As I walked through the crowd of people at the ball, I couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed by the opulence surrounding me. The room was filled with the sounds of upbeat jazz, the scent of fresh flowers wafting through the air, and the clinking of champagne glasses as guests mingled and chatted. The women were dressed in flowing gowns of every colour and style, the jewels at their necks and wrists sparkling in the light of the chandeliers. The men, equally as elegant, wore tuxedos with tails, their shoes gleaming like mirrors on the polished floor.

The floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a stunning view of the city skyline, made me feel weirdly exposed, like someone could just crash into me and send me flying through the glass and down and down, until I smashed against the hard concrete. Dorian hooked my arm tightly as he led me straight through the ballroom. The colours and textures blended together in a dizzying display, the chatter and laughter ringing in my ears.

"I feel like everyone's watching me." I said through my teeth.

"That's because they are." Dorian whispered. "Just go with the flow."

"Easy for you to say. You're used to it."

Fuck, my palms were turning sweaty.

Dorian chuckled, "And you're not? You've been to thousands of these balls."

"But only once on your arm."

I shut my mouth the moment I realised what I've said.

"Isn't that a crying shame?" Dorian nudged us in the direction of the double door on the other side of the ballroom. "Come on, you need a drink."

I let him lead me to the double door.

"What's the end goal, Darascu?" I murmured. "You're letting everyone know we're now in cahoots."

"In cahoots?" He laughed. "Maybe I just wanted them to know they lost you to me."

My heart skipped a beat.

"You're screwing with my head on purpose."

"Are my words affecting you, Zaleria?" He put his hand on the round gold door handle and grinned at me. "Maybe I should keep talking."

"I'm not impressed by any of this, just so you know." I crossed my hands on my chest.

Dorian opened the door and invited me inside, "Didn't think you would be."

We walked into the burgundy-coloured room. Plush lounges and extravagant glass coffee tables lined the walls, and the room was crowded with only a handful of people. Some were lounging comfortably on the sofas, the hems of their dresses lifted, the straps on their shoulders slipping all the way to the upper-arms, shirts unbuttoned, ties loose. Despite the crowdedness of the room, there was a sense of intimacy and exclusivity. Especially as I noticed the humans, their throats and wrists covered with black straps, their eyes foggy, and their smiles only slightly unhinged and high. I swallowed my heartbeat as I took in the scene.

Vampires lounging on the sofas faced us. They knew Dorian. They knew me. I knew them.

There was Robert Dimski, my first and only boyfriend, bulkier and meaner-looking than when I had dated him, with his brown hair now messier and longer, dressed in a black suit, his thin lips and sharp fangs bloody. Amelia Moreu sat next to him, her arms draped over the sofa's backrest, dressed in a long black dress with a slit so high I was certain she wasn't wearing any underwear. Her red hair was in a tight bun on the top of her head, and it pulled her entire face up, emphasizing the sharpness of her green cat-eyes. I fucking hated Amelia. Mostly because Robert had cheated on me with her.

"Well, well." Dimski spoke, his eyes sliding over my dress like I was something to eat. "Look what the cat dragged in."

Gosh, seventeen must have been a dark time for me when I'd decided he was the right person to date, to lose my virginity to.

"If by cat you mean me." Dorian grabbed a glass from the waiter's platter as he walked by. "Now, if you don't mind, Miss Zaleria and I desperately need a drink."

"Thought you were banished." Amelia spoke, and grinned immediately, showing her sharp fangs.

My gums began to hurt, and for the first time in two years, I wanted to let my fangs pop out, I wanted to show them I was still one of them. But my fangs were atrophied and weak, and they didn't hold as much power as once upon a time.

"Still am." My smile felt sour and stiff.

"I thought you were coming with the other sister." Robert Dimski's grin widened, and his head bobbed in the direction of the door, where I feared Libby was eavesdropping.

"Yes, why'd you bring Odette?" Amelia completely ignored me. "That's not gonna get you any favours with the Zalerias."

Dorian chuckled, "Because, Amy, you're the prettiest when you have disappointment etched all over your face."

I almost choked on the champagne.

Amy's face fell for a split second, but she quickly composed herself and offered a pearly laugh.

"I see she's still your eleventh commandment."

My head snapped in Dorian's direction, and I noticed how his lip twitched just a bit. I've forgotten what it felt like having him on my side. Like I could do anything I wanted and no one could touch me.

"How about that drink?" He asked, and walked to the empty sofa without waiting for the answer.

I followed him quickly and sat on the sofa, hoping the furnishing would eat me up and make me disappear. But no such luck on my side. The entire room, vampires I didn't even know, faced us, their eyes tracking our every move. Dorian invited one of the humans over. My pulse quickened when the blonde woman sat between us and offered her covered wrist.

Her eyes were round, blue and lost, and her hair fell in waves over her exposed cleavage and neck. She was beautiful, enticing, wanton. And she spread out her small wrist my way, causing a loud thundering in my chest. I caught Dorian's gaze over her shoulder right as he brushed her hair away, revealing the black choker around her neck.

No, no, I needed to get out of here.

But Dorian unclasped the choker, the woman licked her plump pink lips, and an electrifying rush ran down my spine. Everyone and everything disappeared. Robert and Amelia ceased to exist, the idea of my parents on the other side of the door evaporated from my head. I wanted this, more than I was willing to admit. Dorian sunk his teeth into the woman's neck, causing a moan deep within her throat.

The glass of champagne almost slipped from my hand.

It's been more than three years since I drank straight from the vein. Three years of supplements and blood that didn't quite scratch the itch. I liked my lips on impulse, and quickly searched for a waiter. The young vampire noticed my gaze and walked over.

"Can I have something that's not straight from the vein?" My voice sounded gruff. "Please."

"Certainly." He nodded. "Any flavour in particular?"

"No." I grunted. "Just- quickly."

I scooted closer to the edge of the sofa and tried to focus on the intricate carvings of the wood panelling on the walls. I had to get away from the intoxicating smell.

"You know she's enjoying this, right?" Dorian asked, making me look at him. "Aren't you, Kiki?"

"Mhm." The blonde leaned against the sit, her plump lips parting, and her hand escaping to the hem of her skimpy black dress. "I think I might be getting more out of it."

"Kiki?" I spat, rage beginning to burn my veins. "Cherry and Kiki? Seriously, Dorian? Do you have another whore you want to rub in my face? Crystal, perhaps?"

Dorian's expression changed, and I couldn't believe I actually said that. Inhaling sharply, I stood up and fixed my dress. I needed to get out of here, fast.

"Cherry's not a whore." Dorian's voice lowered.

"Neither is Kiki." The blonde murmured, but otherwise seemed unfazed by my remarks.

"Whatever." The waiter brought my glass of blood and handed it to me. "I want to get out of here."

"Already?" Dorian let out a rough laugh. "We haven't even gotten to the fun part."

I downed the blood, letting the warmth soothe my veins as much as possible, but the fire still burned inside, and I knew I needed a lot more to feel sated. I put the empty glass back on the platter.

"I'm leaving."

"Wait-" Dorian jumped off the sofa. "Wait."

"No."

He grabbed my forearm, "Wait."

"No." I tore my arm away and faced him. "I did not come here to participate in your orgies."

His shoulders slumped, and a humourless smile crooked his face.

"You need blood."

"I'm drinking blood." I grabbed another glass off the waiter's platter as he walked past us. "See?"

Dorian took a step closer and said under his breath, "You're weak. You were almost taken out by a bullet in the lung, Odette."

"Okay, sure." I crossed my hands on my chest. "Maybe you're right and I need blood. But you and I both know that's not the reason you're doing this. I did not come here to play your mannequin, your conquest, a tool to further your agendas. You want truce? How about start telling me the truth and sharing your plans with me?"

Dorian took another step closer, put his hand around my waist, turned me around before I could protest, and led me out the door.

"How about you don't reveal everything to everyone before we've even started?"

The ballroom opened up before us, but this time, no one looked at us. There was something eerie about the so sudden loss of previous interest. My father has probably spread the warning not to engage with me. I downed the glass of blood and put it on the first platter I noticed while Dorian led me to the middle of the ballroom. The syncopated rhythm and the haunting, emotional tone reminded of tango. The movements in the ballroom felt synchronized, and Dorian and I slid into it in one single beat, his hand remaining on my waist while the other grabbed my hand in the middle of the air. Along with the music, my heart beat.

"And this is more inconspicuous?" I hissed as we began to dance.

"There is hardly a room in this place that your father hasn't bugged." Dorian said and pulled me closer. "At least this way we'll know no one heard the entire plan."

"Oh, so you do have a plan?" I pulled my head away and looked right into his eyes. "You're not doing this just so you can show me off?"

"Showing you off is a bonus."

He spun me around, then pulled me back against his body. Blood rushed through my veins a bit faster.

"What's the end goal, Darascu?" I squeezed his shoulder harder than necessary.

Dorian chuckled and his eyes jumped to the right. I followed his gaze right to my father's table, where he looked right back at us. I glanced away only to find Dorian's eyes on me.

"It's Aunt Ekaterina." Dorian said. "Your father didn't know I had an Elder in my ancestral tree. I'm climbing up his 'eligible bachelors I want my daughters to marry' list."

My heart thumped in my chest, "You- What are you-"

Dorian smiled. Not a smirk, or a mocking grin – a smile. Just like back in the elevator, my entire brain rewired and each nerve cell turned to his answer.

"My and Libby's wedding will be moved to a sooner date." The smile gained something slightly malicious. "Your presence here only seals the deal. Your father is scared I'm going rogue and he'll want to snatch me before it's too late. Congrats, Ette, we might very soon become family."

All of those nerve cells went wild and crashed into each other. I couldn't quite put my finger on what bothered me the most about that sentence. The fact he used me. Or that he had no intention of getting me back on the Council. No. He was planning to take my seat forever.

"Dorian." Iron-taste anger coated my tongue. "I need to talk to my father. You need to get me back on the Council."

"Don't worry, Odette." Dorian kept me firmly against him as we danced through the ballroom. "Your wish is my command."

Nothing about that sentence made me feel better.

"I'm serious, Dorian."

"So am I." He glanced above my head, like he couldn't quite look at me as he spoke. "Haven't you heard? You're my eleventh commandment. I march to the beat of your drum."

My eyes traced his Adam's apple, the edge of his jaw, and the black of his lashes. I couldn't read him. I never could have read him. What hid behind those dark blue eyes?

He looked at me, "Or I'm the mastermind, and all of this is an elaborate plan to further my own agendas. Either way, I will get you back on the Council if you answer my question."

I gritted my teeth, anger beginning to rumble inside me again, "Which question?"

Dorian pulled me closer, "Why?"

"I told you why." I hissed. "I want to help Lucia-"

"Lucia is taken care of." Dorian cut in. "Why?"

I located Edmond across the room and lowered my voice, "-and take down Edmond."

"You can do that perfectly well from the outside, especially considering your contacts in the hunter community." Dorian said. "Why?"

Anger brewed and boiled. I wanted to slap him, strangle him, poison him.

"You'll never get me back on the Council." Sweat coated my forehead. "You want that seat for yourself and I threaten that, because you're well aware that father would much rather give the seat to me if I proved myself to be loyal once again."

Dorian chuckled, "The only thing I want to know is why you want back-"

"No." I buried my feet in the ground, taking Dorian by surprise. "I won't play your games. I have something valuable enough to cut out the middleman. I'm going straight to my father."

"Odette." Dorian grabbed my hand, but I tore myself out. "No, no!"

Too late. I was already moving through the ballroom, my heart pounding, ears ringing. No, Dorian will not steal my seat just like that. Over my dead fucking body. I walked straight to my father's table, barely realising that the movements around me stopped, everyone stared at me, and Dorian shouted my name.

"Father!" I shouted once I reached his table, and-

Hands grabbed me.

Panic seized me.

"No, no, wait." I struggled against the two guards that held me in place. "No, I have-"

As they dragged me away, I finally realised what happened and a tidal wave of shame washed over me. The moment it dawned on me, I stopped struggling against the guards and let them lead out of the ballroom. My own father would go as far as to throw me out of a ball if I merely tried to talk to him. Anger ceased as quickly as it came, replaced by sudden deep sadness. The guards left me in the hallway. Too flabbergasted to cry, I took off my heels and walked barefoot down the hallway. My memory led me to one of the open terraces on the eighteenth floor. This one was empty save for the lacquered wooden benches lining its length.

Once alone and under the starry sky, I fished out the single cigarette I stole from Jax. I felt homeless. Abandoned. Lonely. It made me cling to a vampire hunter and risk my entire existence just to feel like I belonged. I lit up the cigarette and inhaled, hoping the smoke would drown my mind since booze failed.

And I waited. Because I knew he'd find me. And I needed a few answers myself before I revealed my secrets to him.