Page 27 of Bloody Wedding (The Order of the Owed #1)

Technically, anyone affiliated with the Order is allowed entry.

One of the Owed flashes their brand, and since the Used work out of the club, security recognizes them.

I was a little worried that I’d have to namedrop Adrian to get in, but when I held up my head and walked into the club, no one stopped me.

Is it because I look like one of the Used?

I purposely kept my wavy hair down, brushing against my shoulders, covering my neck.

I traded my comfy house clothes for a black dress that would’ve had Adrian drooling if he got to see me in it.

I’d planned on changing into it earlier for our dinner—a tiny celebration at home—but when he never came home, I didn’t bother.

While I waited for the car to arrive, I did.

I put on a little makeup, too, and slipped my feet into a pair of heels that I only wore when I had to go into the office to speak with Mr. Dimmity.

I look pretty good, if I do say so myself, even if I start freaking out a little that the other clubbers might think I’m for sale.

It isn’t until after I stepped into the loud, smokey nightclub that it hits me: my wedding ring.

While some Owed buy their Offering a ring suited to them—like Adrian said he was doing for me even though I told him it’s fine, I’m not too pressed what it looks like when I’m not the type of girl who bothers with jewelry—most Order wives have the same gaudy gold band on their finger that I do.

If the crowd around me dancing, drinking, smoking, and slinking away to the backroom where the Owed are kept, waiting for their visitors…

if everyone at the King’s Court was a vampire, the ring on my finger is like a wooden cross or a vial of holy water.

The universal sign that says ‘I’m taken’, I’m given a wide berth.

I’m used to it. In the old days, it was because I was Loni Dougherty and, for some inexplicable reason, Adrian Heller hated Loni Dougherty. I know now that there’s a thin line between love and hate, and while the world believed he hated me, Adrian himself would say it was the opposite.

Do I believe him? Silly Loni, I think I was—but after tonight? I’m not so sure anymore.

That’s okay. I didn’t come here for company.

As lonely as I’ve been, being in the middle of a crowd, even if they’re ignoring me…

it’s better than spending the night alone, pathetically waiting for my husband to grace me with his presence.

The gin and tonic that I ordered from the bartender doesn’t hurt, either.

I’m not a huge drinker. I have a two drink limit so, for the first twenty minutes, I nurse this one. Then, because I don’t have anything better to do, I cross my legs at the ankle, swivel on my barstool and people watch.

A few familiar people come in and out of my line of sight. When I do make eye contact and feel that flash of recognition deep in my gut, I’d drop my head, letting my hair fall forward into my face. They disappear into the crowd, and I let out a sigh of relief.

Rinse.

Repeat.

Halfway through my first drink on an empty stomach, I start to think that this might’ve been a bad idea. In hindsight, I let my petty side take over, putting me in a situation that, honestly? I’m not the biggest fan of.

I should’ve just stayed in. I didn’t have to confront Adrian when he finally came home, and if I let my unsaid suspicion that there was no meeting…

that, secretly, a part of me wanted to visit the King’s Court because I was terrified that I might find my husband here with a mistress…

lead me into doing something I’m not comfortable with, then that’s my problem.

If he goes to the Used, he was never really mine. I need to accept that.

I need to understand that in the Order… that’s what happens.

I never wanted to come back to this life, but I had to, and it’s time I put on my big girl panties, temper my expectations, and get the fuck over it.

Deciding that I would finish my drink and then hire another car, I turn back around, ignoring the music, the lights, the drugs in one corner, the smoking in another… I forget for a moment that I’m one in a crowd of too, too many.

At least, I do—until someone slides on to the empty stool next to me and prods me in my bare shoulder.

“Loni Dougherty? Funny seeing you here.”

My head jerks up.

The man sitting next to me is good-looking in that ‘boy next door’ kind of way. He has a round face, honest features, shaggy blond hair, and dark brown eyes. There’s friendliness in their depths, and a vague interest, plus a charming smile that it takes me a second to place.

Max Roberts. My lab partner senior year, and a member of Harmony Heights High School’s football team when we both attended the same school.

“Holy shit, Max. Wow! It’s… it’s so great to see you.”

He leans in, about to give me a hug. I freeze, not sure how to go about rejecting him, but I don’t have to. Lowering one arm to his side, a sheepish grin touching his handsome face as he runs his fingers through his shaggy blond hair.

When he’s done, he settles that same hand casually on the bartop.

Crisis averted.

“You, too. I thought I recognized you when I was crossing to the bar, going for my drink, but as soon as I sat down… I was like, yo, that is Loni.”

I nod. “Yup. I’m back in town.”

Unfortunately.

“I know. I heard you and Heller got hitched.” Max whistles, the sound sharp enough that I can hear him over the raucous crowd and the thumping bass. “Never saw that coming.”

Yeah. Me, neither.

Damn it. It would be so much easier to simply tap my ear, pretend I can’t hear him, then end this conversation. It’s a shame that I already responded to him, and when he mentioned Adrian and me getting married, I definitely flinch.

His forehead furrows. “You two doing okay? I mean… I remember how he always used to be so possessive of you when we were kids. All any of us had to do was bring up your name and he was either having Dallas Collins beat the shit out of us or, you know, being Adrian Heller.”

Max doesn’t elaborate. He doesn’t have to.

When it comes to Adrian being Adrian, I had a front-row seat to seeing how sneaky and underhanded he could be.

But possessive? That’s a new one. I mean, killing Desmond to take his place last month can definitely be considered possessive now … but all those years ago?

Interesting.

I’m not sure if I like it, but it’s certainly interesting.

Max leans in closer, lowering his voice a little.

“I mean it. I might not be in the inner circle like Heller and Collins, but I’ve got my brand.

” He flashes his palm, showing the mark on his skin.

“If you need help… if you want to get away, I can help you. I can let Jack know and, family or not, he has to follow the charter. You don’t have to stay with him if he’s hurting you. ”

Oh.

Oh .

Do I want to get away? I mean, in the beginning, that’s all I was thinking about. Plotting my escape occupied my thoughts the first few days I was hiding out in my room. But somehow, along the way, I’ve just accepted that this is it.

Actually, up until today, I was thinkinging it wouldn’t be so bad to spend the rest of my life with Adrian Heller. I mean, if I had to be Claimed, it could have always been worse.

It could’ve been Desmond .

He hurt me. It took more than a week for that bruise to fade, and we weren’t even married yet. Adrian… he wanted to resurrect a dead man and kill him again for daring to lay his hands on me.

No. When Adrian puts his hands on me, there’s no pain, only pleasure… and there’s no way in hell that I’m admitting that to a boy I haven’t spoken to in a decade.

Instead, I give him a small, closed-lipped smile. “You’re sweet, Max, but don’t worry about me. I can handle Adrian.”

At least, I think I can.

The look on Max’s face tells me he has his doubts, too. Not surprising. I did let Adrian walk all over me for years, and I’m not so sure it’s different now that I’m his wife.

But then he says, “If that changes, let me know. After what happened to Haven last year… an Offering is precious. I wouldn’t want to see you go through anything like that.”

A shiver runs down my spine at the mention of Haven’s name.

“Haven?” I echo. “What happened to Haven?”

He hesitates. “You didn’t hear?”

“I’ve only been back in town since the middle of June. With the wedding and everything… I haven’t had the chance to talk to Haven yet.”

“You’re not the only one. These days, if you’re not Connor Heyward, you’re not getting a word out of Haven Smith.”

Connor? “What are you talking about?”

“You don’t know? I… Heller didn’t tell you?”

Um. No.

Leaning toward Max, my heart thumping wildly in my chest, I peer up at him through the fringe of my lashes. “He probably wanted to protect me.”

“Yeah. That would make sense. I mean, an Offering being used as leverage against the Order”— What?— “I’d hate to see that happen to you.”

Yeah. Me, too.

“I appreciate that, but back to Haven. What… what exactly happened to her?”

“Oh.” Max looks a little nervous. “Um. Maybe it’s better if I don’t say anything?—”

He stops talking. I swallow my annoyance, ready to lay my fingers on his hand, anything to convince him to keep talking.

And that’s when I hear Adrian.

“What do you think you’re doing, Avalon?”

Ooh. Full name. I’ve really pissed him off, haven’t I?

Good .