Vengeance (The Prince's Games Book 1) by Rebecca Grey (electric book reader TXT) 📕

the Vampire is watching or even following us. Following me. I'd doubt Juilliard would be good enough to chase after. But when my gaze finally falls back on the table, she's nowhere to be seen.

The hairs on my arm rise. She could be off finding another guest to entertain... or she could be trailing us... or, the much worse or, she could be spreading the word that there's a Human here. Saints, I hate the Hybrids. Can't keep anything quiet or to themselves, which only makes my life that much harder.

The swell of the music continues following behind us with its seductive sound. Juilliard's head bobs a little bit as the song changes to something more familiar. I keep my eyes trained on his back while I feel heat between my shoulders knowing that somewhere, someone is watching me.

"What was that woman's name that was entertaining you?" I ask.

"The Vampire?" He frowns at me when we reach the top of the stairs, Marcello and Hedda not far ahead. "How should I know? I'm not on a first name basis with these gals."

I'm disappointed but not surprised. Which is probably the same reaction his parents have to his life choices.

"Juilliard, Nilsa, come meet Hedda!" Marcello calls to us. He leans against the railing on both elbows, content as a cat.

When we approach the pair and I'm able to get a better look at Hedda, I notice her wide build first. While things like broad shoulders, knobby knees, and large feet are common attributes for Orcs, hers are a little bit more pronounced. If anything, it's still somehow flattering because her waist pulls in so narrow it gives her the perfect hourglass figure.

Her face is puckered with displeasure, making her cheeks sink in and her cheekbones look like blades that could cut a man. Narrowed gray eyes, which appear lifeless, pin on me as she sniffs the air.

"Who is this?" She tilts her head.

"Hedda, meet my dearest friend Juilliard," Marcello points and Juilliard gives a small bow. "And this." He points to me. "Is another teammate, her name is Nilsa Windsor."

"A Human?" she gasps, a small smile creeping up onto her cheeks. "And how do you expect these Games to go with a Human on our team?"

"I said the same thing about having a whore join us." I cross my arms over my chest.

Her smile disappears. "A whore. You're calling me... a whore? This is my establishment. This is my business! I own the girls, I do not participate. And we don't use words like that here. These are professionals, and you'll speak to them with respect."

Another damn Hybrid demanding the respect that they themselves can't give. Saints above, strike me down now.

Morbid thoughts like that are exactly what Arron hated. I'd had them even when I was young but still old enough to see the hate in the world.

"Now, Hedda," Marcello puts his hands up in surrender, as if that will help the situation. "She's new here, never been out of The Bend. You'll have to excuse her for being ignorant of your ways."

"I'm ignorant?" I snort. "She assumes me entering the Games will bring upon all of your demise."

In her defense, she isn't necessarily wrong. All signs point toward a Human not making it far in the Games. I just really, really, really hate to be underestimated. In due time they would see the strength I'd worked my whole life for. They'd see what sets me apart from those who died before me.

"Nilsa," Juilliard scolds.

"And what does this Human bring that is so advantageous that she should be considered? I don't want to commit to a team that will be the end of me." She can’t even be bothered to use my name. Human. I hate how it becomes so derogatory when they say it.

"This is... the one and only Ghost." Marcello's fingers pinch together as he talks, the motion looking as though he's dropping a small gift into Hedda's hands, and she should be thankful for it.

My face flames red and I find myself looking around for prying eyes or any listening ears. Being the Ghost is my secret to reveal, not his. “You can’t just be telling people that, you stupid Elf!” I hiss through my teeth.

"The famous assassin who has never been caught in The Bend?" The Orc’s already narrow gaze turns to slits as she tries to find something in me that would prove my worth and ignores my distress.

"We," I say with little excitement, "are not talking about this right now."

“No one here is paying any attention.” Marcello interjects. “It’s fine.”

It is not fine.

I lower my voice to a low hush. “Technically, I’m just a mercenary who happens to take jobs that end with someone’s appendage as a souvenir in my pocket. There isn’t time to get into the technicalities.”

Juilliard looks appalled, his face even going a little bit green. He leans toward me. "You don't really do that do you? Keep a body part?"

"How do you think I give them proof of what I've done?"

"The point is... yes! Nilsa, here, is indeed the Ghost everyone has heard about. Her tale has even traveled into The Oasis." He sucks in a breath. "Or so I've heard."

“Stop saying that name.” I rub my fingers against my temples.

"I do like Humans, it's just such a shame that the first that I've met is so bold." She places her fingers on her hips, brushing along the gun at her waist. Only the difference between her gun and Marcello's is that hers has proven to be loaded. “You know, you’d fetch a good price here. I could offer you good coin if you became one of my girls. Mica doesn’t have a Human at his joint.”

Being Human could catch me good coin. Every whorehouse in the