Free SUIT and FANGS by Marian Tee Page B

everything---
    Slave away, Luka. Lie away.
    The rest of the night flew by as another pleasant haze in my mind.
    Someone tapped me on my shoulder and I turned, smiling and expecting to see another friend of mine. But my smile vanished when I realized who it was.
    I dropped the glass I was holding and it crashed through the floor. No one looked, not because the music was too loud – although it was, for human ears – but more because almost everyone else around me was either high or drunk.
    Shiiiiiit.
    “H-hey.” I had enough presence of mind not to call Luka by his name, not when he was so obviously in disguise. He had on a cap, a black leather jacket, tight jeans and shades. We Caros could get away wearing shades anytime anywhere since it was more a safety precaution. With his white-blond hair and violet eyes hidden away, Luka just looked like a very sexy, very mysterious gatecrasher…in house slippers.
    Shiiiiit.
    The sight of those bare toes made me wince. Luka was the type not to step outside his home if he wasn’t put together perfectly, the type who was conscious every second of his public image. And yet here he was, in a party where we all had the tacit knowledge of forbidden liquids being shared---minus his shoes. It meant he had been in the comfort of his home when he got wind of my extracurricular activity after dark.
    “Caylie.” The grimness of Luka’s smile made me flinch again.
    It made me forget all about what happened earlier.
    Yes, Luka had lied. Yes, Luka had hurt. But this – being here, in a party like this – it would be suicide for someone in Luka’s position, especially when he wasn’t making any secret of his plans to be the next Advisor.
    A part of me wanted to scream and call everyone’s attention to the fact that he was here – to destroy his dreams like he had destroyed mine. But in the end, I said quietly, “I won’t make a scene if you won’t.” My heart beat harder and faster as I spoke. Even though I still hurt, I couldn’t make myself blind to what this meant. He had come for me. Despite the risk of losing his precious career with the Brethren, he had come here. For me.
    “Even if you do, I’m still taking you away,” Luka said pleasantly.
    I tried not to shudder at his tone, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was beginning to scare me. Luka didn’t anger easily. I had only seen him angry once and it was not – pleasant. The gentler his tone was, the icier Luka’s rage tended to be.
    When Luka took my hand and pulled me with him, I didn’t resist at all, hoping my acquiescing response would calm him somewhat.
    Someone called my name as Luka slowly but firmly pushed his way past the crowd to the front door.“Caylie, hey, Caylie!”
    I cringed at the sound. No, not now, oh God of Caros, this was just going to get uglier. But his voice was getting louder, drawing more attention to us and I couldn’t afford anyone to realize who I was with.
    Twisting away from Luka’s hold, trying not to wince at his hiss of disapproval, I turned around with a smile. But the smile died on my lips when I saw how wasted Jeff was.
    One sniff and I knew he had been totally drowning himself in high-cholesterol blood. It would have given humans hypertension, but for weaker Caros – it was the equivalent of the most intoxicating liquor, as potent as poisoned blood but its impact would be more gradual than instant.
    Jeff literally swayed in front of us as he scowled up at Luka, booze giving him the confidence he lacked. “Is this jerk bothering you?”
    I quickly stepped between the two.
    Just as swiftly, Luka pulled me behind him, his violet eyes cold as he stared at Jeff. When I tried to get close to Jeff, Luka’s fingers wrapped around my wrist like an unbreakable manacle.
    Jeff’s face, already flushed red with liquor, turned a darker shade of crimson when he saw Luka standing between us like an impenetrable wall.
    “Who the fuck do you---”
    Tension snapped into