Blood & Honey (Race Games 1)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Everyone’s looking at us,” Danica murmured, trying her hardest not to meet all their eyes and scowl. Normally, she’d flip the bird to anyone staring, but she wasn’t sure if that would be misconstrued as some sort of invitation.

“Not us, necessarily,” Arden clarified. “They’re looking at you. You’re the only human here.”

“And I believe it’s been decades since a human has raced in the Games,” Phi added.

Danica whipped her head toward him and frowned. “You didn’t mention that before. I assumed humans could be chosen all the time.”

Phi nodded. “They can be but it’s rare to find a human capable of keeping up with supernatural creatures in a race meant for death. Humans are easy to kill, and therefore, not necessarily the best teammate for a race that can kill you.”

“And yet, you chose me.”

Phi met her eyes. “And yet, I chose you,” he repeated, something heavier in his voice. The music switched to something a little slower and the dance floor grew crowded with people suddenly. Phi looked longingly toward the dance floor. “I would ask you to dance, but my father is watching.”

“Is it illegal to dance as a prince?” Danica teased.

“No.” Phi leaned down closer to her ear. “But if he saw the way I look at you when my guards are down, that would be dangerous.”

“I, however, don’t have such restrictions,” Arden declared, taking Danica’s hand in his. “You can dance with her later when you’re not wearing that adorable little crown.”

“I like the crown,” Danica reassured Phi.

“Good,” he whispered in her ear. “Maybe I’ll wear it for you later. . . and nothing else.”

Danica’s face flamed as Arden pulled her away. Arden seemed amused by the words, chuckling at the way Danica’s face brightened. The makeup hid some of the effect but when Danica glanced back at Phi, the sparkle in his eye was still there despite him turning toward a strange looking man and striking up a conversation.

“Phi is a master of switching roles,” Arden murmured as he dragged her to the dance floor before turning. Without waiting for her to move, he strung one of her arms around his shoulder and took the other in his hand. His free hand gently cupped her waist. “I learned from him how to do it, but I lack a sort of refinement he has. Sadly, he’s forced to hide himself far more than he’s able to reveal it.”

“That makes me sad,” Danica admitted as Arden began to lead her around the floor to the dance. She knew very little when it came to this dancing, but she was good at following. She used to dance with her father to the Oldies, swinging around the room to Unchained Melody. As a child, she’d stand on his toes while he moved. As an adult, she simply let him lead her around. Arden expertly led her across the floor, so she didn’t have to think about her feet or what to do. “No one should have to shrink themselves.”

“Heavy is the crown,” Arden shrugged, looking down into her eyes. “The only thing that keeps me from pitying him is his ability to take off that crown and mask when around me. . . and now, also you. When we’re in the car, despite having cameras on us, Phi won’t care about his title. Besides, I’ll be disabling the camera inside our car.”

“There’s not rules against that?”

“There are no rules once the race starts.” Arden shrugged. “We won’t be the only team doing so. Some leave it because they want their fame, but most don’t want their secrets being spilled. You’ve seen a list of the teams, but they’ll all be introduced when the King takes the stage.”

They fell into silence as they moved around the dance floor. One song turned into another, and Danica didn’t slow, absorbing Arden’s warmth.

“You know,” Danica murmured, drawing Arden’s gaze. “You and Phi are not what I expected when you showed up declaring you were vampires.”

“No?” He smiled. “Expected us to sparkle, did you?”

Danica snorted. “Not at all. I just expected to. . . not like you, I guess. At first, I assumed I could come race and just go home after without anything different. But now. . .”

“Now?” Arden encouraged when she trailed off. When she still didn’t answer, he leaned close. “But now, you can’t imagine life without us.”

Danica scowled. “I didn’t say that.”

“Now, you’ll never look at a human man the same way again.”

Danica rolled her eyes and looked down. “You’re an arrogant bastard.”

Strong fingers moved from her waist and cupped her chin, raising her head until her eyes met his. The teasing light was gone and instead, he was completely serious. “Now, I’ll never stop seeing you all around me, in the sound of an engine purring, in the smell of gas, in the bite of your favorite flavor of cheesecake that you refuse to ask for and yet, it’s been magically provided as often as possible.”

Danica’s heart jumped in her chest. “Arden—”

“Our lives are on the line in this race,” he continued, not wanting to hear her words, as if he expected her to rebuff him. “If we lose, even if we survive, I still die. It seems silly to hold myself back from saying what I feel,” he admitted. “I’m supposed to be this imposing vampire, and most of the time, I’m exactly that. I’m cold. I’m an asshole. You’ll probably want to stab me often. But you make me want to be different.”

“Less of an asshole?” Danica asked, raising her brow.

“Well. . .” He grinned. “Maybe not too much less.”

Danica snorted, but she met his eyes and ran her fingers along the nape of his neck. “I didn’t expect this.”

“The best things usually aren’t expected,” he shrugged. “But if we survive this, if we win, don’t expect us to disappear from your life. I know Phi feels the same. You can go back to Rockville, and we’d still follow you until you told you to leave you alone.”