WHEN WE REACH THE meeting point, neither Alex nor Cas are in sight. Tightening Raya’s hand in mine, I survey our surroundings. Considering the time we took in our hunt, I would have imagined they would have been here impatiently waiting, a retort hot on their tongues.
Instantly, panic swells inside me, and I draw Raya closer to my side. Pulling out my phone, I dial Cas’s number. He answers on the second ring. I frown when I hear the music blaring through the speaker. ‘Where are you?’
‘With a friend.’
My jaw ticks. ‘Where is Alex?’
‘Licking his wounds somewhere.’
‘You left him?’ I snarl, gripping my phone so violently I hear a crack pop through the screen.
‘He’s fine.’
‘Can you see him?’ I demand, growing impatient and frustrated with Cas’s cavalier tone.
‘Yes.’
‘What club are you in?’
‘Sin City.’
Hanging up, I search the streets until I find the neon pink sign with a half-naked girl pouring a drink flashing brightly above a propped open door with a line so long it takes up most of the sidewalk.
Pulling Raya with me, we cross the street and skip the line. Ignoring the shouts of protest, one look at the security guard has him stepping back and allowing us to walk through.
As we head inside, I gently fix Raya’s dress. It’s torn, but still covers everything it needs to since we turned it around, making it look like the rip was intentional to show off her back. I should probably stop destroying all of her clothes, but I enjoy it too much. Memories of hearing the fabric shred, exposing her bareness to me makes me feel hot all over.
Cas is leaning on the bar, propped up on his elbow as he speaks to a tall guy with ash-blond hair. My spine involuntarily straightens when I realise he is also a vampire. Raya flinches, looking down at her hand. I follow her gaze, looking at the ring on her finger. I notice she often has a reaction whenever a vampire is near. I haven’t been able to figure out what that ring is made out of.
‘Hunter, my man,’ Cas says with a grin. ‘Want a drink?’
He holds his glass up, the dark liquid sloshing over the edge. I can smell that it’s whiskey from here.
The guy looks lazily over at us, his eyes stopping on me for a moment before drifting to Raya. A low growl emits from my throat as I step in front of her.
‘Cool it.’ Cas rolls his eyes at me, placing his drink down. ‘He’s here with me.’
‘Hi.’ Raya smiles, peeking around me, her warmth and innocent nature only riling me up further. Sometimes she forgets how blood-thirsty and murderous vampires can be.
My eyes narrow when he gives her a charming smile, reaching forward to shake her hand.
Shifting so that she is forced behind me once more, I shake my head at him in warning. ‘That’s close enough.’
‘Sorry, he’s not usually this much of a prick,’ Cas mutters. ‘He gets weird about the girl.’
‘This is not time for socialising, Cas,’ I snap.
‘I’m the one finding answers, not rolling around in the dirt with my girlfriend.’
Ignoring his remark, I raise my eyebrows. ‘Answers?’
‘Gabe here knows your brother.’
Stiffening, I level the other vampire with a look to spill what he knows.
‘They were here only a week ago, maybe two,’ Gabe says, taking a long swig of his drink. ‘They kept going North. Something about visiting a friend.’
‘A friend,’ I repeat, mulling that over. ‘Who?’
Gabe leans toward me, frowning. ‘What’s up with your eyes, dude?’
Cas’s head snaps in my direction. He lets out a little exclamation of shock when he sees the rings. ‘Holy shit,’ he breathes. ‘You solidified the bond.’
‘Bond?’ Gabe blinks, whipping his head to Cas, then back to me. ‘What do you mean bond?’
‘Cas,’ I hiss, trying to silence him, but he ignores me.
‘You know, linked. Connected. I don’t know.’ Cas shrugs dismissively, like this titbit of information isn’t practically unheard of.
‘Where’s Alex?’ Raya asks, her eyes moving around the room, trying to locate her friend.
Cas points to a surly looking Alex standing in the corner of the room, bordering on the edge of the dance floor. The top of his shirt is ripped, and blood has soaked through the material. Underneath the bright, flashing lights, it looks like it’s a pattern on his shirt.
‘So, about my brother,’ I begin as Raya inclines her head toward her friend before she heads over to him. ‘Tell me everything you know.’
Gabe stares a little too intently at my eyes as if trying to figure something out. He shakes his head after a moment, his face relaxing into a smile, leaning back against the edge of the bar. I don’t like the way his eyes are constantly assessing me, like he is sizing me up.
‘He’s a wild one, that’s for sure.’
‘What were they doing here?’
Gabe shrugs. ‘Drinking, partying, feeding.’
‘You were with them?’ I ask, narrowing my eyes.
‘Yeah. For a bit.’
‘What did you do?’
‘This.’ Gabe gestures around him.
‘Was a girl with him?’
Gabe nods. ‘Yeah. Looked a hell lot like your pretty little friend over there.’
My saliva feels thick as I clench my jaw, exchanging a curious look with Cas.
‘Was she a vampire?’ Cas asks.
‘Yeah.’
Cas finishes his drink, placing it down onto the counter. He claps me on the shoulder as he passes, looking way too calm considering the information Gabe is so freely telling us. ‘Enough serious talk. Let’s dance.’
‘Cas,’ I snap, fury rolling off me in waves. ‘This is important. This is the whole reason we are here.’
‘I know,’ he says, turning to face me. ‘And I’m sorry.’
‘Sorry?’ I question, forehead crumpling as I stare at my friend. ‘For what?’
The knife slides into my back with ease. I choke on my own breath as I feel the silver sizzle against my insides. Gabe’s hand locks hard around mine as Cas moves to my other side, restraining me.
A knee-jerk reaction is to flee, but the knife digs deeper into my side, searing me with white-hot agony as it causes a ripple-effect through my body.
Blood floods my mouth, spilling through my lips as another knife drives into my side, piercing my flesh with vicious intent.
‘Fuck,’ I groan, gritting my teeth, fighting through the pain. ‘What the hell, Cas?’
‘Sorry,’ his voice murmurs. ‘It’s not personal.’
‘Feels pretty personal,’ I snarl, my vision blurring.
Throwing my arms out, I try to knock them back, but both vampires are much stronger and older than I am, making me feel like I’m lodged between two brick walls.
‘Raya,’ I try to shout, but everything fades around me as I fall into complete darkness.