Chapter Sixteen #2
“Lois,” the woman said, taking her hand in a surprisingly strong grip. “I’ve been with Dr Smythe for three years. He isn’t normally a fan of SubRosa but said he’d treat me for Valentine’s.”
The Dr Smythe in question glanced at Verity from the corner of his eye and nodded before turning his attention back to the conversation. A severe-looking man with a face that looked unaccustomed to smiling. Verity wondered if she called him ‘Doctor’ in bed.
“I can think of more romantic ways to spend Valentine’s,” Verity commented, and Lois laughed.
“Agreed. Think I’ll be asking for a quiet night in next year.”
“Same,” she replied.
“Verity!” came a distant shout and Verity immediately knew who it was. Scanning the dance floor, she spotted Adam waving her over. “Come dance with us!”
“Friend of yours?” Lois asked.
“That’s Adam, we go to support group together.”
At the mention of his name Theo’s fingers dug into her waist, and she looked up to find him surveying Adam across the room.
“You still go to group?” Lois asked.
“Yeah, haven’t been donating for long enough to stop yet.
Would you mind?” She asked Theo who looked back, lips pursed, making Verity stifle a laugh.
Grabbing his shirt, she pulled him down to plant a kiss on his cheek.
“Don’t worry, I’ll behave,” she said before taking Lois’s hand. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
Dr Smythe glared at Verity but nodded to Lois, dismissing his human. Verity couldn’t stand the way the humans obeyed their vampires, like pets being allowed out to play.
“What was that about?” Lois asked, taking Verity’s arm as they headed for the cool kids.
“What?”
“Lord Chapel,” she said, looking over her shoulder and smirking. “If looks could kill!”
Verity looked. Both Theo and Dr Smythe had moved so they could keep an eye on them and sure enough, Theo was glaring daggers, but not at her, at Adam. She laughed.
“I’ve had to use Adam as my cover story, or cover boyfriend I guess.”
“You haven’t told anyone about you two?” Lois asked and Verity shook her head. Was that an option? She had no idea how anyone would react. Besides, they weren’t really dating, she’d be lying either way. At least this lie wouldn’t get anyone in trouble.
“V!” Adam called, throwing his arms around her. “Who’s your friend?”
Verity made introductions as the group danced on the edge of the floor by a table where Sienna sat with Harris. The vampire watched her, eyes roaming her, the short dress and the diamonds at her neck, before shaking his head and leaning in to say something to Sienna.
Dick. Phoenar knew what Harris’s problem was, but he was making Theo’s life hell. He sat there, arm slung around his donor, and staring down Verity as if she was doing something wrong. Fucking hypocrite.
She watched as the pair stood to head over to the bar and Verity’s eyes caught Theo’s, still watching. Well, if he was intent to watch she might as well give him a show.
Downing the last of her drink, Verity took Lois’s hands. One pointed look towards the boys and Lois understood the assignment. They found the beat as a new song started, dancing close, flicking hair and rolling hips.
Adam whistled, shouting encouragement until Lois fell into fits of giggles when Dr Smythe stared her dead in the eye and pointed at the floor in front of him.
“I think it’s home time,” she laughed, hugging Verity and practically skipping towards the solemn doctor.
Verity continued to dance as she watched, her hand skirting over her hips when she found Theo still staring.
Dr Smythe turned his attention to Lois and someone else started talking to Theo, but he barely acknowledged them, his attention taken up by the woman dancing in front of him. The woman dancing for him.
“May I?” Adam asked, taking her hand and twirling her. Laughter bubbled up as Theo’s nose scrunched at the sight.
“As long as you keep your hand where he can see them,” she said, and Adam mocked outrage.
“But I thought that I was your fake boyfriend!” he demanded and Verity winced.
“Sorry about that, I needed an excuse and…”
“Say no more,” he said. “It would be my honour to be your alibi.”
“Thanks.”
She smiled and laughed as they danced, less sexily than with Lois. Within two songs, Verity was fanning herself, the people clustered around them leaving her hot and sweaty.
“Need a break?” Adam asked, nodding towards the table Sienna and Harris had vacated.
“No Georgie tonight?” Verity asked as they found seats. A few donors from the group there, but she couldn’t stop worrying about Georgie since seeing her with her vampire the last time.
“No,” Adam said, taking a sip of his cocktail. Gods, Verity was thirsty, her mouth feeling dry and sticky. She glanced towards Theo to ask for another drink, but he had finally torn his eyes away from her. “She said something about a cabin in the woods for a couple of nights.”
Verity nodded, lips pursed. “Sounds romantic,” she murmured, but didn’t mean it. She watched Theo but suddenly he’d lost all interest in her.
“You good?” Adam asked.
“Yeah, sorry,” Verity said, turning her attention back to her friend. “Just thirsty.”
“I’ll go get us some drinks,” he said, standing. She tried to protest but Adam insisted. “Have that if you want,” he said, pushing his near-finished drink towards her. “I’ll be right back.”
He disappeared into the crowd, and Verity took the drink. It was sweet and fruity and far more Verity’s speed than champagne. The moisture instantly made her feel better. That was, until Sienna sat beside her.
The Queen-Bee looked radiant in a lacy black jumpsuit, skin-tight and high-necked, showing off every perfect curve. Her near-black hair cascaded over one shoulder from her high ponytail, immaculate as always.
Glancing around, Harris was nowhere to be seen, and Verity breathed a sigh of relief.
“Adam said you were thirsty,” Sienna said, setting a couple of glasses on the table and pouring them both a drink — more bloody champagne. “How are things with you and Theo?” she asked with a sickly sweet smile.
“Fine,” Verity replied, taking a sip. “How’s Harris?”
“He’s good. Just stressing about work, donor numbers being what they are and everything. You know?”
“Oh yeah?” she asked, searching the crowd for Theo.
“Lowest in a century he says,” Sienna went on, watching as Verity took another sip. “What’s Theo said about it?”
Verity shrugged. It was the first she’d heard about it and Phoenar knew why Sienna was asking her.
“Theo doesn’t talk to you about work?” she asked. “That’s sweet, that he doesn’t want to worry you.”
The lights on the dance floor spun, making the dancing mass ripple and pulse. Gods, she was hot. She took another sip, mind tilting as she tried to pay attention to the words falling from Sienna's painted lips.
“Sometimes I wonder if Harris is the only one who really cares about humans,” she went on. “But I guess you wouldn’t be with Theo if he didn’t care, what with your history and everything.”
Verity cocked an eyebrow. Her history? What did Sienna know? Why would...
“Why were you in trouble?” Sienna asked.
“What?” Verity asked. The word felt thick on her tongue. Lips loose.
“After group the other week, you said you were in trouble with Theo?”
Ice cold pin pricks spread across her skin as Verity gripped the edge of the table. Spinning. Shaking. Her hair felt like cobwebs, sticking to her clammy skin as she took a deep shuddering breath.
“Verity?”
Sienna was talking, questioning, saying something about other donors not being so lucky; but the words were white noise, merging with the thrum of blood in her ears.
“I… I don’t…” she tried, but the words wouldn’t come.
“Adam,” Sienna snapped and Verity looked up to see him sat across from her, face pale and eyes wide. When had he gotten back? “Go get Chapel.”
Then he vanished, the chair sat empty again, as cool hands combed through her hair.
“What the fuck happened?” came a snarl. She would have trembled with fear if that fury came from anyone other than Theo.
She whimpered when her chair disappeared from beneath her and she was lifted into strong arms. Her head lolled, too heavy to hold up, as heavy as her eyelids that begged her to sleep.
Growling. Clicking. The closing of a door.
Leather and pine enveloped Verity as her stomach lurched. Movement and…
“Stop!” She called, leaning forward and scrambling with her seat belt.
“We’re nearly there, angel. Just hold on a couple more minutes.”
But there was no holding on.
The car braked hard. Seat belt popped free.
She swung the car door open, landing hard on her knees and retching in the blinding light of day.
Hands grabbed her.
She was being carried again, upstairs she didn’t recognise.
Up. Up. Up.
Fluorescent light bouncing off bricks and metal.
She was hot, cold, and heavy, and…
Where were her shoes?
Forcing her eyes open she looked up at Theo, at grey eyes that watched her beneath bright lights in a tiled room. So handsome, radiant, even with the deep crease on his brows.
Her eyes rolled as he ran fingers through her hair, and then nothing.