Children of the Fallen: In Cold Blood (BOOK #2)

Chapter 10: Where'd Those Fighting Skills Go, Huh?

Victoria Brooks- Finley

Since last night I've been beyond annoyed, I just want this week over. Last night I received too many calls from my guards tasked to follow and help clean up after certain High Royals who like to just feed and kill without thought of the repercussions. Which oddly enough doesn't consist of Morgan and her friends- and I use the word friends very loosely. She's stuck to her promise to me that she'd keep her shit under wraps and she has. As for the other High Royals who go out, they don't really give a shit.

I didn't appreciate getting a call from this NYPD Lieutenant about a suspicious attack in Brooklyn- throat torn at, blood drained, etc. I hate having to deal with human law enforcement to sweep things under the rug. NYC is not a place that the whole "animal attack" thing can work so they really have to do some intense covering up which always comes with a price whether that be money, drugs, murder, really anything. It's always inconvenient. After getting that call I was about to tear off Morgan's head- her stumbling back last night coated in blood and the tearing at the throat screamed her but as it turns out it was one of Mila's older daughters Varyn. The only High Royal said to be in Brooklyn last night while Morgan, she informed me was busy tearing through a bar full of people in some small town nearby with Scarlett. I rolled my eyes because of course they did, Scarlett said she had it cleaned up- thank God I can't imagine how that phone call would've went. I only have a decent relationship with higher up law enforcement because the times they have to clean up after one of us is rare. I deal with the rest, if they found out the actual number they'd probably all become hunters as well.

Pierce helped me relax after all of that. His presence just does that to me. I slept so peacefully wrapped in his arms that when I woke up to my jarring alarm at 9am I had forgotten that including today I still have 5 days left of this. Monday to Sunday. Fuck. And tomorrows Morgan's birthday. Fuck.

Thankfully tonights "party" is just a ball, no humans to hand out like party favors at least not until later when Lucien ultimately does that but amongst the Fallen and other High Royals who choose to stick around after the ball instead of going out like the rest of us. I just have to get through a couple of hours of mingling, drinking- though not to the extent I would like, and dancing. I've never been a big fan of dancing, it always felt embarrassing to me because I can't really do it but when I'm with Pierce it's not too bad. Aside from getting to be around him, he brought up a good point- if we're out on the dance floor it means less time conversing with people. So this week I'm a huge dancer.

Pierce and I sway to the music with his hands on my waist and a light, inviting gleam in his eyes accompanying his warm smile. "Remember when we weren't allowed to be together at these."

I chuckle remembering all the Ascension weeks centuries ago where he stood awkwardly in the corner the entire time. "Ah yes when my father would've tore your head from your body if he saw us dancing like this."

"We couldn't even look at each other."

"I recall glancing over at you every now and then." I say lowly.

"And every glance made it harder to ignore you."

"That was the intention."

He smiles softly, "I love you."

"And I love you."

After dancing for a while we go to the bar for drinks to prime ourselves before inevitably having to converse with others once more. I get straight whiskey in a glass and he gets a Moscow mule. We slowly drink them prolonging the time between this and speaking to people. Henry, Chloe's older brother makes it a point to walk past me and raise his drink to me with a stupid smirk on his face as he's been doing this whole week and at every Ascension. I had to softly dig my fingers into Pierce's side as a nudge to remain calm- for both him and me. Every time Henry does that Pierce's eyes turn red and as much as I'd love nothing more than to watch Pierce kick the shit out of him, he can't right now.