"Fancy seeing you here!" Ares grinned, clapping me on the back.
"Don't touch me."
Ares's smile faded, his head tilting to the side as he examined me.
"Ooh, touchy tonight, aren't we?"
Ares was a danger to all, not just humans. The most feared hybrid I knew of, stalking the streets of Nottingham on Halloween.
I shuddered.
"Looks like you've been feasting already, Jackal. Care to share?"
"I've eaten. Nothing to share."
"No?" Ares moved closer, and I met his gaze head-on. "What about the pretty witch you just told to go back inside? Are you saving her for later?"
Shit.
"I don't know her. Just another chick at a party."
Liar.
Ares clenched his jaw, his eyes moving to the door behind me.
"She's looking for you."
Fuck.
I thought she would've left by now, back to Eric or someone.
"Then she has a death wish."
I'm fucking spinning these lies tonight.
Thunder rumbled overhead, and Ares grinned.
"I'll leave this party to you then, spoilsport. Bloody vampires. So greedy."
"Happy Halloween."
"Fuck off."
Ares strode into the trees, and seconds later I watched him fly away, his sleek black bat identifiable by its silver wings.
I released a breath I didn't know I was holding and turned back to the house.
Ares was right; Ani was staring through the glass, her eyes searching for me tirelessly.
Walk away. You don't have time to play with her.
But I wanted to.
I wanted to spend the night with her, listening to her spill her life story while all the while enjoying her inner monologue of confusion.
Plus, maybe we could fuck.
It has been a while.
Then I could feast once more, before going back home.
So why did you protect her from Ares?
I exhaled through my nose, stepping forward so Ani could see me.
Maybe I still have some kind of caveman instincts.
I was human once, after all.
So you protected your prey?
That's all she was; prey.
But I liked to play with my food.
"Has he gone?" Ani asked, hurrying over to me.
I could smell the fear on her; fear that she didn't wear for me.
"Hmm?"
Ani rolled her eyes.
"The scary dude, who the hell was that?"
Oh, just Ares, a descendant of royalty so evil you'd wish you'd never been born if I told you their stories.
"Some drunk guy. He's gone."
Ani didn't buy it, but I was soon back into her mind, marvelling at the treasures she hid there.
She was creative and loved horses.
"Are you coming in?" Ani asked, rubbing her arms. "Please? It's so cold."
I didn't feel the temperature anymore. When she held my hand, all I could feel was the throbbing of the rich blood in her veins.
No heat.
"Sure."
I followed her into the house, and let her lead me into a room that was somewhat quieter than the others.
I liked this room; it had class.
Paintings that were probably as old as I lined the walls, and the deep red leather sofa sat beside a roaring fire.
The couple that were making out on said sofa needed to go.
"I think you should leave."
Like obedient mice, they jumped up, scurrying away without a single word.
Ani frowned.
"How did you do that?"
"What? I asked them to leave."
"No," Ani said slowly, playing with the choker around her throat. "You commanded it."
I shrugged, sinking onto the sofa as I patted the space beside me.
"Some people are followers, love. It's just who they are."
Ani sat beside me, resting her elbows on her knees.
"And you?"
"Me?" I gave her a wink. "I'm just a vampire."
"Of course you are, and I'm a real witch."
Stranger things have happened.
"How do you know I'm not a real vampire?"
Curiosity killed the bat.
Ani laughed, and my smile widened in response.
Okay, so she's hot. It's the outfit, I'm a sucker for a witch.
"A real vampire?" Ani echoed, turning to look at me. "There's no such thing. You've got contact lenses, fake blood and fake fangs. People have fangs done all the time now. Like, they pay tonnes to look like a vampire."
Interesting.
"But how do you know vampires aren't real?"
I couldn't help myself.
"You're joking, right?" Ani's lips curled into a smile so beautiful I almost bent her over the fucking sofa there and then. "Like Twilight? Teen Wolf? It's fantasy."
Fucking Twilight.
Set some high standards for us regular vampires there—not eating humans, only animals?
Imagine.
"They're magical, you know."
Ani turned her head to me, watching me with intrigue.
"Who are?"
"Vampires."
There was silence until Ani gave me a funny look.
"God, that's why you've gone to such efforts." Ani waved her hand at me. "You're obsessed with vampires."
Don't give it away, Jackal. This is too much fun.
"I bet you believe in werewolves too."
Believe? They're everywhere, darling.
"Don't you?"
Ani picked at the hem of her dress as she shook her head.
"Of course not. None of it is real."
I just saved your pink ass from a hybrid, sweetheart.
"I've got a thing for witches," I admitted, allowing my gaze to sweep over her.
She's nervous.
Her blood pumped through her body at a higher speed than it had before, her cheeks flushing as she bit her lip.
"Sorry to disappoint. I'm not a real witch."
I moved closer to her, enjoying the way her pulse quickened, her mouth parting to let out her excited breath.
"Even better."
Her arousal permeated the air between us, and I slid my hand up her thigh.
Her hand gripped mine, and she shook her head, her eyes fixed on my lips.
"I'm not that kind of girl, Vampire."
Oh, I love this.
"Come on, witch. What are the chances of us meeting again? I know what you want to do to me."
I do. I can hear the delicious thoughts, and she wanted me between her thighs.
"Stop," Ani whispered, as I moved my lips to her neck.
The pulsing of her blood beneath me drove me insane, but luckily I had control.
I kissed and sucked her skin as she gasped, arching her back as my fingers slid up her thigh, tearing a hole in her tights.
"Don't."
But then my finger skirted along the lace underwear that was matted with her excitement, and I arch a brow at her.
"You were saying?"
Shame flooded her features as she grabbed my head, yanking it to hers as our lips collided.
I had to be careful with my nails in her soft flesh, otherwise, I'd be eating her out for real.
Yum.
Ani recoiled at first, and I remembered the blood.
Tough.
Pressing my body onto hers, I curled my finger inside of her, coaxing her orgasm to come and play.
Ani's kisses grew impatient, and she tugged in my hair, pushing me back as she straddled me.
"Make me come, Vampire."
Challenge accepted.
She rode my fingers as I played with her clit, watching her become undone on top of me.
I wanted to fuck her, but there was plenty of time for that.
We had all night.