Page 12 of The Vampire Court

He licks his pale lips, and then in a blink, a woman appears at his side. Their eyes are ringed in red circles. Behind them, all heads have turned toward me, though no others approach.

Slowly I back up into the hallway the way I came. After a few steps, I turn and run.

Demon shit.

This is a dead end, but I would die in seconds if I was stupid enough to run through the lobby. I can only hope I’m able to fend off these vampires until Alaric notices something is off and comes looking for me.

The breath is punched from my lungs as I’m slammed up against the wall, my cheek stinging from the impact. An arm presses down on the back of my neck.

The vampire brings his mouth to my ear. “Why are you running?”

“Let me go,” I snap.

He spins me to face him. The hand at the base of my throat, pins me in place, sharp nails biting into the sensitive skin of my neck. The vampire bares his fangs. “If you didn’t want to be feasted on, then you shouldn’t have been so temping.”

He runs a finger along the cut, keeping his eyes on me, watching every flicker of emotion that crosses my face. He presses down harder. Spots form across my vision. Bringing his finger to his mouth, he licks off my blood.

I press my hands against his chest and shove. Spinning out of his hold, I put some distance between us, not daring to turn my back on him again. The vampire’s eyes widen in surprise then a dangerous smirk forms on his mouth.

I push back the material of my half skirt and pull out my dagger.

“Look, Jonathan. The human wants to play,” the woman croons, humor in her words. She twirls a finger around a lock of ebony hair.

“Stay back,” I say. “I will kill you if you even think about feeding on me.”

The man laughs. “Foolish human.”

He takes a step forward then another and another. I lift my arm and swipe the blade through the air to warn him.

Hot, sticky warmth flows over my hand and sprays over my chest and face. I blink. The vampire clasps both hands over his neck. Shock widens his eyes, his face paling. Blood gushes between his fingers. I drag my gaze from him to my hand, coated in blood.

His blood.

The vampire crumples to the ground—dead.

Demon shit. My warning had turned into a killing blow.

“You killed him…How?” the woman asks, voice trembling. She hasn’t moved.

From her reaction, it’s obvious these vampires aren’t used to humans fighting back. But I won’t be the docile prey they are looking for.

Horror flickers over her features, and I let it bolster the confidence I don’t possess. Adrenaline floods my veins. I feel a little stronger, more determined.

“It’s a night-forged dagger,” I say. “Now, back off—or do you want to die too?”

Her head snaps up and looks from the dead vampire to me. “I-I…” she stammers. “Who would dare give a filthy human night-forged metal?”

The vampire blood that splatters my arm and chest must make me look like a strange nightmare.

“Clara?” Alaric’s voice comes from the far end of the hall. He stares open-mouthed.

I don’t respond, too busy watching the female for any sign that she might attack.

Alaric rushes to my side, and only then do I drop my arm, but I don’t sheath the dagger. My hand is shaking so hard I’d probably end up stabbing myself in the leg if I tried.

More vampires fill the hall. Hushed words of a dozen voices mingle into a din of unintelligible words.

“She will die!” the woman snarls even as she backs up.