I glanced around and noticed everyone was focused on their dance partners. I lifted my hand from his arm and touched his slender neck—cold and pulseless. I leaned in closer to inspect it, puzzled. Why was there no trace of a disguise mask or any seam where it connected to his skin?
"What are you doing?" he asked, blinking in confusion.
I pinched his face again. This couldn't be real skin, right? It had to be a disguise mask. But why did a natural flush appear after I pinched it?
I casually pressed his lips and checked his teeth. Strangely, there was no trace of any dental appliance!
He chuckled and pulled away my busy hand, his voice suddenly low and husky, teasing with a sly smile, "Princess, do you realize you're molesting me?"
Molesting?! If it were Dene, he wouldn't say something like that.
God, he really—really—wasn't Dene!
Who was he, then?
Why did he feel so familiar?
Especially, "Why are you calling me Princess?"
"Because I was once Princess Sibylle's personal guard, and I like calling you Princess. I'm not the Dene you know. I'm a bloodkin!" As he spoke, his eyes turned crimson, and his fangs clicked into view.
Suddenly, I felt slow to react. Someone as sharp and perceptive as Lionel would have noticed if Dene had been disguised as a spy near him. How could he have let him become the executive director of the Rose Baron Hotel?! I suddenly realized with dread that I had messed with someone I shouldn't have.
He leaned in, inhaling deeply near my face. "Margie, what are you thinking? You seem disappointed that I'm not the Dene you mentioned. Ah, you're not secretly still fond of that Dene behind the Baron's back, are you?"
"No, not at all… Dene is just a friend. He… he just likes pulling unexpected pranks."
I smiled calmly, but inside, I was on high alert. "Winans, please retract your fangs. I'm afraid they might scratch my face. I went through so much trouble today to make myself look more impressive than Lionel!"
But then, Lionel had to show up with those stunning wings, making me swoon for a long time. Someday, I'll make myself a pair of wings to surpass him. Of course, I can't grow natural wings like him, so I'd have to strap on fake ones, which would probably end up being more of a spectacle than impressive… Wait, no, I need to stop my wandering thoughts. I'm in a dangerous situation right now.
"Heh…" His cold breath brushed against my face as he inhaled again. "I really want to bite you."
"I'll take that as a compliment. If you don't retract them, I'll scream, and my scream is deafening!" My legs were stiff and trembling. This Winans was no pushover, and here I was joking with him.
This was bad. Vampires were everywhere—above me, surrounding me. With Lionel absent, I truly felt surrounded on all sides.
"Margie, are you scared? Don't you like red eyes and fangs?"
Winans' hand crept up my arm, moving toward my neck. I took a sudden step back, putting distance between us.