A Tangle of Hearts (A Shade of Vampire #44)(49)

“What’s so funny?” Draven asked, chewing on a hunk of bread.

I wiped my lips with the back of my hand and swallowed the food in my mouth. Before I could respond, the succubi brought over gold pitchers and goblets for us to drink from. I clasped my hand around the chalice, sniffing the pale pink liquid inside. It smelled like roses and spice.

“It’s just that Jovi and I are really happy to eat food from outside of the mansion right now.” I laughed lightly, then cleared my throat and resumed a serious and respectful tone. “Not that we don’t like eating at the mansion. We do appreciate your kindness and generosity but—”

“But it tastes like crap, as you would so gently put it,” he interrupted me with a familiar smirk. I blushed, a wave of relief washing over me, thankful that he couldn’t see my face in that moment.

“Well, you know, when you have the same thing every single day, it gets drab fast,” I said and took a sip of my drink.

His nostrils flared. “What are you drinking?”

“I don’t know, the succubi are serving it,” I replied after another gulp. It was sweet, but it rolled down my throat with a refreshing aftertaste. “Want some?”

He nodded, and I handed him a goblet.

The drum music tangled with the sound of firewood crackling and the cheers of the succubi. Now more of them were dancing and making use of their hips to draw the attention of Bijarki and, from the looks of it, Jovi too.

Jovi had been left on his own to eat and drink in peace. But that didn’t last long, as he was swiftly flanked by two young succubi who poured him another drink and fed him morsels of food. He didn’t seem to mind. He laughed, ate, and drank his way through the succubi party like a young prince.

I kept myself close to Draven and dined in silence, while Hansa and Anjani were busy catching up on the other side of the bonfire. They threw the occasional glance our way and curtly nodded when our eyes met.

A few hours in, I felt a little light-headed. My senses expanded, and I could hear, see, smell, and taste everything a million times better. I smelled the sweat trickling down the bare spine of a dancing succubus, the plethora of roses and sweet spices in my drink, and the soft hint of musk and leather coming from Draven.

I heard the heartbeats of all the succubi around me, drumming against my ears. I turned my head to look at Draven, and his pulse echoed in my head and resonated in my chest.

I looked into the distance and saw small animals rushing through the tall purple grass beyond the camp in pitch black darkness. Without using my True Sight.

What is happening here?

“I think there’s something wrong with me,” I said mostly to myself.

“What do you mean?” Draven asked, his voice low with concern.

“My senses are amped up like crazy. I can see, like really see, without my sentry powers. I can smell the most peculiar things. I can…I can hear your heartbeat.” I breathed the last part out, and his lips curved into a smile.

“It must be the drink,” his hand sought mine and his fingers brushed over my skin, once again sending trillions of shivers down my spine. His touch was amplified as well, triggering new and profound reactions from the depths of my body, electrical currents coming in wave after wave. My breath halted.

“What kind of drink is this?” I lifted the goblet in my hand and placed it on the table. I’d stick to water from now on.

“The succubi are known not only for their seductive nature, but also for their celebration of pure life and freedom. Their potions have been perfected over time to amplify one’s senses. It’s what makes them such good hunters and fighters,” Draven explained. “I’m guessing this is one of their concoctions.”

“Wow, so this is pretty much what you experience from your smelly herbs, right?”

He laughed, and I melted at the sound of it.

“In a nutshell yes, but my state is slightly deeper, more detailed,” he replied.

“You smell like musk and… something heady, like leather,” I said. I’d just felt the need to say it, remembering how he’d described my own fragrance the other night. I could finally reciprocate the intimate gesture.

He stilled, his hand covering mine. I wasn’t sure he was breathing at that moment, but I could feel his attention on me. He didn’t need eyes to make me feel like I was under a microscope. My heart started racing as I tried to keep my emotions under control. His head tilted to one side.

“Your heart is galloping, Serena. What is it?”

I took a deep breath, trying to will myself back under control.

As much as I disliked it, I was saved by a succubus, who came and sat with us. She wore a soft, translucent white dress that covered her trunk but kept her long legs and arms bare. She was adorned with heavy silver and gemstones.

Draven straightened his back and let go of my hand.

I had a hard time taking my eyes off of her as she leered at him.

Her hair was long and straight, its color a metallic shade of red. Her eyes were almond-shaped and twinkled like sapphires. Her lips were full and glossy red. She was dressed to seduce, and she seemed to fully embrace her nature, wearing a dazzling, self-assured smile.

My throat closed when I realized that I was completely invisible to her. She ran her fingers down Draven’s arm.

“You look too good to be true,” the succubus purred in his ear, making me flush and curse the effects of that spicy rose drink. My hearing was too good now.