by Meg Xuemei X
After what Jezebel had done to me, I was done with spells. I would never allow any spell, runes, or symbols, to touch my skin again.
Both bouncers raised their eyebrows and looked to Reys for guidance.
“Cass,” Reysalor said with a tolerant sigh. “Even I need the rune of permission to get into my own club. It’s the rule of the place, for security. No one can enter that door without it, which serves as a barcode to the ward. Misery Twist is superiorly warded, to prevent any unwelcome being from stumbling into the only supernatural bar in the city. You want to get the famous house cocktail inside, don’t you?”
I watched him warily.
He shrugged. “Or we can return to my house.”
“Like hell we’ll go back without a drink.” I glared at him. “What would happen if someone tried a forced entry?”
“You wouldn’t want to try that.” The quiet bouncer shook his head. “The ward will repel the invader. Best-case scenario, the ward tosses the violator a few yards away after injuring them. Worst-case scenario, the ward kills the offender instantly, and we’ll have to clean it up. And if any gods try to breach our perimeter, the alarm will go off.”
Reys stretched his arm. The bouncer bowed to him again and pressed the stamp on the prince’s wrist. An inked rune spread on Reys’s skin. He was patiently showing me it was safe to be stamped.
I wasn’t convinced.
I recalled the earth magic tugging at me at the riverside, longing for me to own it. I could use it now. At my summoning, it rippled under my feet like a blend of light and shadow. I pulled it into me, and it felt like second nature to do so, as if it was part of me.
I was careful not to take the vast amount of its power, for fear that it would devour me and shove Cass Saélihn to the sideline.
I had trust issues, even when it came to magic that hadn’t been born with me.
I called, “All is mine—the land, the city, and the earth!”
A blast of black wind swirled around me, tearing everyone away from me.
The bouncers’ eyes widened. Reys and Hector tried to reach me, fighting against the wind.
“Cass!” Reysalor called.
“No fucking ward or door can stop me when all on it is mine!” I declared.
I marched toward the red door, my hands thrown out before me, my air current flinging the door wide open. I shot into the club like an arrow, not wanting the door to hit my face.
I grinned when it didn’t.
I was in, and I was the first and only one getting in Misery Twist without bearing a fucking mark.
A wide smile stretched on my face when Reysalor and Hector charged in, followed by the bouncer with the ponytail. Their eyes were as round as saucers.
I regretted that I hadn’t kicked the door open, which would have looked more badass. And I should have picked leather pants to wear, like Ambrosia, instead of letting Reysalor dominate me and select such lame clothing.
A hard lesson learned.
“Shit—.” Ponytail glanced at the prince and swallowed his curse. He stared at me in awe. “What are you, Cass?”
Just then, the alarm went off in the club.
Everyone rose from their seats, and those who stood hurried toward the exit.
Panic spread through the air.
“The gods are here!” someone shouted.
The bouncers had mentioned that an alarm would sound if a god infiltrated the place. But I was not a god.
However, if the ward was sentient, I could scold it.
“Oh, stop!” I told it as I rolled my eyes.
The alarm stopped abruptly, as if it was ashamed. I felt it licking my skin to try to figure me out, but I shrugged it off.
Behave, I hissed.
“It’s a glitch,” Reysalor called. “Go back to what you were doing.”
Everyone returned to their seats and unfinished drinks, but every head turned in our direction. Ambrosia and Rainer gathered round me, as if I needed protection. I really didn’t appreciate their towering over me and crowding me.
I was powerful, but I was short, and their presence could seem overwhelming, even if it really wasn’t.
“Some space?” I called.
They ignored me but reported to their prince.
“No usual suspects,” Rainer said.
“Our spies brought back news, Your Highness,” Ambrosia said.
Reysalor gave them a small nod and laced his fingers with mine again. He led me toward a secured table no doubt reserved for him.
Around the table, two fae males and an unknown female species with a pretty heart-shaped face waited for us. They were probably Reys’s spies. Their gazes flicked over me curiously for a second. Reysalor was holding my hand as if I belonged to him.
I had no intention of joining them and getting into a serious discussion of this awful gods business. I wouldn’t let them ruin my entire night.
“You guys go ahead and sit,” I said, extracting my fingers from Reysalor’s. “I want to strike out on my own and sit at the long bar.”
Reysalor kissed the top of my head, scanning the room with a predatory look as he did. He was marking me to let everyone know not to mess with what was his. If I didn’t like him so much, I would have kneed him in his nuts.
I didn’t take kindly to anyone who tried to stake a claim on me.
But for the moment, I didn’t fight him. I needed him to pay for my drinks. Plus, he’d given me an amazing orgasm earlier.
“Just don’t go look for trouble, little Cass,” Reys said.
I shrugged him off, and he chuckled and headed toward his table.
Hector hesitated for a heartbeat and followed me. I wheeled toward him with a hard stare. “Please show me you got the part about ‘striking out on my own?’”
He darted a quick glance at Reysalor. “Our little Cass is declaring her independence, I see,” he said. “Have fun. But don’t go around hitting people.”
I glared at him, but he simply laughed at me as he walked away.
These fae warriors were sly. They were the type who wouldn’t hesitate to fight dirty. They’d be watching me like hawks. I only prayed their eyes wouldn’t bore a hole into my back while I enjoyed my drink. Of course, that was the steep price of hanging out with the fae heir.
I moved to the long bar. There was a vacant seat in the corner, its angle blocking the full view from Reysalor’s table.
Perfect.
I climbed onto the bar stool, and one of the three good-looking bartenders, glided to me immediately. They’d all seen me with Reysalor.
The bartender had a red hair and a ruby earring stubbed in one ear. A grin broke on his face. “Hello, little lady.”
“Don’t call me little,” I said. “I’m full-figured, which is hardly little. Now, bring me five glasses of Devil’s Love. Put the bill on Reys’s—Prince Reysalor’s—tab. His minion Hector will tip you, as he promised.”
His eyes widened a little, and then he blinked.
Were five glasses too much to ask?
“Fine,” I grunted. Must I always compromise? “Bring me two glasses then. Make it quick. I’ve traveled a long way and I’m thirsty.”
“Lovely, I’m sorry,” the redhead said. “Devil’s Love went out of fashion two years ago. It’s no longer on the menu.”
I blinked before I growled.
A movement to my right sidetracked me. A demi-fae had been nursing his drink in a sullen mood, but suddenly jumped out of his seat and fled.
I grinned, pleased with myself. Even a growl from my throat could scare a supernatural away. Perhaps I should tone it down a little. If the bartenders fled, I’d get nothing to drink for the night.
My bubble burst when another man took the seat next to me. It wasn’t my growl that had scared the demi-fae away; he’d been afraid of this guy, and had given his seat up for him.
Who the fuck was this scary-ass? If he thought he could also take my seat, he was sorely mistaken. I was going nowhere before I got my cocktai
l. I schooled my face into a sneer and turned to him.
Then I jumped out of my seat.
“What the fuck?” I shrieked.
He wore Reysalor’s face, only he wasn’t Reys.
The stranger’s gorgeous turquoise eyes were two shades darker than Reysalor’s, and he gazed at me with such intensity that my face flamed. This was the man who had suckled on my nipple in my dream and enjoyed the hell out of it.
Pyrder Iliathorr, Reysalor’s twin, had come to my favorite club and taken the seat right beside me.
He wore a dark rose-colored t-shirt that stretched over his taut muscles. His gray-black jeans wrapped around what I suspected was a perfect, tight ass—just like Reysalor’s. He was every bit as sexy and dashing as his twin.
But he had something Reys didn’t have. A magnificent golden panther was etched on his muscled upper arm, disappearing under his shirtsleeve. I controlled the urge to trace my fingers over every line of the tattoo.
I wasn’t the only one with such an itch. Every woman in the club turned her head and stared at him with heat, just as they’d looked at Reys’s hot ass with blatant lust when he’d entered the club.
The females on the dance floor shook their bountiful boobs and rocked their hips invitingly, trying to catch Pyrder’s eye. If he even wiggled a finger, any one of them would jump into his lap.
I wasn’t pleased.
“Enjoying the view?” Pyrder asked, bringing my attention back to him.
“What view?” I asked huskily and roughly.
He seemed to like the sultriness in my voice because his sparkling eyes crinkled at the corners.
“The golden tattoo extends to half of my chest,” he purred. “Pity you can’t see it now, and I know you want to.”
Reysalor’s twin was cocky. I bet he knew that every female drooled over him and he took it for granted. He was what humans called a womanizer, a man whore. It was my job to represent other good women and put him in his place.
“Good for you,” I said, letting indifference and disappointment into my voice. “But I was wondering why the panther on your arm looks sleepy. You got yourself a lazy cat.”
He straightened his back, and with his height advantage, he looked down at me with a frown.
“You’re mistaken,” he said. “My panther looks magnificent, like me.”
Unlike Reys, he was full of himself and didn’t like criticism.
Ooh, I was going to have fun with this one.
I snickered but intended not to make any further comment.
He stared at me for a long beat before turning his gaze to his tattoo then back at me again. “You need to get your eyes checked, girl.”
“My eyesight is better than yours, fae dude,” I said. “My eyesight is better than any creature’s, mortal and immortal alike. But since you just don’t get it, I’m offering my professional opinion for free this one time. First, your panther looks like he’s yawning instead of hunting.”
“He isn’t yawning,” he said. “He’s roaring.”
“That looks like a big yawn to me, and his heavy eyelids are just about to drop for a good nap. And didn’t you say this beast reflects his owner?” I gave him a measured once-over. “Hmm, I see.” I turned to the redheaded bartender, no longer bothering to glance at the fae prince.
Everyone within the earshot became tensely quiet, and the bartenders gaped at me.
Was I the only one who had ever insulted and dismissed a fae prince in public? But he’d started it with his conquering attitude. He’d insulted me first.
His growl was neutralized by vicious, yet sensual laughter to my left.
Potent power rolled from that laughter across the space, and everyone felt the impact. All eyes homed in on the massive male leaning against a column to my left before quickly turning to other directions. Fear and fascination danced in every woman’s eyes.
The man had been there all along, watching me, and I hadn’t even spotted him until he wanted my attention. The stealthy bastard only now let me feel an iceberg of his power, part of which felt much like my own.
Ambrosia and Rainer hadn’t done a good job when they’d told Reys that there were no usual suspects. We had two outstanding usual suspects right here, sandwiching me. Maybe these two were just fantastic at sneaking up on the innocent.
I immediately identified the demigod Alaric, who had fondled my perky breast like an expert in that dream that haunted my every waking moment. I met his honey-brown eyes promising no honey but glistened with amusement and cruelty under his perfect dark eyebrows.
Just one look, and I knew he was one of the most ruthless, dangerous males walking the earth.
The bartenders avoided direct eye contact with him to show their submissiveness, but Pyrder glared at him, obviously not happy that the demigod had just stolen his show.
As we appraised each other, I found that I liked what I saw. His sun-kissed skin went well with his golden-brown hair cut in military fashion. His lips could give off either sensuality or menace, or both, depending on his mood.
He flashed me a grin, trying to give me a false impression that he was harmless. And damn, when he did that, his dimple deepened. I blinked at him twice. How could such powerful ferocious being have such a disarming dimple?
I narrowed my eyes at him in irritation.
His fashion statement differed from the other patrons. He wore a plum scarf over his dressy shirt under an expensive leather jacket. His jeans fit him so well they showed every line of his sexy, muscled legs.
He looked like a warrior god clad in street fashion, menacing and hot as fuck.
How would it feel to have him pounding between my thighs? I’d rather have him down there than playing with my breast.
I blinked back, not liking my body’s reaction to him. His smile broadened, as if he could feel the pulse of my purring body.
“Who the fuck are you?” I asked in exasperation to cover up my embarrassment.
The bartender gasped and shook his head subtly at me, trying to kick some self-preservation into me. His cautious, regretful expression told me that I’d be idiotic to make an enemy out of such a formidable being, even though I was under the protection of a powerful fae prince.
“You know who the fuck I am, Cass,” the demigod said, “if you are it.”
Reysalor had mentioned casually that Alaric was the king of all supernatural hybrids, who were part human and part something else, like him, and that the demigod ruled from Australia.
He’d heard Reys’s endearment toward me. He’d been watching me all this time and I hadn’t had a clue. He could have taken me out while I was ordering a drink.
I was supposed to keep my guard up, especially with Jezebel on the loose.
“Right, I know exactly what you are, Alaric Ash dick Desreaux,” I said. “And I’m not the it.”
I’d gotten his full name from the wet dream, though I’d creatively added dick as his middle name.
Surprise flitted over Alaric’s face. It was gone so fast that no mortal eye could detect it. Then a sweet smile stretched his curvy lips. He was changing his tactics. He now aimed to seduce me instead of intimidating me.
Even though I knew what he was doing, my heart still fluttered like a pair of thin wings in the wind.
“How did you know the bastard’s full name when you didn’t even get my first name?” Pyrder demanded, tapping my arm twice with his fingers.
Tiny electric shocks rolled across my skin at his touch. It was so pleasant I wanted his hand on my skin again. Pyrder obviously felt the same. His eyes brightened with increased interest and desire. He looked like he wanted to hold me, but I gave him a warning glare.
His hand froze in the air.
“My twin Reysalor must have told you a lot about me,” he said, beaming. Now he wanted to charm me.
“Uh, you think it’s all about you,” I said. “I hate to break the news though: Reys and I hardly had time to even mention you. But I do know he has a twin. I don’t care much
about this twin thing, to be honest. Who needs a copy when you have the original?”
Pyrder’s face sank, and Alaric chuckled in delight.
“You’ve got it all wrong, Cass,” Pyrder said. “Reys and I are as different as the North Pole and South Pole.”
I stared at him blankly. I had no way of distinguishing the two poles from each other.
“Cass, sweetheart, a little bird told me that you have a fine taste for cuisine.” Alaric said, standing closer to me than before. His body heat distracted me. He also smelled really nice, like a mix of pine, leather, and oil paintings. His male scent was strong and pure, despite his menacing vibe. “My realm has the most delicious food on this planet, and I’ll personally cook the best wild boar for you.”
“Cass baby,” Pyrder cut in, “have you tried wine-tasting in wild country vineyards? It’s spectacular. I’ll take you—”
“Cass, sweetheart,” the demigod called me again.
What were they doing? I turned my head left and right when they called me until I became fed up with the show. If I let them, these two, who were engaged in a pissing contest, would pull each of my arms in a different direction until I split in two.
I raised a finger in the air. “Hold your horses!” I turned to Alaric with a glare. “First, I’m not your sweetheart.”
“I’ve never called another sweetheart, not even in the middle of the heat in the bedroom,” Alaric said, and my heart jolted at the sex images his words brought to the forefront of my mind.
The dream I had about him rushed right back, and suddenly I was so turned on. This was stupid. My body was stupid. I resorted to intensifying my hard stare and let fire swirl in my eyes.
“Everyone is scared of me except you,” Alaric said softly. “And that makes you my sweetheart. Consider it a compliment.”
I would argue what was considered a compliment later. “Afraid of you?” I snorted. “Are you a comedian?”
Pyrder shook his head and laughed. “That’s the best comeback I’ve ever heard.”
I ignored him. I wasn’t done with Alaric. “Second, there’s no little bird telling you anything. Lorcan found you, didn’t he? He won’t appreciate you calling him a little bird. What he asked you to do no longer applies. Anyway, where’s that vampire of the night?”