Free Last Bitten (The Emerald Night Series) by Lauren Ash Page A

corset dress to match her hair, which was treated with something to bring the red out against the black light that mused above.
    Focused on the angel’s glowing, red lips, Nia sipped from the rocks glass that was slipped in front of her. “This isn’t rum.” It burned, whatever it was.
    “Gin . It’s what the Queen drinks. If it’s good enough for her, it’s good enough for us,” said Hana as she turned away from the bar, looking like a cat about to pounce on something plump and delightful.
    Watching Hana was fun . Nia just squished along after the brown-eyed beauty as they eked a path towards on open black, circular standing table. There were dozens of them lining the outer rim of the dance floor. It was a ploy to suck them into the demon pit in the center, where a male could have what he wanted and girl could pretend she didn’t. But the boys knew otherwise in the bump and grind.
    The gin hit hard . Nia giggled a little as two such boys approached their table.
    “Ladies, care to join us?” t he tall, dark one said, like he’d done it a hundred times before.
    Nia looked at Hana for the response, unable to wipe her innocent, red smile away.
    “No , we’re fine,” said Hana avoiding eye contact, keeping her focus on another tight ball of yarn.
    “ What about you then?” The dark one turned shifting his dark-brown eyes to Nia. He was an Italian mix of some kind.
    “What she said,” Nia squeaked, dying for a giggle.
    “What? You can’t think for yourself?” He was growing impatient with the two fem me fatales.
    “Back up the truck now , honey buns. We’re not interested. Scat,” Hana shooed them away with her long, pink nails. They finally took the hint and moved on to their next victims.
    “He was cute . What was wrong with him?” Nia leaned in close to Hana, as she was tired of yelling above the noise.
    “Oh , do you not know that trick?”
    “What trick?”
    “Playing hard to get. We can’t just go for the first lot. I don’t care what they look like. Anyway, he had a small one. I’m tired of small ones. They just don’t do it for me anymore. I’d rather have an average boy with a big one, than a looker with a small one.”
    “You’re stuck on cock tonight,” said Nia , seeing a flash of green amongst the sea of dancing sinners.
    “Yes , I am,” said Hana, downing the rest of her gin. She took an ice cube and sucked on it with her sparkling, pouty lips, giving Nia a seductive glance.”Now you do the same, so we can dance already.”
    “This is a double , isn’t it?”
    “Yeah baby,” sang Hana.
    “Here we go .” With a quick tilt back, Nia swallowed the rest, slammed the glass back down, and let her new friend lead her out into the hot pit.
    BOOM . . . BOOM BOOM . . . BOOM.
    Dead center was where it was at . Hana knocked Nia’s hood down, and the two danced like they were more than just lovers. The music pumped through, within, drowning out all thoughts of the real world and their real problems—college, money, the busy barista job, overbearing mothers, ex-boyfriends, and the dorm-room rat. It was screw all and let’s have a ball.
    The music changed to something slower, something deeper, a carnal rhythm calling on all to find a partner, calling on all to move . Nia felt a hand tug at the back of her jacket. She turned to see the green eyes.
    Struck by love, Nia lost her breath, lost her mind .
    Hana pulled back at Nia jealously, like she was in it for more than just the boys.
    The green eyes flashed red , and Nia blinked—surprised, confused. Hana, dazed by the color change, let go of her dear friend as she was yanked away by a tight ball of yarn who had been eyeing her. The girls gave in to their boys, and Nia found herself in the grips of a tall, firm body with black, spiky hair that matched her own, lips ready to kiss, and features so sharp, he could have been the new Brad.
    Oh my God . . . Oh my God . . .
    She want ed to die right then and there, he was so hot. Nia looked