PlotlumeOn the eve of our blood-pact wedding, my vampire fiancé Victor signed a mate contract with his "bro" in an underground casino.
Victor wiped the blood off his chin like it was nothing.
"It's a joke. We'll cancel it tomorrow. Everyone knows Erika and I are just bros."
Erika leaned back against his chest and looked at me like a dare.
"One night as mates still counts for something. Are you all just going to watch and not give us a wedding present?"
A vampire boss at the table roared with laughter.
"Sure. I've got a blood-supply chain in the South District. I'll put that up as your present."
"But a casino has its rules. If you want it, you have to win a hand of poker."
I said nothing more. I sat down at the table.
I met Victor's eyes and smiled.
"Aren't we playing cards for wedding presents? Deal me in."
1
I pulled out the chair beside the card table and sat down.
Victor reached over to put his arm around my shoulders.
"Vivian, stop it. Go back to the castle and get some sleep."
I leaned away from his hand.
It froze in midair.
"Don't touch me. Tonight Erika is your mate."
Victor clicked his tongue and pulled his hand back.
"Why do you always have to be so sensitive? I told you, Erika and I are just bros!"
"The whole casino was hyped up. If I hadn't signed, she'd have been humiliated. Do you have to ruin everyone's night?"
Erika slid onto Victor's lap.
She picked up a glass of strong blood wine from the table.
"Vivian, it's all my fault. Don't blame Victor."
"I'll drink this to say sorry, okay?"
She tipped her head back and drained the glass.
Victor snatched the empty glass from her hand and threw it on the floor.
The sound of breaking glass rang through the hall.
"Erika, are you crazy? You were just hurt a few days ago. Do you want to kill yourself drinking that stuff?"
After snapping at Erika, Victor turned and glared at me.
"Vivian, happy now? Are you trying to drive my bro to her grave?"
"Look at you, keeping score over nothing. Where's your aristocratic grace?"
I watched the way Victor shielded Erika, and my heart went cold.
I smiled and spread my hands.
"I'm not angry. I'm not someone who can't take a joke."
"Everyone's having so much fun tonight. I want to join in and celebrate with you and your good bro."
Victor's best friend Marcus clapped and laughed.
"That's more like it! If the future Mrs. wants to play, let's play!"
"Dealer, get the cards ready!"
Victor leaned back into the sofa, both arms locked around Erika's waist.
"Fine. If you're set on embarrassing yourself, let's play."
"But let me be clear. Tonight I'm only looking after my newly signed mate. I'm not going easy on you at this table."
Erika rested against Victor's chest and laughed out loud.
"Vivian never goes anywhere. She's such a good girl. She won't know how to play anything complicated."
"To make it easy for her, let's play the simplest thing. Five cards, highest hand wins. How's that?"
Marcus whistled.
"Erika's so considerate! Five cards it is!"
Erika swirled the glass in her hand and looked at me.
"Just comparing hands is boring. Let's raise the stakes."
"The loser has to drink a glass of wine laced with silver dust, and hand over something they're wearing as a wedding present for me and Victor. What do you all say?"
Wine laced with silver is poison that burns all the way down for a vampire.
The vampires all around cheered and egged it on.
Marcus took off his wristwatch and tossed it into the middle of the table.
A few of the vampire bosses beside him pulled off antique rings and threw them in too.
Victor raised his hand, unpinned the dark ruby brooch at his collar and tossed it carelessly onto the pile of chips.
"Count me in."
I stared at the dark ruby brooch.
It was a protective charm crystallized from my own heart's blood.
Erika caught Victor's fingers and swung them.
"Victor, I want that jeweled bracelet on the table. Win it for me?"