Freak Show (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #7)(6)

“Now that’s what I’m talking about, baby!” Jez crowed with glee. “Now let’s take this five hundred and play some blackjack.”

It didn’t take her long to settle at a table with two others. I hung back, content to watch. In no time, Jez was losing a little but winning more. Surrounded by noise and chaos, people getting off on the rush of the risk, she was clearly in her element.

Sunrise was approaching. The casino may be void of windows and clocks, but I could feel it in my bones. I was beginning to tire, in need of a bath and some uninterrupted sleep. Jez didn’t appear to feel the same way.

Right about that time, two idiots at the next table over started shouting about cheating. The dealer was trying unsuccessfully to calm the commotion. A fist was thrown, and blood spilled. That’s all it took to shatter my control and bring my bloodlust bubbling to the surface.

I was suddenly aware of every heartbeat in the place. They pounded in my skull, reverberating through me in a discombobulated rhythm. So much blood, pumping through the veins of every human present. More than enough to bathe in. How many could I consume before security took me down?

I shook my head, refusing to allow those thoughts to take hold. Not here. Not like this. Taking deep breaths was impossible due to the lack of fresh air. Breathing in the scent of smoke, liquor and lively humans was not going to help. Stay calm. You got this. But I didn’t. A little personal pep talk wasn’t going to give me the strength I needed. Security quickly dealt with the troublemakers. The bleeder was gone. Too late though. The damage was done.

I grabbed Jez’s arm and leaned in close, whispering under my breath, “I’m leaving before I turn this place into a bloodbath.”

Her head snapped up, and her eyes were huge. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I wish.” I backed away, unable to be so close to the pureblooded Were. Only the knowledge that the blood was demon tainted kept me moving. After my stint on angel blood, no way in hell was I going to taste anything even remotely demon.

“Lex, wait. You can’t go alone.” She dropped her cards and held up her hands to show the dealer she was out before rushing after me.

“I feel so stupid for thinking I could come to a place like this and not totally lose my shit,” I growled, balling my hands into fists so tight my nails dug into my palm. I moved fast for the exit, finding with each step it felt farther away. No idiots designed these places.

“What about Arys? Can he help?” Jez fell into step beside me, looking worried. She watched me closely, ready to tackle me if I gave her reason to.

I laughed bitterly. “Yeah he can help me hunt and kill someone.”

Jez grimaced and surveyed our busy surroundings. “What about my blood?”

I stopped short, causing the waitress behind us to swerve to avoid a collision. I searched her emerald eyes. “You would do that for me? I don’t even know what to say to that. Thank you. Unfortunately, I don’t think I could if I wanted to. After what Falon’s blood did to me, I don’t think I should risk demon blood, even if it’s just half.”

She nodded, and obvious relief swept over her. Couldn’t say I blamed her, though I would never forget that she offered. Her blood hadn’t harmed Kale, but why take the chance? Besides, she was a friend. Not food.

“You can stay here if you want to keep playing,” I said, feeling guilty. I shouldn’t need my friends to babysit me.

“I can’t let you wander the hotel alone like this. Come on; let’s get back to Arys so he can bring you down. Or whatever.”

It was growing harder to form words. My focus scattered. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea for us to be locked in an elevator together right now.” I watched the green of her iris bleed across the whites of her eyes. She was ready, defensive.

“It’s cool. You don’t have that insane undead strength yet. I think I can take you.” She forced a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

Every person we passed was walking, talking food. I held myself on a tightly wound leash, knowing it would soon snap. I considered breaking into a run for the elevator. By the time we got there, I was perspiring from the effort it took to restrain myself. I wanted the sensation of my fangs sinking into flesh, the moment when the blood burst forth and the acrid scent of fear. The need for it made my stomach hurt.

The elevator door opened, and a man stepped out. I lunged at him, instinct overriding sense. Jez caught me around the waist, dragging me away. Her grip was firm. She held tight until he had hurried away, muttering after him, “Sorry. Sometimes the party just never stops for this one.”

She shoved me into the elevator, forcing me into a back corner. She hit the button for our floor but never took her eyes off me. “I sure hope you can deal with this shit, Alexa. It’s going to ruin the entire trip. We’ll have to lock you in the hotel room so you can’t run amok and terrorize the city.”

I frowned, unable to find any humor in the visual she brought to mind. This trip was off to a shitty start so far. It was discouraging. I just wanted to have a little fun. Was that so wrong?

I stared at the floor, trying to memorize the strange flower pattern on the carpet. The back wall was mirrored, and I avoided looking at myself. I didn’t want to see Arys’s blue eyes on me. So when I tired of the carpet, I stared at the screen near the ceiling instead, trying to focus on the running ads for various live shows.