over the crowd of vampires milling around and between tribute tables. When he turns his face back to me, there’s a somberness to his gaze I haven’t seen in him before.
“It keeps you busy,” he says quietly. “Keeps the others from feeding on you.”
I fight against a frown. That doesn’t make sense. He sounds almost protective, but that can’t be right. All the vampires do the same thing, don’t they?
They all feed on humans. It’s part of the whole deal. Technically, any of them could feed on me anytime, and a few of them have if they manage to find me during the day, although I do my best to keep moving around and make myself scarce if there are any vamps around. Connor must feed on blood too, although I’ve never seen him drink from anyone during the feasts that take place nightly.
Is he possessive then, maybe? He wants to keep me for himself?
But that doesn’t make sense either, since he’s never so much as tried to kiss my neck.
“Why haven’t you fed from me?” I ask abruptly. Too abruptly, I realize, as the tips of his ears turn pink.
He glances down at me without answering, his golden eyes warm. He looks almost shy. No, I decide as his eyelashes flutter against his cheeks for a moment—he definitely looks shy.
His gaze roves over my face for a moment, and then he pulls me a little closer, too close for a proper waltz.
“Would you like that?” he murmurs in my ear. “Do you want me to?”
My stomach flips. What the fuck? No, of course I don’t.
But… yes.
Some part of me does want it. The part that the prince and Rome both tapped into somehow, the part of me that craves their touch like a suicidal cow being led to the slaughter. My breath is raspy, and I can feel Connor responding—half aroused, half timid, like he doesn’t know if I’m turned on or afraid of him.
I’m not afraid of him, I know that much for sure. I also know that I’m supposed to be playing the role of an eager tribute, so my feelings don’t really matter anyway.
Dragging in a breath, I bite my lip and nod. It’s a mistake to meet his eyes as I do, because they darken with a blazing heat, and something in my body responds to it.
Changing course slightly, Connor dances me to the edge of the floor, then tucks my arm in his—a clumsy imitation of a classic gesture, but still kind of nice—and leads me through the crowd toward the large doors on one side of the room.
As we pass Nathan’s table, I can’t help stealing a quick peek at my brother. He’s been much better about not looking at me or acknowledging me in public, and I do my best to ignore him too so that no one will realize we know each other, but I can’t help worrying about him.
He’s looking a bit better, the dark circles beneath his eyes fading a little, and I let out a relieved breath. Maybe the remnants of whatever drugs he was on are finally out of his system.
But even as I feel that weight lifting off my chest, I notice a female vampire crossing the room toward my brother with a ravenous, seductive look on her face. My stomach twists itself into knots all over again.
He may be clean, but he’s still not safe.
Chapter Fifteen
We step out into the quiet corridor, and I do my best to shake off the parting image of the brunette bloodsucker making a beeline for Nathan.
Connor leads me a little way down the hall, looking as nervous and excited as a kid on prom night. Part of me wants to reassure him, which is stupid. What kind of vampire needs reassurance before he bites somebody?
Then again, what kind of vampire uses his food for dancing lessons? I might just have to accept that Connor isn’t your average vamp.
I brace myself against the wall but smile at him.
Dammit all, I’m not his girlfriend, I’m his food.
But his breath catches in his throat as he licks his lips, and I can’t look away from his gaze. His hands tremble slightly as he cups my face, turning my head aside to expose my throat. His breath is hot and fast on my skin. Jesus, I feel like I’m deflowering a virgin. I never have known how to feel about that.
His lips linger lightly on my neck, right at my pulse. He kisses