Tempting Raven (Curse of the Vampire Queen #1)(19)

I feel like I could do anything. I feel more free than I ever have. Normally, I don't like being alone in a crowd, but right now, I feel confident. Powerful. Powerful enough to dance by myself. Dance like I own the room.

So, I do. I dance song after song, standing in the center of the crowd, rocking my hips and twirling in circles. Eventually, two guys start dancing with me, wedging me between their bodies. They're attractive, blond with blue eyes, one more muscular, the other lean. I feel like I should be freaking out-or at least questioning why these gorgeous beings would even want to dance with me-but I can't find that emotion in me. All I can find is that contentment purring inside me, whispering that I'm powerful, that I'm strong, that I'm wanted.

I dance with the guys for at least five songs, feeling more confident by the second. Eventually, I become confident enough to put my hands on them and run my fingers up and down their chests. One of them groans while the other nips his fangs at my neck, about to bite into my vein. I open my mouth to tell him he's going to be severely disappointed with the lack of power in my blood, but a voice whispers inside my mind, telling me I'm wrong. That I am powerful. So, instead I wind my arm around the back of his neck and pull him closer.

He groans, his fangs grazing my skin, teasing my flesh. A moan works up my throat, but the noise gets caught on my tongue as the buzzing briefly flickers through my veins. I jolt, startled from the sensation I thought had gone away.

"Don't worry, gorgeous; I'll go easy on you," the guy whispers against my neck as he slips his arms around my waist.

I nod as the buzzing continues to flicker on and off like a light switch. My mind begins to spin with haziness like the magical stars above my head. I'm dizzy. Confused. Lost.

What's happening to me?

I debate whether to walk away and or lean back and let the sexy vamp give me my first bite ever. Clearly something's wrong with me. I should try to find out, right?

"Relax," the guy purrs, his fangs roaming along the arch of my neck, not rough enough to break the skin, but close. So, so close.

I start to lean into him, ready to experience getting bitten for the first time in my entire life, but at the last second a foul, icky feeling stirs inside the pit of my stomach.

Don't do it.

Vomit burns at the back of my throat and I start to move away when suddenly his fangs are no longer touching my neck. Neither is his body pressed against mine. Then the guy in front of me staggers back, his eyes huge as he stares at something over my shoulder.

I start to twist around to see what's spooked him, when someone grabs me by the waist and throws me over their shoulder. My lips part, a scream working up my throat-

"I tried to do this the easy way. I really did," Kingsley says as he shoves through the crowd. "But since you insisted on being a pain in the ass, drastic measures are now being taken."

My head spins as blood rushes to my brain. "Put me down, you asshole." I smack my hand against his back. "I'm probably flashing everyone."

"Yeah, so? I'm sure it's not that bad of a view," he teases.

I swat him again.

"You know, you used to be a lot nicer." He adjusts my weight on his shoulder. "I'm not sure if this is really you or if you're just too high on whatever it is you took." He pauses, as if waiting for me to tell him, I keep my lips fused. "Fine, don't tell me. I'm going to find out in a few minutes, anyway."



       
         
       
        

I roll my eyes. Then puzzlement cracks inside me as he starts up the winding stairway

"Wait  …  You're taking me upstairs?"

"Yep." He sounds so smug.

I reach back and check to make sure my skirt's covering my butt. "Why?

"Because your mom and dad are up there and need to talk to you."

I scratch my head, which turns out to be an awkward thing to do while you're hanging upside-down. "Why didn't they just come down and get me?"

"Because they're"-he gives a short pause-"dealing with a situation."

What is with all these vague answers?

"What sort of situation?"

"You'll find out soon. Just like I'll find out soon what you're on." When he reaches the top of the stairs, he starts down a hallway lit up by gothic metal lanterns, and moonlight trickling through the glass window roof.

"Why? Because you think my mom and dad are going to make me? FYI, they won't care." I know my words are true, too. How could my mom care that I drank emperors' blood when I know she would've let me go upstairs and drink some straight from the vein?