside me. Smart vampire. It was in his best interest to avoid having me at his back. I wasn’t above a cheap, come from behind kind of shot. We stopped at the rear entry to the stage. I was doing a pretty good job of keeping it together. I hadn’t run shrieking from the theatre yet, although my confidence would have fared better if my knees weren’t quivering.
Arys took my hand, sliding his fingers between mine. A spark of blue and gold flashed like lightning between us. Calm flowed through me, and our contact strengthened me.
“Oh, come on now, Jenner,” Arys taunted. “This won’t be the first time you’ve gotten off to me. We both know what this is really about.”
The temperature around us rose several degrees in response to Jenner’s immediate anger. His fists clenched, and he hissed, “Fuck you,” before storming up the steps to the stage.
“What the hell was that about?” I whispered as Jenner announced us to the crowd.
“Cheap shot. Don’t worry about it.”
I resisted when he tugged me up the stairs. “Did you have a thing with him or something?”
“No. Geez, Alexa, I haven’t f**ked everyone in my past.”
Before I could question him further, Arys dragged me into the spotlight where I stood numb, like a deer in the headlights. The audience was silent, watching us curiously. Their energy hummed like a swarm of insects. I rubbed my arms as if that would wipe the annoying prickle of it away. My mouth was so dry I couldn’t swallow. Stage fright gripped me hard as I stared at the onlookers staring back at me. I was sure I’d faint right then and there. Like the fight arena, most of the audience was human. However, I noted an increased vampire presence compared to the earlier show. Shaz was out there. The blinding spotlight kept him hidden in the dark, but I could feel his wolf’s energy.
Jenner stood backstage in the shadows just beyond the stage lighting. I couldn’t see him, but I could feel the weight of his gaze. He was going to be pissed when I vomited all over the place.
Arys was smooth, acknowledging the crowd with a glance and then dismissing them entirely. He turned me to face him, putting the onlookers to my right. My gaze darted from the spotlight where we stood to the chaise lounge several feet away. Overwhelmed wasn’t the right word.
‘I can’t do this,’ I seized hold of the mental door between us and slammed it open.
‘Trust me.’
Lifting my hand, Arys kissed my palm before doing the same to my fingertips. I was painfully aware of the many eyes upon me, watching for my reaction. A gasp slipped out, embarrassingly loud in the silent theatre.
Heat started in the center of my hand. A familiar push of dizzying energy accompanied the growing warmth. I began to relax. It had been a while since Arys had manipulated me, and I almost fell under his thrall, unaware that it was happening.
I stared into his eyes, tumbling headlong into those drowning midnight orbs. Turning my arm to expose my wrist, he dragged his lips over the pulse beating there, never breaking eye contact.
‘Aw, Arys, no fair.’ I tried to say the words aloud, but his actions had stolen my breath. All I mustered was a barely audible, “Why?”
“Because you’re mine,” he said for the benefit of the crowd. To only me, he whispered through my mind, ‘I want you to enjoy this.’
The fear and unease dissolved with every touch of his mouth on my skin. It was a dirty move for Arys to turn his power on me that way. I fell under his influence, becoming the glamoured victim he wanted me to be. The vampire essence within me was no match for Arys. Not until death.
I too had wielded this power over someone else. It felt amazing to be on either side of the vampire and victim power play, at least until the high wore off. Then came the remorse and awkward moments with friends. Or maybe that was just me.
The warm, wet touch of his tongue commanded my full attention. He sucked at my wrist, plumping the veins nicely. Anticipation thrilled through me as I waited to see if he would bite so soon. The audience was tense, wondering the same thing.