Page 8 of Blood Ties (City of Blood #1)

I find an empty lounge and lie back, a hand behind my head.

A waiter comes over to offer me a glass of wine and a tumbler of warm blood, I take both.

I don’t have any interest in partaking in the physical goings-on but I will watch.

The women in the cage are fully nude by this point and putting on a show for the men gathered around the perimeter.

I sip my blood and enjoy the heady buzz from the alcohol and the party.

Eyeing the large pile of gifts in the corner, I wonder what people brought for the prince.

I don’t even know most of these people—they are only here to pay homage to me.

“Happy birthday, old ass man. Shit! 477 is a little old for party balloons, don’t you think?” Jack asks me as he squeezes onto the end of my lounge.

“At some point, Jack, the number doesn’t matter anymore. It's just a reason for people to party—and engage in orgies, apparently,” I respond, laughing.

“Right, right. You find anyone interesting tonight? The offerings are pretty good and they are all hoping for you.” Jack is my oldest friend and we’ve been thick as thieves for over two centuries. If I can confide in anyone, it's him.

“Nah, what I want isn’t at this party, and I’m pretty sure she’s not ever going to be an option.”

“Wait, is Sebastien Malvani, heir to the throne, smitten with someone?” He puts on a fake Italian accent, a slight mocking tilt to his words. “Who? I can’t believe you’ve been holding out on me!” Jack scolds me, lovingly of course.

“Did you hear about the incident at the club, The Velvet Tomb?”

“Oh yeah, news travels fast. Some baby vamp made a scene and you had to do your governmental duties and snuff him out. What has that got to do with the girl?” Jack tilts his head curiously.

“She works there—was there last night.” He looks at me suspiciously, like he can’t believe I’m becoming obsessed with a sex worker.

“She’s the bartender, so fix your face. The night started out with her happening to find me in a public bathroom with a coworker and ended with me flaming out a vampire in her bar,” I finish and rub my face with my hand at how stupid it all sounds when I say it out loud.

“Ok, but what happened in the middle? Surely something happened to catch your attention so thoroughly. I’ve never known you to not participate in parties, especially when the entertainment is so good.”

Another palm to the face as I try to figure out how to explain.

“We made eye contact, she blushed, I ordered a glass of wine. Then I extinguished a vampire and she fled like she was going to be next.” Every time I open my mouth, I realize how ridiculous this all sounds and I have absolutely no reason to feel the way I do.

“Ok then. So, after nearly 500 years, you’re seemingly falling for a woman who…looked at you? After she already knew you had fucked someone minutes before?” His face is absolutely incredulous. “This can’t be it. Bash, please that can’t be it.”

“That’s it. She looked at me and something happened. Something changed. I can’t explain it.”

“Did you at least speak to her?”

“No, not really.” I shake my head. “I ordered my drink, and I was kind of a dick.”

“Alright, well tomorrow night, we are going to that bar and you’ll order another glass of wine, and maybe you will actually speak to her this time.

” With those final words, Jack wanders off into my party—my party that I suddenly had no further interest in.

Standing up and walking out the doors of the cathedral, I make my way toward my loft intending to find out everything I can about Elina the bartender before tomorrow night.

Before I visit her again, I will know everything there is to know about her.

My kingdom stretched out before me, gilded and covered in blood, is so empty and performative. Tonight, I will find her in the dark. Tomorrow I will entrap her.

At 7:15, Jack knocks on my door, exactly four minutes after moon-rise. Seems he is as eager as I am, considering I have been dressed for 20 minutes. Throwing a black blazer over my black evening shirt, I pull the door open and step out onto the balcony outside my front door.

“Not even an offer of a drink before we leave? You must be smitten.” He jokes as we descend the stairs.

“They have drinks there, it's a bar,” I tell him with a sideways glance. His blond hair is perfectly styled and his green eyes shine in the twilight glow of the setting sun. His tan suit and green button-up shirt are much lighter and more approachable than my black-on-black outfit. I take a moment to reflect and wonder if he is more her type. His boyish charm, Irish accent, and handsome easy smile do tend to attract women more readily, even if they are more curious about me. It’s kind of like seeing a golden retriever next to a cane corso.

I'm taller, broader, and scarier, and even if people think I’m beautiful, they keep their distance.

Since the Velvet Tomb is only a few blocks away, and no one would dare approach us, we walk over there.

We enjoy the night air, listening to the sounds of the city and people milling about.

We don’t even make a lot of conversation, both of us inside our own heads about what might happen tonight, and what it will mean for me.

Likely nothing will happen though, especially if Jack catches her eye.

Approaching the bouncer, I flash him a fancy grin and slide a $50 in his palm, ducking through the curtains into the dark room.

As soon as I get through the door, I look over at the bar and there she is, all sinful curves and a happy smile.

She is wearing the same black corset with the perfect amount of cleavage, and that red drop choker that makes me think of what it would be like to taste her throat and her blood.

I am only staring at her for about 10 seconds when her head snaps up and she looks me directly in the eye, like she felt my gaze on her and knew exactly where I was.

She isn’t alone behind the bar tonight—there is a lean woman with bright red hair in a tight black mini dress moving in perfect sync with Elina, like they are two halves of a single bartender.

“Ok, Casanova, let’s find this girl and see what we can make happen,” Jack says as he rubs his hands together like a movie villain. Nothing is going to happen. I just want to talk to her.

“She’s behind the bar, let’s go.”

“Oh, is it the spunky looking red head or the short black cat? Either way, I’m fine being your wingman,” he adds with a cheeky grin. I grab his arm and haul him through the space. We walk up behind two younger vampires sitting at the counter

“Move, vampiros” I whisper gruffly between the two of them. When they see who is talking to them, they almost fall over themselves to vacate their stools for us.

“I love that trick.” Jack laughs. As we sit down, I watch Elina make eye contact with the other human working alongside her. The red head turns my direction, eyes widening dramatically before leaning over and whispering furiously in Elina’s ear.

“Is that him? The mystery vamp from Saturday? I knew he was hot. You’re such a liar.

Wonder who the other one is? Is he a Blood Raven too?

” I stop listening so closely to give them back their privacy.

Superhuman hearing is great and all until people around you realize you can listen in on anything they say.

I guess she did talk about me at least. I wonder what she said—it sounds like she told her friend I wasn’t hot. Rude.

“I guess I’ll take the redhead since your girl is the curvy goth.” Again with the villainous hand rubbing.

“No one is taking anything. Now shut up.”

“You’re back. Nice to see you again. Red wine?” Elina asks with a smile, without sparing Jack even a single glance. That’s my girl. Wait, where the hell did that come from? She’s not mine, she hasn’t even had a conversation with me yet.

“Hey, sorry about the other night. These things happen.” She flinches a little at the mention of the incident. I wonder why. “No, not wine tonight. Can I have a whiskey on ice, same for my friend.”

“Sure thing. Coming right up,” she responds before quickly turning away to grab the drinks.

“Great job, Romeo, knocking it out of the park with those suave conversation starters. Talking about a murder and ordering a whiskey,” Jack says, shaking his head at me.

“Here you fellas go,” the redhead offers as she sets the glasses in front of us. Jack reaches out to touch her wrist before she turns away. She gasps a little at the contact.

“Sorry, love, I know it’s a little cold.

My name’s Jack McCray and this is Bash. I’m really sorry about what happened here the other night.

I’ve never been here before but Bash said I should check it out.

Any recommendations for me?” he asks her while putting on his best golden boy smile.

She slowly drags her arm away from him before answering.

“Hey y’all. I’m Sarah. If you want to look at the menu, I’ll grab one for you. I’m sure you’ll find something.” She hands over a menu before turning away and heading to the other side of the bar. Looking down, I realize she gave him the girls-for-hire menu and I snort in amusement.

“Great job, Romeo, she thought you were looking for a good time that you have to pay for.” A genuine laugh bursts from my mouth as I try to keep from smiling. Jack scowls at me.

“Fuck you, Bash,” he retorts while looking over the menu with a raised eyebrow.

“Do you see some of the stuff on here? I would never even think…I mean nevermind.” He lays the menu back on the counter.

Sarah is back whispering in Elina’s ear but I don’t bother listening in this time.

I watch a slow smile spread across her face and pretend she’s smiling at me.