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Jax guided her down the hall and past where I stood gawking. The girl had to be around my age. Her blonde hairflowed behind her as she swayed past in her short, barely-there dress.

“Bastien can’t bite her.” The words burst from my mouth. I could hardly hear them because of my heart pounding in my ears.

“Jealous again? Over the blood-mad vampire?” Asher blinked at me as if he couldn’t fathom the idea. His eyes took on a faraway look.

I had no idea what could be passing through his mind.

“He won’t fuck her?—”

“There’s nothing to worry about, Cat,” Ren drawled, seemingly appearing out of thin air. “Bastien will drain her.” A slight smirk curled his lips and he pinched my chin. “If that’s distasteful to you, then you’re in for a rude awakening.”

“Like that’s any better,” I muttered.

“Of course it is.” Ren’s response didn’t hold any sort of indication that he joked. He paused at the base of the staircase.

Sometimes I seriously forgot how deadly vampires were. Their human forms were shells to the inhumanity within.

“Whatever,” I mumbled, continuing my descent.

“You should stay up here.”

“No.” I reached Ren’s side.

He curled his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me, walking me alongside him. His thumb rubbed against my scalp, wringing a shiver to life. At this point, I wished Iwasjust a blood-whore. At least that would help me explain away this . . . this attraction. A straight explanation for my utter obsession with their touch.

Asher’s words from yesterday echoed in my ears about getting high off blood. I’d had vampire blood before, but yesterday I drank it to a different level. The sensation their blood gave me frightened me . . . but also made me feel frenzied. Even now, as I thought about their blood, my mouth watered.

Speaking of the slightly unhinged vampire, why was he so touchy all of a sudden?

I had to crane my head to look at his side profile. Cherry blossoms on branches stretched up the side of his neck. I followed one branch until the tip ended just shy of his jaw line. His broad, strong jaw was smooth and his pore less skin, enviable.

A perk to being a vampire aside for the extended life span. Only if I was prepared to no longer feel emotion on a deeper level would I go through with something like?—

“Watch the ledge,” Ren snapped as we crossed the opened threshold of the metal door opposite to the kitchen. It was much too dark . . . I couldn’t see anything. Nerves clenched in my stomach. Darkness . . . uncomfortable, suffocating . . . but with Ren’s touch and Asher’s presence, I didn’t have the urge to bolt.

I side eyed Ren. Incredibly deranged vampire. His moods changed faster than I could keep track of.

My bare foot slipped on the edge of the metal of the second step. I gasped, my leg flying out from under me.

Then I was straightened by the hold on my neck. A muscle in my shoulder pinched from my weight being lifted from one spot.

Ow.

I full on glared at him, but not one peep from him.

Huffing, I said nothing considering he’d saved me from getting my head split open. Especially since I had to rely on his guidance downward.

“Why was Bastien moved down here?”

“After his little escapade, we needed to secure him better,” Asher said from behind me.

“You guys are acting like he’s an animal,” I mumbled.

“He is.”

I glared back at Asher, hoping he could see my face.

Ren tightened his hold on my neck, forcing me forward again. “Watch where you’re going.”