Well This Sucks - CoraLee June Page 0,35

teeth. She was really trying my patience, and as much as I wanted to make her grovel at my feet for her insolence, I extended my hand to her instead.

“I solemnly swear that my gift was given with no ill will. I simply wanted to enjoy the pleasure of seeing you in that dress. Please join me at my table. I have a seat reserved for you.”

“Nah. I’m good.”

I saw red. It took everything I had to not punish her on the spot. I couldn’t lose my composure, not here and not now. I didn’t want to make a scene in front of the entire coven, including Graham and Claire. What was worse, I knew they could all hear her. Vampire hearing was such a bitch.

“I really must insist,” I growled through my clenched teeth.

“Okay, okay. Don’t have a heart attack. Can vampires even have heart attacks?”

I heard a couple of the other fledglings snicker. They quickly sobered up with one pointed look from me. I placed my hand on Drew’s lower back and guided her to the table at the front of the room.

“Don’t embarrass me and don’t make a fool out of yourself,” I hissed into her ear as we walked. “Sit, eat, and keep your fucking mouth shut. Got it?”

“Yep. Sit and look pretty. Got it,” she said, flashing me a big fake smile.

“You and I are going to have a talk later.”

I led Drew to the seat next to mine and settled her in before taking my own. I was going to be on edge until this dinner was over. I hadn’t been this stressed out in over a century and briefly wondered if vampires could have a heart attack. Fortunately, the lights were cut moments later as the blood course began.

Humans danced out between the tables, wearing nothing but their underwear. The music thumping through the speakers was haunting and sexual. Steady. They danced with their hips swaying, their limber bodies contorting in various positions as they lyrically made their way to their assigned tables.

“What in the cult fuck is this?” Drew whispered when the humans started crawling onto the tables.

“Keep quiet,” I hissed. If she had read the goddamn pamphlet, she would have known to expect this.

“Oh. Hello there. I’m Drew, what’s your name—oh, you’re just going to dance on me. Okay. This isn’t weird at all.” I saw flashes of Drew’s face in the candlelight as a particularly eager human straddled her and started grinding her lap. “So, do you come here often? Wow. You’re just really going to grind all up on me. I’m not mad about it, because you’re surprisingly attractive, but personal space is kind of a thing for me…”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a calming breath. “Drew. It’s part of the ceremony.”

“I think I’ve ceremony-ed enough for the night. Can you, uh?”

“Enough,” I said before calling the blond man in his boxers over to me. I could smell his sweat on his skin. I could hear his thudding pulse. “Lie on the table so my fledgling can feed. She doesn’t know how to control her venom yet. You might become a vampire tonight, Archer.”

He started trembling on the table. “King,” his low voice said. “That would be such an honor. I’ve been waiting all my life for this privilege. Thank you—”

“Shut up. I said she might turn you. She could kill you, too.” He gasped but kept silent. Most humans were willing to risk death for a chance at immortality. I turned to Drew, who looked terrified. Her plush lips were parted in shock, and she looked like she wanted to flee the dining room. Graham and Claire were already feasting on a woman that was a regular server here. “Feed,” I ordered her.

“Yeah, that’s not happening,” her raspy voice replied. I could hear the lusty hunger in her tone. She was hungry. I recognized the look in her hooded eyes.

“Feed, Drew. I know you want to.”

“What if I kill him?” she snapped, and Graham stopped his feed to chuckle.

“Looks like our new vampire is afraid of a little bloodshed. Perhaps she’s not cut out for our lifestyle after all?”

Various council members laughed at his joke, but Drew simply pushed further away from the table, unaffected by their teasing. The server waited patiently, his eyes pleading with me to feed—to change him. Drew looked up at me, her big hazel eyes full of disgust. This was a battle that I clearly wasn’t going to win.

“Drew,