Page 18 of Feeding Frenzy (Crimson Coven #3)

EIGHTEEN

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The view from my window left a lot to be desired. I ran my fingertips along my windowsill. Crimson Manor stretched up intimidatingly. If only I’d known. The edges of my vision blurred. This was a dream.

I whirled and faced Bastien. He sat on a large recliner that had not been in my room when it existed. His ankle was crossed over his knee.

I pressed flush with the wall as I eyed Bastien. His white, long hair smoothly rested around his shoulders as if he’d artfully arranged it around himself. No robe, no nudity, instead, he wore slacks that had a neat crease down the pant legs as if ironed. His white button-down had a few buttons opened at the collar, allowing me a view at his golden skin.

“Little One.” His voice seemed to vibrate inside me. Why did he sound so pleased? He grinned at me, his long, sharp fangs fully on display while his red eyes studied me. “Come now, we do not have much time. Free me before they wake.”

“How are you awake?” His dark eyebrows flicked up and he stood slowly. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. He seemed so unfamiliar to me, yet I wanted to run into his arms. The shirt moved over his wide, muscled chest.

“Why do you back away from me?” He frowned. “I will never harm you, Beloved.”

I squeezed my lips tightly together.

“How are you awake?” Even now, in this dream world, I struggled to move my mouth.

“Although the sun’s will is a heavy burden, if you work at it, you can?—”

He staggered back and gripped his temples.

“I do not have much time—” His words turned to snarls and he whipped his head toward me with a snarl. Showing me the Bastien I knew.

He came at me.

Wake up.

Up. Up. Up .

My eyes struggled to open. I stared at the ceiling. It felt like I was drugged. It was dark in here, except for a night light coming from the bathroom. It was enough for me to see. I sluggishly turned my head to one side and Asher’s limp body rested at my side, while Ren was on my other. We were still in Tobias’s room and the shutters were still down.

My plan was still the same as before I turned. Heading out of here, but now that I was a vampire . . . did I still need to be part of a Coven? Were there rogue vampires?

Questions I could ask Alistair.

I rolled to my side and my arm flopped on Ren. He didn’t twitch. Using him as a perch, I gripped his arm and pulled myself up with effort. I gritted my teeth and managed to topple off him and land on my knees.

Weight tried to force me back to the ground. I trudged forward, shaking my head. It took three tries to turn the doorknob, but I finally managed. Then came to a stop. The sun was no longer high in the sky, so it didn’t spill across the middle of the hallway. At least there was no direct sunlight.

I staggered to Asher’s door. Moving was getting a pinch easier, but weight still shackled me.

I froze at the entrance. Jax sat in the same spot, his head hanging forward. He was deep in his day sleep. Leaving the door cracked, I dashed to the wardrobe. The clothes swung side to side. The bottom drawer, where my pjs were housed, was semi-cracked, with clothes peeking up from the top. I shucked the silk nighty, pulled on leggings, a bra, and a hoodie. And then dug my hands behind my sweaters, where I’d shoved the backpack.

I hooked it on my back. My skincare! As soon as I thought to go to the bathroom, I was already halfway there. I gawked at my reflection. Right, I no longer needed it. I looked like me . . . but smoother? At least my face. Just like the rest of their skin, smooth, almost poreless. Yet, my hair frizzed. I frowned at myself. Guess that didn’t come with the newly-fanged vamp package. Plucking my frizz-resistant hair oil, I staggered from the room. The low cast of the sun had all but disappeared. Pressure lifted from my limbs and no longer hindered my stride. I had run out of time.

Running down the stairs, I dashed through the hallway.

The clink of gears reached my ears, then a hum as the shutters moved. I had to get out of here. Even though I wasn’t human anymore, they could wrap me in chains and keep me here. My steps could hardly be heard with how fast I moved toward the kitchen. I was across it, through the hall, and past the French garage door next. Metal still littered the floor from the car I’d taken a bat to.

I ran to the sleek sports car closest to the exit ramp. I would feel bad about taking it with me, but they had a garage filled with them. Hopping in, I revved it to life, dropped my bag in the passenger seat, and without giving it a chance to warm up, pressed on the accelerator.

I sped up the incline, taking a sharp turn away from the main garage. A large door blocked my exit. I yanked down the vizor, but there was no button to make it rise. My sluggish heart squeezed, causing my pulse to jump. With each throb, my gums began to sting, like me panicking caused the borrowed blood to burn through me much faster. I only caused more hunger by panicking, but I couldn’t help it. Sounds of birds chirping, the rustling leaves . . . I could hear it.

I stepped on the gas pedal. There was no other choice, I had to break through, hopefully it wasn’t strong enough to stop the car.

I flexed my hands on the steering wheel and squeezed my eyes tightly shut. God, please let me make it. My fangs popped out and I gritted my molars. Metal ripped in a screech as the hood of the vehicle took out the garage door. I peeked through one eye as the tires bounced over wreckage. Taking a sharp turn, I peeled out until I burst onto a side street.

The scent of exhaust and rubber permeated my senses, stinging my nostrils. I coughed. I preferred not breathing.

Zooming past the house, I drove through the streets until I reached the first freeway. I sped up. Getting as far as possible was the goal, then losing this car. Maybe I could take a bus out of town, but I needed money. I sank my teeth into my lower lip. My sharp incisor split into my lip. A hiss exploded from my mouth at the sharp stab.

I flicked my tongue over the blood. Nowhere near as good as Ren’s blood. The base where my fangs pushed out from my gums throbbed. I focused on the next exit sign and just drove.

Forty miles away from Crimson Manor, I slowed to get off the ramp.

I had to stop somewhere I could make a call. Pulling into the first shopping center I came across, I parked. I left the keys in the ignition and hopped out. I wouldn’t be able to take it with me anyway. It could tie me to them, and I didn’t want to be found.

The hum of voices and chatter melded into a cacophony of overwhelming sounds. I grabbed the car door to brace myself and cinched my eyes shut. A call first, focus on making the call.

I used to distract myself from oncoming panic attacks, so this would be easy. Sucking in one breath, I coughed at the inordinate number of smells singeing my nose. I stopped breathing again.

The noisiness tapered away. I’d grounded myself.

“Miss, are you okay?” I whirled to face an old man. His eyes widened and he reeled back a few steps. A sour scent overwhelmed my nose. I’d spun around too fast. He backed up until he was almost running away.

If I’d taken care of how fast I moved, I could have asked to borrow his phone. I made a beeline for the closest store. A restaurant. A kid around Peter’s age stood behind the podium playing on his phone. I came to a stop in front of him. He didn’t look up until I cleared my throat.

He jumped and his phone shot out of his hand. I managed to catch it in a smooth motion. His eyes widened on mine and immediately dropped to my breasts. I quirked an eyebrow, waiting for him to look back up at me.

I flicked at the buzzing near my ear. Was that a fly? As much as I swatted, the sound didn’t go away.

The guy rounded the podium and stood in front of me. The buzzing grew. I frowned, eyeing his flushed face. It wasn’t a fly; it was his heart. As soon as I figured it out, the rapid beat thrummed rhythmically. My eyes dropped to the fluttering at the base of his throat.

A faintly spicy scent reached my nose.

“Thank you for catching it.” He took the phone from my lifted hand. His fingertips touched mine and he breathed in audibly. “A table for one?” Interest piqued his eyes, and he looked over my shoulder then returned to me with a little smile.

I hummed my assent, rubbing my fingertips against my gums over my skin.

“Can I use your phone?” I made sure to keep my hand hovering over my mouth to block my fangs.

“I’m sorry, we don’t have any that are for customer use.”

“No,” I burst out, then clamped my lips shut. The guy eyed me hesitantly.

Could I compel him to let me use it? Would that make me a bad person? I pursed my lips.

I brushed my fingers through my hair, and the frizzy, wavy locks flowed around my shoulders. His eyes fixed on my boobs again.

“Please?” I lowered my chin, trying to look as harmless as I could.

Desperate times.

His nostrils flared the slightest bit, and he swayed toward me.

“Okay,” he breathed, holding it out. I snatched it and quickly dialed Alistair’s number.

The line rang . . . and rang. Right when I was about to give up, he answered.

“Yes?”

“Alistair Blackthorn?” Silence on the other end. “This is Catalina Herrera.” Still silence. “Crimson Coven’s Pet,” I whispered lower. The guy didn’t give me a weird look so he must not have heard me. “We met at Calliope’s weird party.”

“Ah, yes,” he purred. “I never thought I would hear from you.”

I licked my lips. I could do this.

“Can you come get me?”

Silence, then a chuckle on the other end.

“Hmm, I don’t think so. Your males left me quite a few scathing voicemails. My Coven, along with my manhood, were threatened if I took you in. We were supposed to reschedule our meeting, but they haven’t returned my call.” He was a chatty one. I tapped my foot on the floor and lifted a finger toward the guy eyeing me questioningly. He was beginning to get impatient.

“Please—”

“I have no desire to endanger my cock?—”

“I-I’m a vampire now,” I whispered.

“Where are you?” His tone changed. I put the phone on speaker.

“Where are we?”

The guy rattled off the address.

“Did you get that?” I said to the phone.

Alistair hummed.

“I will be there momentarily.”

“Thank you,” I breathed in relief. He didn’t respond, so I lifted the phone to look at the screen. He’d already hung up. I pursed my lips and handed it back.

“Uh, thanks.” He side-eyed me. That spicy smell coming from him disappeared. As he rounded behind his podium his whispered words seemed shouted at me, “Weirdo hot girl.” He shook his head.

I pursed my lips.

“Can I get a booth?”

He waved me through the entrance. “Take any available.” He was already back to playing on his phone.

I selected the booth at the furthest corner, where I had my back fully to the wall. I slid onto the bouncy faux leather. A server approached.

“Can I get you anything?” she chirped, cheerfully. I smiled, close-lipped, in case my fangs chose to make a showing.

“Coffee and pancakes please and that’s all.” She typed on an electronic pad, presumably sending the order over to the kitchen.

“Coming right up.” She left, and I was alone. I laced my fingers together and squeezed my hands.

My gums burned . . .

I scrubbed my palms over my face and groaned. Well, I had what I wanted. I was a vampire, but of course I was some screwed up version of one. Human blood didn’t entice me a bit. But vampire blood? My gums pulsated.