Hunger (Damnation Book 1)

Chapter 24 - Listen to the Music of the Night

As I descend from the stairs, it's amazing to me the amount of people that can fit in our foyer and ballroom. There are so many gowns and tuxes and masks I can hardly tell who is who. When I reach the end of the stairs, I see Randall come in the door. He looks very handsome and it is so obvious his tux was cut especially for him. It isn't surprising though seeing our school is a private school. Not just anyone can get an education there.

"Rand," I purr at him as I reach him.

"Rosaline?" he asks wrapping his arm around my waist. His fingers graze at my bare back and I stomp down the rising panic in my throat. I was able to have Brad touch me; I can have this guy touch me. "You look good enough to eat."

"Promise?" I tease, pressing myself against the front of him.

He laughs and leads me into the ballroom. Everyone is dancing and others are drinking. There are gambling tables in the large library. There are even piles of food and drinks in the dining room where people are grazing. Daddy even took the solarium and made it into a hall of mirrors type of deal. Every sin is present.

The night seems to be going perfectly. Rand and I dance and I tease him with food and drink until he is literally eating right out of my hand. I don't think it could go any better, and then there is a commotion at the door about half an hour into the party. Rand is busy kissing my neck so I refuse to open my eyes, but the whispers follow someone to me. My curiosity is peaked now and I have to open them.

My golden angels.

"Michael, Gabriel," my father begins coming up behind us. "I do not remember sending you an invitation."

"Do we need an invitation to see what our brother is up to?" Michael asks, his eyes not leaving me. Even Gabriel is staring at me. Both look like predators instead of guys just trying to get into my pants. I can feel their anger over Randall's hands roaming over my body.

"Come on, Rand. Let's let them talk." I push Randall over to the side, trying to get out of the line of fire and I'm afraid of what Randall may overhear.

"Isn't that the guy you and Chase were fighting over last year?" he whispers in my ear. When I nod, he asks, "He thought you were cheating on him with your uncle? How bent was he?"

"I know, right?" I agree. "He never listened to me."

I let go of a breath I didn't know I was holding. My eyes don't stray from the archangels while Rand talks to me. Why are they here? I told both of them to leave me alone. My father is speaking to them but Michael stares at me instead of him. Those eyes stare deep down and I feel like I'm naked. It's like he sees something inside of my mind that I don't know about. Sliding my eyes over, I look at Gabriel and I see hurt in his eyes. When did he go from badass archangel to a wanting puppy dog? As if he catches my thoughts, the glint returns to his eyes. If I'm going to compare him to a dog, it might as well be a Rottweiler or a pit bull. I don't understand how they are working together after everything that's gone down this past year. If Michael truly loved me the way he said he did, Gabriel and him should be at one another's throats, not teaming together against my father. I swallow and turn back to Randall. It's better for us not to be here. "Want to go find a quiet place until the game begins?"

Randall smiles and pulls me out into the gardens. My father prides himself in the landscaping of our backyard. Once out of sight, Randall pushes me against the ivy clinging to the stone wall. I smile as he starts to kiss me wherever his lips can touch, helping me push the faces of those angels from my mind. I can't think about them right now and get this job done. "Be mine," he murmurs between kisses.

"For how long?" I ask huskily. This is so similar to last year. A shiver races up my spine at the memory of taking Chase's soul.

His hands come up and force me to look him in the eye. "For once, I am not spending my money and you don't belong to anyone. Tonight you will do what I want because I want you to, not because I am paying you."