Blood Trial Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers #1) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,62

biggest blue eyes I’d ever seen.

“You’re in the thrall,” she commented, lifting a shoulder.

And that meant what exactly?

I soldiered on. “In my opinion, I captured the essence of Celine Dion perfectly in the second verse.”

A couple cracked smiles. Some of their expressions were downright adoring which seemed kind of strange.

… I’d still take it as a win.

A tiny win.

Which had to be another Stockholm thing because who was I kidding? I was ducked with a capital D.

15

“Do humans usually sleep on the floor next to photocopiers?”

I nuzzled into the surface under my cheek and frowned. Why was it so hard? I didn’t like it.

“It is night-time for humans, sir.”

The voice belonged to Frangelico. Mmm, loved that smooth hazelnut liquor.

I dragged myself upright. “One cupcake shot, please.”

Through bleary eyes, I squinted at a group of the most incredible specimens this world had to offer. They loomed over me. One of the women looked like she could sing flowers into existence and one of the men could probably flatten a village with a flex of his biceps.

“Spare the villagers,” I slurred, jabbing a finger in his direction.

A blonde in a pantsuit folded her arms. “What’s she saying?”

“I have no idea,” Angelica said, tapping her trembling bottom lip.

“I’m onto you, Frangelico.” I propped a hand against the wall.

I lifted my other hand to the wall on the other side. Felt different. I glared at the grey plastic.

A photocopier?

I was in a narrow corner space between a photocopier and a wall.

What the hell?

My mouth bobbed as I remembered waiting for Angelica. The level had been in so much chaos, I’d stood in this corner. Then sat. Then fallen asleep.

Ugh.

Rubbing my eyes, I threw off the remnants of sleep.

“Cute, isn’t she?” a woman chimed. “Like a kitten.”

“You can’t have one,” a man answered in silken tones.

The pantsuit woman cut off their conversation. “I still want to know what she was saying before.”

“Frangelico is an ingredient in a cupcake shot,” a man with jet-black hair said.

I knew him. And the guy with the shaved head. They were acting as Kyros’s bodyguards during his thrall. Were they his brothers too, perhaps?

“But why should Neelan spare the villagers?” Pantsuit asked.

She wasn’t the first to try deciphering my delirious just-woke-up ramblings. I’d said the words and had no idea what they meant.

“I fell asleep,” I declared gravely as I tried to claw my way up the wall. No easy task in a pencil skirt. Shit, half of my blouse buttons were undone. When did that happen? I only undid two of them earlier.

Cheap, crappy Jamieson clothing!

“Here, let me help you,” a man purred.

Accepting defeat, I took his hand. What were the odds I could get my blouse buttons fastened without anyone noticing?

Without any vampires noticing.

A sudden heat shoved the thought aside, burning away the last dregs of sleep.

“Kyros is coming closer,” I gasped, digging my nails into the stranger’s thick forearm.

My head snapped up to meet Kyros’s gaze no more than fifteen metres away. His eyes were riveted on where I clutched the male Vissimo’s arm.

“Get away from me,” I breathed.

Slowly releasing the man, I edged away until my butt hit the back wall of my corner.

“Wise move,” the man muttered, snorting.

That was about the last thing I’d do if Kyros was looking at me with murder on his mind. This guy had a death wish.

“He really has lost his head,” Pantsuit announced, crossing her arms and surveying Kyros. “I didn’t think it possible.”

Jet Black replied, “Told you so.”

“You’re one hundred and twenty, Gerome,” she snarled. “Quit saying told you so.”

“You’re late.” Kyros hissed the words, stalking closer. A pitiful whine slipped between my teeth as the fire ramped up a notch.

My body hadn’t forgotten our early encounter, and the fire was borderline painful.

But I had nowhere to go. I was literally backed into a corner.

The one with the shaved head, Lionel, ignored his brother. “Don’t you find it fascinating that she doesn’t want him? Usually it’s the other way around.”

“His last compulsion was thirty years ago though,” Gerome said. “And with a vampire. Perhaps that’s it. He has the hots for humans.”

The others grinned.

“She’s had a lot to process in the last few days,” Angelica interrupted, frowning at the vampires.

No kidding. Angelica seemed to have forgotten she was a massive part of that shitstorm.

“Please take this talk somewhere else,” I panted at them. “And take Kyros with you. Now.”

“Did she just give eight members of the royal family an order?” an auburn beauty asked, tossing daggers with her