Xander's POV:

"Please enjoy!" The same words rang from the same woman that was here the day I got Doe.

Her shop was only open once a month, and always on the days after a bloodmoon, knowing that business would be good.

The crowd here showed it as well, but I got here with Layla early enough for us to be the first group to be let in.

To get the first pick of pets.

Step one: Check.

"Watch the step there," I advised while we passed through the door, remembering how that cursed thing tripped me up the last time I was here.

Something that, to this day, Doe has not let me live down.

My eyes drew over the oddly lit room, finding it very similar to the first time I was here.

Eight rows of these young girls filled the center each one ranging from three to twenty of them, all chained together with those who shared their blood type.

All staring blankly straight ahead while the rest of the vampires swarmed them.

A sight that, this time, sent a strange guilt-ridden knot tying itself in my stomach.

Which forced my gaze to the back of the room where I had first found Doe.

The AB positives were still kept at the back of the room.

"So, which blood type were you thinking?" I asked the girl beside me, in an effort to get my mind off this.

She tapped her pointer finger against her lips, eyes trailing over the girls.

"Well, I have been craving our old one for a while now,"

"AB positive it is then," I concluded with as much positivity that I could muster, starting our path to the back of the room.

"What about you?" she began, "Which one are we going to be splitting this time? I'm thinking Either one of the O's or B-negative."

The memory of the taste of Khloe's blood ran across my tongue at her last suggestion, causing me to swallow and clear my throat before speaking again.

The words I had been rehearsing in my mind ever since this plan was set.

"Ah, right, about that," I started.

Her head practically whipped towards me at the first sign of my...uncooperative response.

She kept her eyes wide, but I could see the slight pinch of dissatisfaction already present in her brows.

"I uh... I was thinking about holding off on that for a little bit. It's just been a while since it's been just me living in that room, and I kind of missed the quiet," I even added a yawn to the end of that sentence to make it sound more casual.

I doubted she knew me well enough to know how false that statement was.

As painful as that realization was...

"So my plan was to get another one for us to split after the next bloodmoon," I finished.

That would be enough time to come up with something fool-proof.

Finally, her eyes squinted to match the look her eyebrows were already showing me.

It made me think for a second that she somehow had seen right through my lie.

"You know that means that you're not going to see me as ofter, right?" her tone was flat.

"I-I know, But we can meet up for other reasons," I was grabbing at any excuse I could find at this point, trying to get that look off her face, "Plus, it'll only be for the season, then we can go right back to how it used to be."

She hummed for a short moment, eyes head turning back towards our destination.

"I guess," was her reluctant response. "Looks like I'll just have to figure something else until then."

Then, unnaturally quick, her disposition changed to a cheery one, my body faltering a step as her arms wrapped around one of mine, pressing her body against it.

I failed in catching my shock before it showed at her... unexpected action, my heart thrumming loudly in my chest.

A small smile sat on her face as she kept herself there as we walked.

Everywhere she touched me chilled my skin.

A soft, reminiscent sigh passed her lips, "I'll miss my little meet-ups with my Alex until then, you know," She batted her lashes while peering up at me.

Which caused an unfamiliar pile of emotions to start battling each other in my head.

I didn't want to waste time figuring them out, and instead just kept talking, trying to force myself to relax where she had her hold on me.

"You can borrow from your siblings until then, right? I know Lucien has a pet."

Due to her unfortunate family setup, her brother was the only one she was actually close to.

I swear I heard her scoff.

"He does, but he doesn't let me anywhere near her." She spoke with a slight hiss

Smart dude.

"I see," was all I could think to say

And luckily the only thing I needed to say because we had finally reached the back of the shop.

There were five of them this time, opposed to the two that were left when I was here.

I stared at the second girl in the line while my brain decided to give me flashbacks of who stood there nearly 23 months ago.

The terrified look I could spot even through the facade these pets were forced to show.

Same as the ones that stood before us.

I couldn't even begin to imagine that kind of look on her now.

My attention shifted towards Layla as she released my arm and stepped in front of the line of girls, looking over each one.

"Which one do you think has the most similar mannerisms as the last one?" She asked, motioning for me to come and look.

I felt my head lower as I did, that odd guilt brewing again.

That was a weird question to try and answer.

I felt like most of these girl's mannerisms were the same right odd the bat.

It's what they were trained from birth to do.

The only reason Doe gained her personality is because she had the space and time to obtain one.

Deep down I knew that none of these girls were going to be able to last that long.

Not with her.

Which is why I didn't want to be the one to decide whose fate I was going to solidify.

"It's hard to say. They all seem the same right now."

Jeez, I sound like Nico.

A nicer version, but still.

"Huh. You're probably right. With a little training, I'm sure I can turn them into what I want."

She quickly snatched the shackles of the second girl in line, somehow causing my heart to lurch.

And a panic as if that was the same girl that it was 23 months ago...

I blew out a slow breath, calming myself down while Layla called over one of the workers to free the girl she had picked.

The fact that she had almost the same dark brown hair that Doe did that day certainly didn't help.

But this girl's pale skin did aid slightly in helping me remember how to differentiate.

By the time the girl's shackles were removed and a leash was placed in Layla's hand, I had regained most of my composure.

I stayed silent as we were brought to the front and the transaction was made, just idly listening to Layla chatter about her plans for the ball.

I had to start step two here pretty soon.

And with her now talking about it, it was the only chance I was going to have today.

Luckily she was still talking about it, her new pet a few steps behind us, as we exited the shop and passed the crowd of vampires still waiting to get in.

Our ride wasn't that far from here... I needed to do this soon.

"... and it makes me wonder just how many people have actually gotten together because one of them asked the other to go with them."

"Has anyone asked you yet?" I questioned, apparently catching her off guard.

She didn't look at me, instead, she inclined her head up to the heavy snow clouds that loomed above us.

"No, not yet. Do you know if Nico is planning on asking anybody? He does still owe me a dance."

I felt that primal jealousy in me begin to stir again.

Still, I answered honestly.

"I don't know for sure, but I don't think he's going to. Events like these aren't really his thing, so I'd be surprised if he plans on going at all."

I know he didn't attend the last one. That fact alone is the reason he 'owes her' a dance.

"I see..." The disappointment was heavily noticeable in her voice.

"Do you... would you maybe want to go with me?" I could feel the tension growing in my shoulders by the second.

I nearly missed the thin line her lips made before she turned to me.

Still, step two: Check.

"Oh Alex," She cooed, "Is that the reason you brought me out here today?"

"Not necessarily," I started with an awkward laugh, "I just... I thought that it might be fun... since we don't have a pet to split anymore."

She didn't respond right away, instead looked back up into the clouds in thought.

She was quiet for a little too long, enough so for me to almost take all of it back with the excuse that it was just a joke.

Except for right when we reached the Limo, she finally spoke.

"Tell you what. Get your brother to attend that ball and give me what I'm owed, and I will be more than happy to be considered yours that night.