Dance of the Dragon

by Kira Nyte

  Taryn offered to walk her to The Spotted Cat. She refused. The last thing she needed was her mother catching sight of her with Taryn. She would not be her mother’s pawn any longer. Gabby may not be worth the effort of defiance, but she concluded that Taryn certainly was.

  Gabby smoothed down her apron and nodded. “I’m ready to go.”

  “Good. The crowd will pick up in about an hour as people get off of work. Once the sun goes down, it’s game on.”

  Suzanne motioned for Gabby to follow her out of the employee break room and into the main club. Customers already stood at one of the two bars or sat at random tables throughout the room. The lights were dim, but not to the degree they had been the night before. She suspected the ambiance would change with the lowering of the sun. Jazz filtered through the speakers and businessmen and women chatted over drafts and wine.

  A completely different crowd than the one she’d walked into last night, down to the very normal thoughts of humans instead of paranormals, as she learned from Taryn. She wondered if her mother had any idea what type of establishment she’d sent her daughter to work at.

  Well, if she knew Taryn was a dragon and my father was some form of magical partner, I’m sure this wouldn’t shock her.

  Suzanne interrupted her thoughts. “One thing. If you see Taryn in here tonight, steer clear of him. I don’t need him storming out again.” Gabby cut a glance from the open room to her manager. Suzanne arched a shaped brow and twirled her hand. “Better for business that way.”

  Gabby choked back the urge to tell her she and Taryn were on better terms. Instead, she nodded. “’Course. I get it.”

  If she had any hope of breaking away from her mother, she had to keep this job. Long enough to make first and last month’s rent on an apartment.

  “Today, I’m going to let you take a few customers. We’ll practice some of the house specialty drinks and we’ll review the computer system.”

  “Sounds great,” Gabby said. She didn’t need to force the upbeat tone of her voice. She wondered about the lightness that filled her after spending time with Taryn. And the muted volume of voices and thoughts in her head. Amelia had told her to keep the amulet on her at all times, and hidden in her purse unless she was alone. That after Gabby told her she had a feeling the Baroqueth had tracked her to the café through the magic of the amulet.

  Neither Amelia nor Taryn went into details about the magic. And that was fine by her. She was still digesting the existence of dragons.

  Real. They’re real. Those were claws and scales and his eyes…the fire…

  Heat burned up her neck and into her cheeks at the thought of Taryn. God, her body went haywire every time she pictured him. She felt things she despised. Wanted things she feared.

  “You good?”

  Gabby blinked away her distraction and rubbed the back of her neck. “Uh, yeah. Of course.”

  Suzanne watched her for long, uncomfortable seconds. “You’re flushed.”

  She laughed self-consciously. “Yeah. Side-effects of my medication.” With a careless hand, she waved at her face. “Happens every now and again.”

  “You should be mindful of your medication, because there are certain clientele who might find that increased blood flow awfully tempting.”

  Gabby’s grin weakened. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Hot mess, this one. Be prying off the leeches if she keeps this shit up.”

  Every ounce of her wanted to roll her eyes at Suzanne’s dismayed thought, but she slipped behind the bar after the other woman and kept out of the way of the bartender serving the few guests perched around the black marble top.

  “Laura, this is Gabby. She’s going to be training back here with us tonight,” Suzanne said. Laura paused and wiped her hands on a rag before holding one out to Gabby.

  “Nice to have you aboard. Where did you work before?”

  “A joint in Mississippi.” Gabby shrugged. “First time in a sizeable city. So different than small-town living.”

  Laura laughed, tucking strands of hair behind studded ears. “You can say that. And this place is a whole different kinda living. We’ll help you fit in. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

  “Thanks.”

  Laura brushed by them to serve a new group of customers taking seats at the end of the bar. Suzanne tapped Gabby’s arm and motioned to the prep bar.

  “We have another computer back here that we can use if the two in front are occupied. I didn’t go over much of this room, but it’s a prep station for fruits and mixers, sangrias, any of the premade mixed drinks. We make everything fresh daily and toss whatever is left over at close. If anything needs to be prepared in bulk because we run out, this is where it’s done. Also”—Suzanne moved to a two-sectioned door and pulled open the top half—“every night, there will be three bartenders back here making drinks for customers at the tables. Those who work the front often take care of the regulars. We keep our eyes on their drinks and make sure they’re filled in a timely manner.” She gave Gabby a skeptical assessment. “You won’t have to worry about that for a while.”

  “That’s fine. Until I learn the ropes.”

  A condescending smile crossed Suzanne’s mouth. “You won’t last that long.”

  After two hours of reviewing drinks, cocktail recipes and practice tabs on the computer—not to mention the constant belittling she picked up on in Suzanne’s unfiltered thoughts—Gabby began to believe she wasn’t going to last. The place was hopping, the crowd growing by the minute. Even on a weekday, the door couldn’t open fast enough to let in another flood of patrons. The printers in the prep area spewed tickets faster than the bartenders could pull them off.

  She stood at the epicenter of a wicked storm, unable to see her way out.

  “Here. They’re falling behind. Try and get some of these done. I’ve gotta step out to the front for a minute,” Suzanne said, smacking several drink tickets on the counter in front of Gabby. She was gone before Gabby could answer, leaving her on the verge of panic.

  “Don’t take her to heart. She lives, eats, and breathes this place.”

  Gabby managed to muster a small smile for the unfamiliar bartender. “Thanks.”

  “I’m Katie. Got here about fifteen minutes ago. Hit the floor running, this place. Every night. Once you find your groove, you’ll be whipping things up in no time.” Katie snagged a few of the tickets from Gabby. “I’ll get these.”

  “I can—”

  With a wave and a flash of teeth, Katie bounced to a rail of liquor bottles. Gabby sucked in a measured breath, trying to slow her racing heart before she lost control of her…control.

  “You can do this,” she whispered, reading the order off the first ticket. It took her a few moments to locate the bottles to make the drinks, but when they were done, she brought them to the window for the server. The woman loaded them on a tray and disappeared without a word.

  Suzanne returned as she finished the last ticket and delivered the drinks to the window. “Well, you’ve surprised me.”

  “I didn’t—”

  “She’s a good one,” Katie interrupted with a wink toward Gabby. “You should give the newbies a chance before condemning them.” With a playful pat on Suzanne’s shoulder, Katie was gone.

  “In that case, I’m going to lend a hand out front while you pick up the slack back here. Call if you need something.”

  Confidence would be nice.

  Gabby made it through another hour of non-stop drinks and hustle. Her fingers were sore from the alcohol and her legs burned from staying in constant motion on her feet. Sweat beaded between her breasts and she wanted badly to make a break for the bathroom.

  As she started toward the front bar to ask Suzanne for a breather, she paused.

  There, handsome as sin, stood Taryn.

  The damn man leaned against the bar on one elbow, laid back and relaxed, sipping a drink. His black shirt hugged his delicious form, a form she had gotten a glimpse of
without a jacket at Amelia’s place. His hair was down. Waves of sandy blond hair brushed his neck and strands framed his face.

  Suzanne and Laura were laughing with him.

  Suzanne’s hand rubbed his forearm in a motion that lit something dark and vile on fire inside Gabby, despite the fact he almost immediately removed his arm from Suzanne’s reach.

  She ducked back into the prep room and found Katie. “Hey, is it okay if I go to the restroom real fast? I won’t be long.”

  “Go ’head, hon. When Suzanne’s done flirting with Taryn, I’ll let her know.” Katie snorted and shook her head. “Don’t know when she’ll realize he’s not interested in her.”

  “Seem pretty flirtatious, the three of ’em.”

  Her insides boiled. She hadn’t noticed that her fingers had curled into her palms until her nails pierced her skin.

  “Hey, no reason to get jealous. He’s friendly with everyone. Genuine good guy, ya know?” Katie nudged her hip. “Bathroom?”

  “Right.”

  Some cold water on her face would help. The unexpectedly volatile emotions left her mind reeling as she wove through the crowd to the hallway leading to the employee break room. Why on earth did she care what Taryn did, or who he did it with? Because her crazy mother claimed that Taryn was her lifemate? He’s a charmer, for sure.

  Gabby locked the door and leaned against it to get her bearings. The shakes skated along her muscles. Tension settled in the pit of her gut.

  But the alluring heat that curled and coaxed between her legs and teased her nerves…

  Her forehead creased as she pressed her lips together.

  No.

  Cold water on her face did little besides smear her makeup. She made quick work of cleaning it up before leaving the safe confines of the break room. Keeping to the edge of the club where the shadows were thickest, she tried to ignore the attention she drew from some of the patrons. These were the ones whose thoughts were as confusing and disgusting as some of the things her mother had forced her to do.

  She swallowed back bile and a whimper.

  “Slow down, angel.”

  Gabby’s head shot up as Taryn stepped in front of her, blocking her path. His grin was lazy and conceited. The sharp flash of his russet eyes was anything but.

  Her throat cinched and tickled at the same time.

  “I’m supposed to avoid you.” Gabby glanced at the bar, where Suzanne watched them like a damn vulture. “You know, for business.”

  “I think I can make my own decisions about who can talk to me.” Taryn’s voice had dropped and a husky edge flowed through his words. It almost knocked the breath from her lungs, had her throat allowed it.

  “I’m being watched. Besides, you seem to be awfully comfortable with the women here.”

  She started to duck her head and brush past him when he caught her chin with the tips of his fingers and brushed his thumb over her lower lip.

  Throat closed or not, her lungs whooshed the air from her chest. She grabbed his arm to steady her suddenly weak legs.

  “They don’t matter, angel.”

  He dipped his head until she swore she could feel the heat of his skin caressing her face. So close she could see his lips, how firm yet full they were. Smell the whiskey on his breath, the smoky essence of his skin…

  “Don’t look at me like that,” he murmured. “I’ve been holding back the urge to kiss you since I first saw you.”

  “Last night when you insulted me?”

  “Last night when I confirmed who you were.”

  She raised her eyes—only a matter of inches—and met his. The flicker of fire was subtle, but there. The dragon watching through Taryn’s eyes.

  “I don’t care to listen to the way these fools are thinking about you. And I’m certainly not leaving you alone in this city with our enemies on your trail.” His thumb slid across her lip again before it lowered to her chin. “Besides, they’ll all have to get used to the sight of me following you about.”

  “Stalking.” Why couldn’t she talk with a punch when she wanted to? Instead, her traitorous lips curled up. “You’re stalking.”

  “Okay, so maybe I need to take a lesson from my own preaching. But my intentions are good. To keep you safe.”

  “And to try and get me fired.”

  Taryn’s grin remained, but the dangerous glow of his eyes intensified. He tipped his head, bringing his mouth closer to hers. She closed her eyes, her back stiffening. The tip of his nose brushed her cheek.

  “No one in this place, not even Rodney, would think about firing you after this.”

  Gabby pressed her free hand to his chest to keep herself on her feet. She instantly wished she hadn’t. The feel of the solid muscle beneath her fingers unleashed a new wave of fire through her already burning body.

  Taryn shifted in a fluid motion, standing at his full height. Six plus feet of impeccable man in impeccable clothing. That slight shift brought him closer, his knee brushing the outside of her leg. He watched her with flames in his eyes as he sipped his whiskey.

  Sweet Lord, she needed an ice bath.

  “You are never alone, angel. Just keep that in mind.”

  Gabby nodded. She rasped, “Back to work.”

  Taryn’s lips curled in a half-grin. “It’s rude not to accept a tip from a regular.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Taryn leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Shock held her still until he straightened away again. She lifted her hand to the moist area on her skin.

  “Why did you do that?”

  “Because, you are precious to me. Remember that when I’m leaving you cash, since you won’t accept it as a kind gesture.” Taryn gave a mock bow and spread his arm toward the bar. “I wouldn’t want to hold you up any longer.”

  “You’ve caused a scene.” Suzanne looked anything but pleased as she leaned against the computer behind the bar, whispering something to Laura and two other bartenders. “Thanks.”

  Taryn chuckled. “I always cause a scene. This is just a different kind of scene for them.” He raised his brows. “And if you don’t return to work, where you are safely tucked out of my reach, I will be inclined to whisk you onto the dance floor.”

  Gabby gasped. “You’re impossible.”

  “Sometimes.”

  She hurried to the bar and slipped into the prep room. Her face blazed with heat and her body shook under the onslaught of the strange sensations and emotions Taryn elicited. Most of the women gave her shaded glances, but no one asked her any questions.

  Not even Suzanne, whose thoughts turned quiet—but the amount of work she sent Gabby’s way skyrocketed.

  Chapter Nine

  “Hey, brother. Can I crash at your place for the next couple nights? I’m following a lead nearby and want to stay close until I find something solid.”

  Taryn tossed back the rest of his whiskey and pushed the tumbler away. He watched Gabriella through the doorway to the back bar, seldom taking his eyes off her. Her anxiety mounted quickly, and he had to keep infusing her with calm.

  Not once did she look at him.

  But every other woman at the bar did.

  “’Nother, handsome?” Laura asked. Taryn shook his head, tilting away from the bar to speak into his cellphone.

  “What kind of lead?” Taryn asked Gabriel.

  “Cade thinks he might have traced my Keeper to somewhere in Alabama,” the younger Firestorm dragon said. “It’s a long shot, but I’m not missing out on a chance to see him again. You know, get him the hell out of this world and all.”

  “And how are you going to commute?”

  “Wings, bro. That ward-protected field by you is quite handy.”

  “Come on by, but keep your eyes open. We’ve got some long lost friends in town.”

  Gabe scowled. “A month later and they’re already back? Do they really think you’re still there?”

  “Um, you aren’t staying away. Why would they?”

  �
�Touché.”

  “Giving you a head’s up that Syn and Brie are at my place. See you soon.”

  Taryn tucked his phone in his pocket and gazed over the crowd, vigilantly searching for any sign of Baroqueth. After the last attack, he wasn’t about to believe a crowded club was safe.

  Nothing was safe from them. Not anymore.

  Urgency surged through him. He glanced back at the doorway to the prep room, relaxing fractionally when Gabriella appeared, hustling to fill orders. Her forehead had the cutest crease that he just wanted to trace with his lips and kiss away. She’d chewed her lower lip until it was swollen and pink.

  He rubbed a hand down his face, though he wanted to rub something else entirely.

  Goddess, this is torture.

  Her blue gaze shot up, crashing into him. He didn’t bother smiling reassuringly or trying to hide the discomfort he suffered. Let her see what she did to him. Let her see how she made him feel.

  He hungered.

  Oh, fuck that. He starved.

  Her face blossomed into a rosy flush. That brought a wicked grin to his mouth before Suzanne stepped into his line of sight, blocking his view of his lifemate.

  She leaned over the bar top and folded her hands close to Taryn. Her smile barely hid the lick of jealousy in her gray eyes. “I thought you didn’t care for the new girl. At least, that’s the impression I got last night.”

  Taryn put on his most charming smile, eased to his own elbows, and leveled his gaze on the woman. “Now now, sugar. Don’t go getting your feathers ruffled. We had a little misunderstanding is all.”

  Suzanne quirked a brow. “I’ve never known you to ask about someone’s parents before. Showing a personal interest. Isn’t that a little out of character for you?” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “And all for a human.”

  “What can I say?” He chuckled and pushed back off the bar. “Gotta keep things interesting, right?”

  Suzanne rapped the bar top with her tapered nails, the tips of them every bit as sharp as the talons of her hawk form. She glanced over her shoulder. “Think she stays, then?”

  “Have her bring me a drink and I’ll give you an answer.”