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"It's a ranking system, and it's not important right now. We have less than a week before we're forced to leave here. But the sooner we can go, the better. If anyone figures out we're hiding a vamp in here, all hell will break loose."
"Why can we only stay here a week?"
"There are rules." Riggs sounded impatient, but I didn't understand his rush.
I could barely sit up without my head spinning, and I doubted I could do a whole lot of walking. Unless he planned to carry me and Maisey, I didn't think we were moving for the time being.
"Like what?" I asked, faking a sweet smile.
He chuckled. "Your sister is turning into one of them. Anything I tell you might as well be getting handed straight to their kind. That means you don't get to know more than you have to. Deal with it."
"Maybe she'll join in with those rebel people you talked about. Then you wouldn't need to worry, right?"
"I told you. They're going to turn on us as soon as they get what they want. The werewolves helping them are fucking idiots. Including Felix."
"So is there something like 'the coven' for werewolves? Some big leadership structure?"
"There are packs. Each has an alpha who leads them. Some packs have smaller sub clans, like this bar. Full-blooded werewolves are called hunters, and the half-bloods are howlers, which-" he laughed softly, wagging his finger at me in irritation. "And there's no reason for me to be telling you all of this. Stop asking so many questions."
"Why do you try so hard to convince people you're an asshole, Riggs? Would it be so bad if you were nice every once in a while?"
"Yes," he said, voice completely flat. "Being nice gets people killed."
"That's not always true."
"And you know this from your vast life experience?" he snapped. "Or did you read it in one of those thousand ridiculous books that were on your bed in that apartment?"
His words stung, but I did my best not to let it show. "That's what you do, isn't it?" I asked. My voice shook a little, but I shoved down the hurt feelings and steadied my nerve. "Somebody cuts through your bullshit and you try to push them away by being a dick?"
"I'm trying to do my job," he said. "This isn't social hour. It's that simple. And I don't need to be lectured by a little girl who only knows what she has read between paperback covers or seen on TV."
"I'm twenty-three," I said, feeling silly as soon as I said it. Riggs might've been in his early or mid-thirties, but it might as well have been eons older than me. He had obviously lived through more than I could've ever imagined. I could see it in the depth of his eyes.
"And you don't know what you're talking about. The sooner you accept that, the easier this will get."
He got up and went to the door. "I'm going down to get you more food from the bar. Any requests?" he hesitated, then turned to face me, looking a little less like an arrogant, grumpy prick. "I'd suggest the tortilla soup. They make it on Tuesdays and it's got these crunchy things on top. Just a little spice but not overkill, too. And-" he cleared his throat, scowling. "Anyway. That's what I'd suggest."
I smirked. "Yeah. Sounds good. Thanks. Can you get something for Maisey, though? She hasn't eaten since we got here."
"She probably can still eat one or two more normal meals," Riggs said, as if to himself. "I'll bring her something."
Gravy Boat hopped down from the bed to circle Rigg's feet. Riggs looked down at him in disgust. "What does the beast eat?"
"Fish is his favorite."
Riggs' lip curled. "Alright. Get off me, asshole. I'll bring you something." He stepped out of the room, then popped just his head back in a second later. "I'm locking this, by the way."
"Would that stop a vampire?" I asked.
"No," he admitted. "But like I said, there are rules and traditions. They won't come here for you. They'd start an all-out war if they did."
"What if one of the werewolves or the howler things you mentioned smells Maisey?"
"They know you're mine. That will at least hold them back for long enough that you'll be safe for me to go grab food."
"Are you their boss?"
Riggs, who was still only visible from the neck up, considered my question. "I was their alpha. The pack leader for this region. I gave that up, but the influence that came with my power doesn't just disappear because I stepped down. So, relax. You'll be fine while I'm gone. Probably," he added.
"Hey," I said before he could close the door. "Could you get me and Maisey some basic toiletries if we're going to be trapped in here? Shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste? Hand sanitizer? Maybe even some fresh clothes?" I added, almost like a plea. I was running desperately low on my hand sanitizer, and I already could feel panic chills threatening to set in.
