32. Bay
Bay
I’m already a few strong drinks in, and the pain in my feet is starting to dull as I feel a bit tipsy—but I can still think clearly. Well, mostly.
“I asked you to stop me from drinking, not to shove drinks in my hand!” I huff at Alin, side-eying her as a cocktail with a pink mermaid tail garnish is passed directly into my hand.
“This is the most boring event I’ve ever been to in my life, reminding me of our castle ceremonies. At least one of us can get drunk and have fun,” she taunts, settling into the bar stool next to me.
Projected onto the walls of the enormous event hall are videos of living coral reefs, colorful fish, swaying sea plants, and random bubbles that make no sense in the context of the ocean.
The seating arrangements scattered throughout the space are designed to make the guests feel as if they’re living underwater.
Or at least what humans think underwater life looks like—like optimism and glitter puked all over this place.
“Do humans really think everything’s this pink and sparkly under the sea?” I ask Alin, glancing back down at the pink drink with weird glitter swimming inside the alcoholic liquid.
Alin shrugs in a defeated sigh and sips her non-alcoholic drink, which looks way more appetizing than mine.
“I should give them a tour of Jocelyn’s cave,” I joke, bringing the straw to my lips and gulping down the glittery liquid.
Alin spits out her drink, choking as a wave of laughter overtakes her. I pull the straw from my mouth and chuckle. Jocelyn would definitely make an interesting addition to the scene here.
“So, what do my favorite models think? How’s the event?” Anita appears behind us, and we glance at her, Alin is still giggling. How do I tell her this is honestly the most boring event I’ve ever been to?
“A once-in-a-lifetime experience,” I answer. At least that’s not a lie. Alin turns away to bury her face in her glass, stifling the returning laughter. It seems my responses are entertaining her way too much today.
She lifts her eyes to meet Anita’s gaze and nods. It looks like Anita buys it. “I’m glad to hear that! I’ve already received a few requests for your dresses. How can I ever thank you?”
I give her an honest smile. Her dresses are definitely impressive and hard to miss. “Just wearing your designs is enough,” I reply, and she places a hand on my arm in gratitude.
“Alin, the men have a few things they want to go over with you. Something about training?” She turns her gaze to Alin, raising an eyebrow in question. “You’re training with them?”
Alin immediately straightens in her seat, the wave of laughter dying instantly as her expression turns serious. “I noticed a few gaps in their training before and offered to help,” she lies smoothly, and I recognize that look. What training is she talking about?
“Come on, I’ll take you to the offices. They’re waiting for you,” Anita responds, the curiosity clear in her voice.
Alin obeys and gracefully slides off the high bar stool with an elegance I can only dream of, especially in these ridiculous heels.
“I’ll be back soon,” she tells me, her look making it clear that she’ll explain later. Good, at least she doesn’t plan to keep any more secrets from me.
I turn my attention back to my drink, twirling the straw in my hand, when a male voice close to me snaps me out of my thoughts.
“I’m sure if you were up for auction at this fundraiser, they’d hit their targets in no time,” a young man with wavy blond hair delivers his terrible pickup line, and my face twists in disgust, struggling to hide my expression.
“That’s the best you’ve got?” I throw back at him dismissively, twirling the straw in my drink, clearly more interested in my pink glitters than his face.
“Oh, she’s got a mouth on her too. Exactly my type,” he announces, and suddenly two more men appear at my right side, looking about his age—not more than 18.
“Enzo, already found yourself a new toy?” one of them, who has a weird metal ring stuck in his nose, taunts the blond man on my left. I’m surrounded by idiots. Fantastic.
I rise from my seat, making it clear I’m not interested, but the blond guy—Enzo, was it?—grabs my arm immediately. Oh, if we were underwater, I’d be hunting humans like you for breakfast—send you directly to the Coral of Life.
“I don’t think you get it—I’m inviting you to spend the evening with me,” he stands up now, pressing against my back. My skin crawls.
“I don’t think you get it,” I respond in the same tone, turning to look at him with utter disinterest, “I’m not interested in your invitation. Go fish somewhere else.”
“Enzo, this is the first time I’ve seen a woman burn you, and I’m definitely enjoying the show,” the second guy jeers at us, and Enzo’s brows furrow in anger.
“No one says no to me,” he leans down to whisper in my ear, his threatening tone only making my blood boil. Humans like him are living in a bad fantasy.
I step back, ripping my arm from his grip with force. “Watch me.”
I turn to leave, but his hand grabs my arm again, this time yanking me back hard. A cold blade presses against my side, followed by a sharp, burning pain that makes me bite my lip hard, swallowing a muffled scream.
“Am I being clearer now?” His voice drips with menace as he leans close again. If he thinks this makes him powerful, he’s pathetic. He’s nothing compared to the suffering I’ve been through.
A toxic smile spreads across my face as I lift my heel and slam it down hard onto his leather shoe.
Judging by the curses that spill from his mouth as he releases his grip on me, it seems I got my point across.
He doubles over in pain, gasping, and the knife he was holding drops to the floor.
That’s what it takes to make you whine? I chuckle in his face, not bothering to hide my satisfied grin.
“Who did this?” The only male voice I’m willing to listen to growls from behind me, dripping with menace. I turn to look at him, excitement bubbling up inside me. A childish grin spreads across my face.
He pulls me close to his chest, carefully running his hand over my bleeding back.
“Who the fuck did this to you? Don’t make me ask again,” his voice is controlled, but the threat is unmistakable, his gaze shooting to the brainless trio behind me.
Every ounce of humanity in him vanishes as his eyes darken with rage.
“They’re just stupid kids. He threatened the wrong girl,” I chuckle, not hiding the pride in my voice as I wrap my arms around his neck. Even when he’s cold, he looks so damn sexy.
“Enzo,” Pedro growls under his breath, his movements calm but completely at odds with the cold fury in his voice as he gently pulls my arms from around his neck. He picks up the bloodstained knife from the floor. “I’m not going to ask again.”
He knows him?
With one step, he grabs him by the throat, lifting him off the ground. Enzo is much shorter than Pedro and struggles to catch his breath.
“I... did...” Enzo chokes out, and without a second thought, Pedro presses the blade to his face, slowly dragging the tip across the right side of his cheek, carving into his skin. Screams echo through the hall, but no one dares to interfere or even look our way. They know who they’re dealing with.
“What’s going on here?” Flavio appears at my side with Alin and Luca, Anita not far behind.
Pedro throws the bloodied knife to the floor and releases Enzo, who collapses to the ground, sobbing in pain and cursing. “Breathe in her direction again, and you won’t be walking this earth anymore,” he spits another threat at him before turning to face us.
“Your dumb nephew hurt my woman. You know how this works, Flavio,” he snaps venomously at the capo of Vegas, surprising me as he steps behind me and pulls my back against his chest carefully.
“Enzo, you’ve gotten yourself into this. I can’t help you,” Flavio sighs, while the two friends who were with Enzo run off like they’ve seen a ghost. Cowards.
A deafening roar suddenly fills my ears, and I cover them tightly. Fuck. Not again.
“I see my favorite huntress isn’t ready to hunt... I might have to give her a little push…”
The guardian’s voice echoes louder than ever, and the burning tears threaten to spill from the corners of my eyes. Why is he awake so early?
All I can see now is the black, terrifying void wrapping around me.
“Get out of my head!” I scream, knowing it won’t help, but I need to force him out.
“You will be mine… and you will release me,” his voice is confident, as always, lost in his delusions.
“I won’t release you, even if you kill me!” I shout, my voice a mix of tears and rage. I promised I would fight.
“My sweet huntress doesn’t know that I know her better than anyone.
I know exactly what you want—and if you release me, you’ll get it, along with everything you’ve ever dreamed of,” his roar softens, his voice now calculated—he’s hunting me.
That’s how the huntress tactic works—when the demand fails, the temptations begin.
“And what exactly do I want?” I ask with frustrated laughter.
“Your bloodline alive after the mistake you made,” he growls in response, his answer cutting through my disinterest, and my body stiffens.
“And how exactly would releasing you save them?” I try to hide the curiosity in my voice, maybe he’ll at least give me some useful information.
“I love my huntress’s innocence…” His voice is low and raspy, almost as if he’s trying to seduce me. Disgusting. A perv dragon . I swallow the bile rising in my throat. “Once I mark you, you’ll become Black Blooded.”
I hold my breath. Black Blooded ?