Claimed by the Vampire King

The bass from the speakers vibrated through my chest, making it hard to think straight. It was my 21st birthday, and my roommates had basically kidnapped me from my tiny apartment, insisting I needed to "live a little." I wasn't complaining — much. Finals were over, my part-time job at the coffee shop paid just enough for rent, and for one night, I could pretend life wasn't a constant grind. We were at Eclipse, one of those trendy clubs in downtown Manhattan that I'd only seen on i********:. Strobe lights flashed, bodies moved in a sea of sweat and perfume, and the air smelled like expensive cologne and desperation. Sarah handed me another shot. "To Aria turning twenty-one and finally getting a life!" I laughed and downed it, the tequila burning all the way down. That's when I felt it. Someone watching me. Not the casual glance from guys hoping for a dance. This was heavier. Like a weight pressing on my skin. I scanned the crowd, then looked up to the VIP balcony. He was there. Leaning against the railing, half in shadow. Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in black that probably cost more than my monthly salary. Dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, and even from this distance, his eyes locked on mine like he could see straight through me. A shiver ran down my spine — not entirely from fear. He smiled slowly, and I swear I saw a flash of something sharp in his mouth. Fangs? No way. Just the lights playing tricks. I turned away, heart racing for no reason. "Let's dance!" I shouted to Sarah, pulling her to the floor. But the feeling didn't go away. An hour later, I needed air. The club was too hot, too crowded. I slipped out the side exit into the alley. The cool night air felt good on my flushed skin. I leaned against the brick wall, closing my eyes for a second. Footsteps. I opened them. Three men stepped from the shadows. Pale. Too pale. Eyes glowing red in the dim light. One sniffed the air. "It's her. The blood." My stomach dropped. They moved fast — too fast. I backed away, hitting the wall. The first one grabbed my arm, mouth opening to reveal long fangs. I screamed. Then he was there. The man from the VIP. He moved like a blur, grabbing the vampire by the throat and slamming him into the opposite wall. The second lunged. He caught him mid-air, snapping his neck with a sickening crack. The