Jez had booked us two attached rooms in the Augustus Tower. The first door opened into a small foyer where Jez’s room lay to the left and ours was straight ahead. We walked through both suites, checking out everything from the tubs to the minibar.
Immediately, I noticed a problem. I stood in the center of the living and dining room combo, taking in the warm colors and flat screen TV. Arys took our things to the bedroom while I tried to find a way to give voice to the issue.
“So, um, Jez?” I began awkwardly. “When you booked these rooms, did you realize there is only one bed in our suite?”
She popped back into our room after dropping her bags in her suite. “Uh, shit. I’m sorry, guys. I didn’t think. I just assumed. Wow, I feel like an ass.”
Shaz and I exchanged a look. He shrugged it off, but I knew he was as uncomfortable as I was. “It’s no big deal,” he said. “I can crash on the couch.”
“You don’t have to do that. There are two beds in my room but no separate living room, which is why I gave you guys this room.” Jez helped herself to a beer from the minibar.
“Hey,” I scolded. “You only get twenty seconds to put that back before we get charged for it.”
“Um, what’s your point?” She shot me an incredulous look and popped the top on the beer. “Wanna trade rooms? Or someone can crash in my room with me.”
Arys reappeared wearing a devilish smile that revealed sharp fangs. His gaze slid from me to Shaz. “Or the two of you could get naked and get over this weird shit you’ve got going on.”
“Arys,” I scolded at the same time Jez quipped, “That’s what I said.”
I was mortified. The blood drained from my face. I wanted to drop through the floor to the suite below.
Shaz grabbed his bags and headed for the door. “It’s cool. I’ll take the extra bed in Jez’s room.”
I turned on Arys, shaking a finger at him. “Why the hell did you say that? Shaz and I can do this on our own in our own time. Without your help.”
Arys snickered and grabbed my finger, pretending to bite it. “I guarantee you the wolf pup will be back in our bed by the end of this week.”
I glanced toward the door, knowing damn well Shaz’s wolf ears could hear our every word. Jez busied herself with the view, staring out the picture window at The Strip.
“Are you crazy?” I snapped, jerking my finger from his grasp. “We can’t just all jump into bed together, Arys. It doesn’t work that way. Besides, there can’t be any blood sharing with him around. None.”
Arys feigned a yawn, completely ignoring my irritation. “I’m not going to bleed your wolf, Alexa, but give him some credit. He’s stronger than you think. He wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t.”
I joined Jez at the window, watching the traffic down below. The city was a maze of lights as far as the eye could see. The Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas stood bright against the skyline.
“I’m so sorry,” Jez whispered, reaching to touch my hand. “I shouldn’t have assumed anything.”
“No worries. It’s not your fault. It’s my mess.”
“Wanna go back downstairs to drink and gamble? It’s not even dawn yet.”
“No way,” Arys cut in. “You can’t go running around the hotel without me. It’s not safe.”
My temper flared, and I pinned him with a deadly glare. The angry energy spilled from me. I had to make a conscious effort not to slap him with it. “Don’t start with that shit,” I warned, a growl lacing my words. “I didn’t come here to argue with you. I came for a good time with people I love. Don’t ruin it.”
“I won’t let you put yourself in danger.” Arys was noncommittal, refusing to argue. He held up his hands as if to say he was done and that was the final word.
“Then come with us,” I said. “There’s not a big sunlight risk inside the casino.”
“And on that note,” Jez announced, “I’m going to go to my room and unpack a few things.”
Storming from the living room, I rounded the corner to the bathroom where I splashed some cold water on my face and checked my cell phone for messages. There was a text from Kylarai making sure we’d made it safely. While I typed a quick reply, I sat on the edge of the tub, fuming.
I wasn’t really pissed at Arys but myself. I’d created the situation with Shaz that made me insecure, and I’d secured so much power that I couldn’t even step into a city far from home without trouble from a damn vampire.
Being angry was easier than being afraid, and I realized I was scared, dammit. The last time I’d encountered Harley’s vampires, a dear friend had died, and I’d had to fight to prove I was a force to be reckoned with. I wasn’t sure I could do that here in their home territory.
Returning to the sink, I ran my fingers through my hair and took a few deep breaths. This trip was about having fun. I would not allow either Arys or his Vegas vampire family to ruin it for me. I was going to have a good time, goddammit, even if it killed me. Which it just might.