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Cooper follows Sawyer’s instructions and plops into the rolling chair, swiveling it from side to side with his nerves. Monroe remains by the door, refusing to settle down and relax again. I can’t blame him. This whole situation is fucked up, and he doesn’t trust Cooper. If he knew what had gone down between me and the vampire when I first arrived, things would probably get violent. But just over the last day or so, I know Cooper is only trying to survive. He’s not a bad guy. He just has limited options.
“I don’t know exactly what to say.” Cooper fidgets and brushes his fingers through his blond hair. “If you have questions, just fucking ask them. Treat this like the interrogation it is and not like we’re about to become friends. I know we’re not. I know my place around here.”
Something about Cooper’s words bothers me. He automatically shrugs us off, considering my guys as threats to him.
“Don’t make this awkward, you guys. It’s already hard enough. Cooper was part of the herd that you saw. He’s one of the vampire performers at the Fright Fights, and he’s been...feeding me.” I regret my words immediately, because Cooper’s eyes flash silver. It’s obvious that I wasn’t the only one being fed. “And I’ve been providing blood for him. If he doesn’t get blood from me, he doesn’t get blood at all.”
Sawyer growls deep in his throat, his body turning rigid at the thought. “Not anymore. Now that we are here, Lawrence better figure something else out.”
Silence follows his comment, and the five of us stare at each other. I should speak up and try to redirect the conversation, but I don’t know how. I’m not used to this. I need somebody else to do it.
“You don’t have to worry about me. Hayley only felt bad. I didn’t even ask her. And I won’t ever ask her. I can go a while without blood, and I can always just...” His words trail off.
“Finish what you were going to say,” Monroe snaps, leaning his back against the door. “What can you always do?”
Cooper sighs and shakes his head. “I can drink from one of the donors at the Fright Fights. That’s how most of the performers get blood anyway.”
“Why does it sound like the donors aren’t cool with that?” Monroe asks. He finally decides to move from the door and comes to my side. I sit back on the bed, and both Knox and Monroe take places at my sides while Sawyer decides to perch on the corner edge of the bed.
“Because they’re not. They’re prisoners and sentenced to death. The Fright Fights make their punishments a spectacle. People pay to see this bullshit. But what can we do? We can’t leave. If we don’t fight, we’ll never get any time away from the herd. Some donors choose to compete just to end things. Death is better to some.” Cooper droops his shoulders and drops his gaze to the floor.
I scrunch my face, remembering the part of the show I saw. It was absolutely horrifying. I couldn’t imagine having to perform in it over and over again. Except I’m going to have to. I heard the deal Sawyer made with Lawrence. He agreed to participate as my partner. I never in my wildest dreams imagined such a thing, yet here we are. How will we ever get through? Sawyer is a badass. He can take down a ton of vampires. Fuck, he even cut off someone’s dick on my behalf. But killing donors? He doesn’t have that monstrous gene inside him. He appreciates donors, unlike other vampires. He sees a future where donors and vampires can coincide. I’m afraid that if he goes through with this, it could change him. It could change me.
“You can’t be fucking serious. What’s the fun in watching someone far less powerful than their opponent get slaughtered? That’s not an interesting fight. That’s just sick.” Monroe scratches his beard, combing his fingers through it. “It’s weak and shows nothing. If Lawrence wants a fucking good show, he needs to pit vampire against vampire.”
Knox reaches over and smacks Monroe on the chest. “Don’t give anyone any ideas. We can’t leave a mess in our wake. Remember our rule. We leave things better than what we started with.”
I blink a few times, tipping my head to meet Knox’s eyes. I’ve never heard that rule before, but it resonates with me. It makes me appreciate him and the Bella Crew more than ever.
It gives me hope.
“I’d prefer it. I don’t like fighting donors, but I also don’t want to spend all my time fucking generating blood. That’s torture. At least I can do my best to give swift, merciful deaths.” Cooper leans back in the chair and tips his head toward the ceiling. “Don’t judge me for it either. You’ll get it when you actually do something besides sneaking around here like tough guys, acting as if you matter in the grand scheme of things.”
I raise my eyebrows in surprise.
“Nothing matters. Not here.” Cooper turns his gaze to me for a second, but he once again looks away.
“Damn, you’re fucking depressing. If that’s what you think, then why even bother showing up here. Why don’t you just go do whatever the fuck you do? We don’t need you.” Sawyer reaches out and touches my knee. “We’ll figure it out. Hayley gives us a reason. Our crew gives us a reason. And we matter to them. That’s what’s important. I don’t need to change history. I need to make things good for the people I care about.”
“Whatever. Like I said, I’m following orders. I’m not here to do anything except make sure you know the rules. I was also told that I need to make sure Hayley gets enough blood. She’s going to need it. Dhampirs require a lot after triggering their innate nature, especially if they are expected to remain in control. They’re worse than vampires when they’re starving.”
“Not happening. Hayley will get everything she needs from us. Do you understand?” Sawyer proves his point by biting his arm and holding it out to me.
I freeze, staring at the dark ruby rivulets of his blood dripping over his skin. It’s so shocking that he so easily offers blood like he’s my donor. I don’t move. I’m not even sure if I’m breathing. My chest tightens as I continue to stare.
Monroe barks a laugh and drapes his arm over my shoulders, giving me a little shake. “Come on, little bird. Don’t leave Sawyer hanging. We can tell you want to lick it. There’s no shame. Unless you’re in the mood for me.”
I giggle in nervousness, shaking my head. “You’re too damn much, Monroe. You guys keep acting like this is so normal.”
“It will be if you just would act like a good little dhampir and take what you want.” Monroe’s playful voice turns husky, and my smile fades.
I can’t believe I’m about to do this. All four of them watch me as if I’m the most fascinating creature in the world. Blood exchanges are known to be intimate, but here I am about to treat Sawyer as a food source.
I tighten my jaw. “You know what? No. I’m not going to treat you like you’re my personal donor. If we’re doing this, I want you to bite me too.”
I expect Sawyer to protest, because the others watch us. But he accepts my challenge and pulls me to him until I face him and straddle his lap. Brushing my hair from my shoulder, he leans in and tears at my collar with his teeth, exposing my skin. And I feel like the sexiest woman in the world. Heavy silence fills the air, and no one says anything as Sawyer sinks his fangs into my shoulder. I gasp and cling onto him, the sensation of his mouth just as incredible now as it was in our moment of passion in the prison cell.
Sawyer moans and eases away, licking his lips. “Your turn, Hayley.”
