My eyes slowly pan over to Vlad, and I can feel his heat radiating out toward me. Sebastian begins to growl, his territorial instincts taking over again. The smell of his lust
changes instantly, and suddenly I’m aware of why this is taking place. Vlad wants to claim me. To make me his own.
Because he knows I’m not Sebastian’s.
Shit.
They know I’m not Sebastian’s.
“We need information from him, right?”
I look over at Sebastian, but his eyes are fully trained on his friend.
“What if I played along?”
“No.”
“If everyone knows I’m not yours, they might not harm me if I begin to attach myself to Vlad.”
“No.”
“Sebastian—”
I watch his eyes turn toward me as he falls back into the booth.
The tension in the room is rising, and I know I’m already in trouble. I can smell Vlad’s want for me. I can feel his foot snaking against mine underneath the table. It makes me sick, but we have come here to talk with him about his father. About his father’s connection to Merti and how this all intertwines with Igo and the warriors.
If such a connection even exists.
“Fine. But if he makes one foul move toward you, he’s dead.”
“No better than the Cat but acting like one?”
Sebastian’s eyes whip over to me as my gaze settles on Vlad. I push my foot against his underneath the table as a grin crosses his face. He seems pleased with himself, and I hope he is. Our food comes, and we eat in silence, but I can tell alphas left and right are beginning to back off. Turning their heads away from us and training them back onto their own mates. Their own conquests.
Vlad has somehow alerted everyone to the fact that I am his.
And Sebastian is not happy.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Vlad asks. “You haven't touched your food.”
“I’m a bit cold, more than anything,” I say. “Do you have somewhere I could warm up?”
“My dear, why didn’t you say something? I have the perfect place for us to be.”
Sebastian grits his teeth as we slide from the booth. Vlad walks away without even paying, and I’m not sure what to think of that.
People clamor around the booth, cleaning it off quickly and the action is curious. I’m not sure why any of this is taking place, but I figure it's probably because of who he is.
Who his father is, really.
Vlad offers me his arm, and I take it. Sebastian’s mind is screaming. Growling and ready to rip Vlad’s throat out.
I try to block him out. To disconnect myself with him.
But it’s hard.
Sebastian’s electricity is still vibrating my rib cage.