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The girl stood to the side, head slightly lowered.

“Here.” I offered a smile. She dipped her head and grabbed it from me. I didn’t want to get her in trouble, so I didn’t push anything. Asher grazed his hand over the surface, eyebrows raised as I approached with a warm face. The hesitation with Jax was a mere lapse in judgment.

“Do you think he’d like this?” I lifted a long dark blue tie. Asher’s lips twitched at the corner and he tapped the bowties.

My brain did not compute. I eyed him suspiciously, but plucked one in the same color. The girl was there to grab it for me. Bastien was a bow tie guy? I couldn’t compute the big, feral male wearing this outfit.

“Let’s get to the fun part,” he straightened and strode to me to hook his arm around my back, guiding me into a private side room. A white semi-circle couch faced a section with a curtain in front of it.

The girl hurried inside to pull the curtain back. “I hung everything here for you.”

“Thank you.” I wrinkled my nose. “I don’t want to refer to you as human. What’s your name?”

“No worries,” she put her hands up, peeking at the exit. “Human is fine. Please call if you need anything.”

She rushed off with me gawking after her. Okay then.

“Start trying things on, Pet.” He patted my ass, sending me into action. I frowned at him and jerked the curtain shut. I made sure both sides were sealed tight then started removing my clothing. I grabbed the first dress in line. The one to catchmy eye when I initially walked into the establishment. I removed everything but my underwear even though this wasn’t made to be worn with them.

The silk fell over my skin with a caress. I smoothed my hands down my sides, turning to look at my reflection. It hugged my waist perfectly, the lace at the sides showing my skin down to the hem. Two thin straps rested on my shoulders, and the neckline was squared, leaving much of my skin on display. My long, almost waist-length hair fell around my bare shoulders. I wrapped it in my hand and held it up to see how it would look. Turning my head side to side, a smile bloomed on my lips.

“You’re taking too long.” The words joined the rasp of the curtain being swooshed open. I widened my eyes at my reflection. Asher stood behind me, his intimidating stature looming well above my head.

His lips parted and he dragged his gaze down, devouring me with his eyes.

“Have mercy,” he breathed.

TWENTY-EIGHT

ren

Bodies and bloodlittered the dance floor. Throats had been torn open and limbs littered the establishment. I nudged a limp body with my foot and approached the long stretch of bar wrapping down the furthest left wall. Good thing we had left Bastien in the car.

I lifted the flute filled with red liquid and sipped. The taste paled to Cat. A gasp brought my attention to the human male standing a few feet away. He turned green.

“There’s a finger in there.” His voice shook.

I peeked down at the severed finger resting at the base of the glass.

“It’s fresh,” I shrugged and downed the rest of it, thumped it on the bar surface, leaving the digit swirling inside.

“There was zero indication of the incoming attack?”

“None.” Talia’s lower lip trembled. “They behaved like they were compelled; the humans attacked every vampire they saw.”

Like what happened to us. “The vampire hunters are back, they got Roberto,” Talia wailed, pointing at a pile of dust.

This massacre was not executed by hunters. Long ago, when they still existed, I’d seen enough of them, and this was never their MO. Whoever we were dealing with wanted to make itseem like they had returned. The attack was targeted to us, especially after the attack at the house. It had been the same method, too.

I scoffed in disgust, did the filthy vampire have no imagination?

This vampire male trying to make a claim on Catalina was desperate for her. I sneered. War was what he would get.

Tobias met my gaze and his head slightly inclined. Great, we were in agreement.

“Get this cleaned and shut down for the night,” Tobias said. I turned on my heel and left.

“You,” I barked at the woman sweeping up broken glass. “Get me the security footage.”