Damn it. Not the fucking lip.
“I worked so hard… trying to figure out the perfect gift…”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I cursed, dragging a hand through my hair. “My birthday isn’t even until next week?—”
The rest of the sentence died as I ducked into the cab in a huff.
It took exactly one second for her expression to flip. The pout vanished, replaced by the grin of a satisfied jackal. She bounced in beside me, rattled off the address to the driver, then grabbed my hand and squeezed.
“You’re going to love it,” she whispered, practically vibrating with excitement. “I just know it.”
All I knew was that by the time we left, I’d better still have both arms and both legs attached.
4
OLIVIA
Lark's heels clicked sharply against the concrete as we neared the entrance to the Track. Neon lights washed over the pavement in streaks of blue and red, directing people toward the entrance. Engines roared somewhere beyond the gates, the sound vibrating through the ground and up my spine.
The Track was no ordinary raceway. Supes came from all over the country to compete at one of the three magical circuits run by the Syndicate. Every inch of the five-acre grounds was woven with roads, twisting lanes, sudden turns, and magical traps designed to make racing as unpredictable as possible.
Like most things supes touched, they had taken something normal and used magic to make it ten times harder, all in the name of “fun.” Still, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hella entertaining. Watching it all unfold definitely got my creative juices flowing about what a machine and magic were capable of.
“Aren’t your feet going to hurt by the end of the night?” I asked, eyeing the thin straps and three-inch heels on her feet.
She grinned. “Beauty is pain, Via. Don’t you know that?”
Then she leaned closer, lowering her voice. “And if it gets too bad, I’ll just make Nathan carry me.”
A moment later, the air beside us rippled, and he appeared by her side.
I forced my shoulders not to jerk at his sudden entrance. It was bound to happen a lot tonight, so I better get used to it.
“Did you call my name, baby?” Nathan’s smile revealed the faint edge of his fangs, but his crystal blue eyes softened the second they landed on her.
He was a supe, but he was good to her, and that truth weighed heavily in my chest. Maybe it was because he’d only been turned recently. Maybe he still remembered what it felt like to be human.
“Nathan!” Lark threw herself into his arms and kissed him without hesitation.
I turned my head to give them a moment, though not before I caught the faint flush coloring his cheeks as he wrapped his arms around her.
Five years ago, she’d burst into the garage waving a blood contract, pride shining in her eyes.
I’d nearly strangled her.
In the supe district, a human without protection was prey. A contract meant you were claimed. Protected. Untouchable.
It also meant permanent. Forever.
No dissolving it when feelings faded. No walking away if it wasn't what you thought it would be. Death was the only exit clause.
I met Nathan, prepared to despise him. To hate him for convincing my young and beautiful friend into a life sentence, but by the end of that first night, I couldn’t.
That was when I learned he’d been turned, not born into it. He didn’t carry that ancient superiority most born vampires wore so comfortably. He told me he’d tasted her blood at a donation center. One sip, and he was hooked. He’d tracked down the donor list and found out her name. Curiosity became fascination. Fascination turned into following her just to learn who she was.
He thought she was the most beautiful being that he’d ever met. He watched her day-to-day life and slowly fell in love with her. He knew they were a part of different worlds, so he’d resigned to keep his feelings to himself and let her go, but that very same day someone tried to mug her and he couldn't help but intervene.
After he saved her, she offered to give him some of her blood as thanks. She took him to her apartment and fed him and spent the night with him.
