Keeping Secret (Secret McQueen) - By Sierra Dean Page 0,82
Let’s see how you like to take it.” Our gazes locked, the blackness back in his eyes, but the fear and uncertainty remained.
When I bit into his wrist, he jerked away. He fought against me, and I watched him as I tore open the skin without a care in the world for how badly it would hurt. There was no meaty flesh or thick muscle to resist me, just sinew over bone.
Almost no blood came out of the wound. It was a wonder he had any left at all. My gaze never left his as I wiped a smear of blood from the open bite mark onto my palm and licked my lips to clean the remainder off. He tasted bitter, a little too much like copper without any of the sweetness one should find in fresh blood.
I pursed my lips. I was disgusted with myself, but I couldn’t let him see it.
“I’ve had you…” He made as if to laugh, but just wheezed. “And you…have had…me.”
“It doesn’t matter.” I rose to a crouch and loomed over him. If blood was shared between vampires, it forged a powerful connection, making it easier for them to find one another. It hadn’t been my intention to forge such a bond between Peyton and myself, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. “You’ll never get a chance to abuse it.”
“Never…say never.”
I didn’t respond. I had already let him use my time too much, and every second I stayed near him was an opportunity for him to get the upper hand again.
Back outside I held my bloody palm out for Sig’s approval. He nodded and shut the door.
“Your blood, as the choice was yours.” Without waiting for me to do it myself, Sig took my clean hand and drew a fang across my palm. His breath was shockingly hot, and I gasped before withdrawing my hand.
I wiped my fresh blood on the wooden door, which served the dual purpose of re-locking it and taking the first step of our ceremony.
Sig continued, pausing to lick a trace of my blood from his lips. “His blood, as he is the prisoner.”
I smeared the blood I’d taken from Peyton over my own on the door. The wood responded with a faint hiss.
“And her blood…” he angled his chin to Brigit, “…as her life is now the key to his freedom.”
Brigit, who had watched the steps in wide-eyed wonderment, now followed suit and bit her own thumb open, adding her blood to the mess on the door. The hissing grew louder, and a silvery-gray smoke curled out from under the layers of blood until all the red had vanished and the door was as smooth as ever.
“That’s it?” I asked.
“Did you say the magic words?” Sig asked.
“The…magic words?” I turned from the door and saw him smirking. “Oh you’re fucking hilarious.” I gave the door one last look, and for the hell of it added, “Abracadabra.” As far as magic words went, it was as good as it got.
Chapter Forty
How many supernatural creatures does it take to get a girl to her bachelorette party?
Two vampires, one sister of a werewolf and one New York City Police Department detective. Okay, so the last one might not be supernatural, but she was carrying a gun.
When Holden guided Brigit and me through the doors of New York’s newest new hot club, a place called Friction, I was glad I’d let the sentry pick my ensemble for the night. I was also glad to have accepted Sig’s offer to send some wardens to the club in advance. Just in case.
Once upon a time I would have shot the idea down before it was done being offered. Things changed. I couldn’t be so frivolous about my personal safety anymore. Not with the pack and the Tribunal depending on me.
Who would have thought I’d be instrumental to so many people’s well-being all at once?
I’d lived for myself and by myself for so long it was a big adjustment to make, not only to have people depend on me, but to let myself depend on others.
The club was packed full of girls wearing barely there dresses and men trying to get those girls out of said dresses. None of the men so much as cast me a second glance thanks to Brigit’s efforts in cleaning out the bridesmaid paraphernalia at the local gag shop. I was wearing a tiara that was festooned with fake diamonds, and had on a silver-and-pink sash that read