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

know that I like it rough?" I run my tongue along my bottom lip, batting my lashes in the most innocent of ways. Mavi’s smile grows bigger, his hand loosening in my hair.

The elevator dings. The doors slowly open. At my wrist the Vampire pulls away to glance at what level we've stopped on. Six. We're on my floor. In one smooth swivel, I yank a dagger from my thigh and step away from both of their holds. Mavi’s fingers catch in my hair. I'd rather lose a few clumps than stay here a moment longer.

A metal cross curves around the bottom of the hilt and I press it into the exposed skin of the Vampire’s hand as I pass. He hisses. I point the dagger between them. The few Hybrids behind Mavi and the Vampire watch with interest.

"Seems you aren't the only one who likes to break the rules." I step out into the hall. Blood drips down my wrist and into my palm until the droplets run off my fingertips. "I'll see you in the arena tomorrow." I blow them a mocking kiss as the elevator doors close and the glass carries them up. I can't hear them, but I can see the amusement on their faces and the way their bodies shake with laughter. They still don't see me as a threat even now.

When they disappear to the next floor, I finally let out a long breath. My shoulders sag. I hold my dagger tightly in my palm, not willing to put it away and uncaring of the trouble I could get in for having it out now. The bleeding bite that pulses with pain on my arm is enough proof that the weapon is necessary. Never trust a Hybrid.

The Vampire hadn't done enough to truly drain me but I know if I were to curl up and sleep right now, I'd sleep hard. So maybe this ride had been some sort of blessing in disguise. When I reach our door, I knock. After a couple sluggish heartbeats, the door opens, Juilliard scowling on the other side.

He looks me over from the tussle of my hair down the dagger in one hand and the blood dripping in the other. "Bloody hell, Nilsa! We left you alone for five minutes and this is what happens."

"I'm fine, Juilliard. Move out of the way." I brush by, knocking against him. The wrist that bleeds drips steadily against the side of my dress, I lift my arm up in hopes that gravity will help slow the bleeding. The room tilts in my vision for a moment before it straightens. "I just need a drink and something to eat and I'll be fine."

"Bullshit," Juilliard huffs. "This is exactly why I told Marcello we shouldn't have allowed a Human on our team. We're the laughing stock of the Games after what you did in the arena tonight. Do you know what the king is going to do to you tomorrow?"

"Like I give a shit."

"You'll give a shit when he tears you to pieces."

I stop before heading to my room. Finnegan and Sloane are both posed on the couch, watching us in silence. Sloane's gaze flicks to my wrist and the blood before she bothers to look to my face. My bedroom door cracks open and Hedda leans in the doorway. No Marcello.

Spinning on my toes I march back up to Juilliard, leaving not even a breath between us. "You are just like them in every way."

His lashes flutter as he rolls his eyes. "Like who?"

"Like the trash that treats me like this. Just like everyone else from the fucking Oasis. I've done nothing to you. Nothing! Yet you hate me for merely existing." I don't care about my bleeding wrist anymore, or that Juilliard is still in his suit. He can always buy another. Adrenaline from my elevator ride still races in my bloodstream. It makes it easy for me not to care as I shove him hard enough his back hits the door with a loud thunk. "Remember, I was asked to be on this team. I didn't go looking to join the Games."

"Don't touch me!" He bats my hands away. "If you think I won't hit a woman, you're sorely mistaken." I can still smell the liquor on his breath.

"Hit me. I dare you. I fucking dare you to lay one finger on me as if I haven't been hit my entire Saints damned life." The words tumble from my lips, stained with the lifetime of frustration.

This is just another fucking day in the life of Nilsa Windsor.

But it isn't... not really. It's the same as every other day of my life only in the way that Hybrids hate me. In the way that Hybrids only use me. Like this team, using me to win the Games. Maybe I am the sacrificial lamb. Maybe the king is right.

Still the fact remains that today is different. The Oasis Games have brought on a new sort of pressure, much different than any other job I've taken on before. I need to win the games for my job, for The Bend, for power... for myself. I don't remember the last time I tried to attempt something that could help me achieve something more than just surviving another day.

"Are you stupid?" Juilliard throws his hands up with a sigh. I don't move. "You're so confrontational, Nilsa, and you don't even see it. What did you do to bring that upon yourself? Did you ask for it? Do you want to start the first event weak as hell?" He snatches up my wrist, showing me the two fang marks, as if I didn't know they were even there. At least the bleeding has nearly stopped.

"You think I asked for this?" I laugh and pull my hand out of his grasp. "You're the stupid one."

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