Shortly after everyone had ordered from the menu and we’d stuffed ourselves with dinner, Austin turned the lights down and the room quieted.
Reno, Wheeler, and Trevor had taken their posts outside. Ben’s wolf slept near the bar close to Lynn, who had refused to sleep in one of the chairs even though there were enough. My guess was she wanted to have the first shot if someone barged in the room. She was a loving mother and a gentle woman, but there was nothing she wouldn’t do to protect her family. Especially after having lost her oldest child, Wes, in what she later discovered was not a senseless accident but a murder.
After Maizy brushed her teeth and changed into her nightgown, Lynn put on an old musical and lowered the volume. Denver had scooted a chair in front of Maizy to create a bed, and once she’d fallen asleep watching the movie, he draped a small blanket over her. He chose a spot behind her chair, knees up, facing the door.
“Is she still asleep?” I whispered to Jericho, tucking a pillow beneath my right arm. Izzy and Jericho were on the couch opposite me—Izzy lying on her side and facing away with her head in his lap. Her hormones were all over the place, and she’d flung the blanket onto the floor earlier, complaining it was too hot.
Jericho continued stroking her hair, his head reclined back and legs stretched forward. “Out like a light. Why aren’t you sleeping?”
I didn’t have my dreamcatcher, that’s why. But I couldn’t tell Jericho that. My grandfather believed that if you allowed bad spirits to return to your dreams, you’d bring them into your waking life.
“I’m not sleepy,” I finally replied. “It’s nice and quiet in here. I thought we’d be able to hear all that music outside.”
“Places like this drop a lot of cash to soundproof the hell out of these walls,” he said. “High-tech shit. I’ve worked a few gigs in upscale clubs, but it’s not my scene. They’re not into live bands anyhow.”
He reached up and held the bear claw that hung from his necklace, turning it between his fingers. It’s something he wore almost all the time—a token from his enemy.
“So what was it like in Lorenzo’s pack? Does he sit in that chair all day like a king in a court?” Jericho asked, still looking at his necklace.
“He’s a headstrong Packmaster, but not entirely unbending.”
Jericho swept his long hair back. “Yeah, I’m sure he rules with a velvet glove. He once killed two of his packmates for disobedience and placed them on our doorstep. One of them had only chased Lexi up a tree, so you can save the song and dance about how he’s got a heart of gold.”
“Perhaps there is more to the story than you know.”
“No, I’m pretty sure that’s it. Lorenzo is a tyrant who gets what he wants. He doesn’t care about his pack; he just craves power.”
“Lorenzo cares more about his pack than he lets on. Sometimes you have to rule with a tight rein or else the men will run wild.”
He cocked his head to the side. “You’re defending him?”
“No, I just—”
“I’m glad he had the good sense to take you in and heal you up, although I’m sure he had an ulterior motive. We make nice because that’s what we’re ordered to do, but that man is incapable of love or compassion. His pack will turn on him one of these days, if not one of those bitches he takes to bed. I hear he’s got a revolving door in his bedroom. Don’t even think about warming up to him, Ivy. You have more sense than that. Austin would put his life on the line for any one of us. Lorenzo? That asshole will throw anyone under the bus to save his ass.”
I pulled my braid out from beneath my shirt and hung it over my left shoulder. Jericho yawned and closed his eyes, so I stood up with the help of my cane and decided not to argue the issue further.
Austin sleepily rubbed his eyes and leaned against the wall. We both lingered by the door, facing each other.
“I can’t just sit here,” I whispered. “I need to get in touch with Fox. I’m worried about what he’ll do.”
“Let’s wait for Reno’s contact to get back with him. Once we find out the location of the boy, we’ll make our next move. If Fox has him, then attacking him would put your son in danger. Let’s keep a cool head.”
“Then let me go talk to Reno and see if he has news. We need to speed this up or else I’m going to have to make a decision I don’t want to.”
He reached up and unlocked the door. “Keep in sight and don’t leave the club. You’re safe as long as you’re inside.”
“I might be young, but I’m not foolish. Is there anything you want me to bring back from the bar?”
He patted down his dark hair and stretched. “We need some snacks in here. Have the bartender give us a box of peanuts or something. He can put it on my tab. I don’t want food constantly running back here. We need to keep visitors to a minimum and the door closed.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Bring me some Jell-O,” Denver said from his spot on the floor. “Trust me, they always have Jell-O.”
“Would you like it in a navel or a cup?”
He snorted and shook his head. “Ivy, you’re a real gem.” Something flickered in his expression and his indigo eyes bored into mine. “I mean that.”
I smiled warmly at him before leaving. Like most men, Denver wasn’t big on sharing his feelings. I hadn’t been sure until that moment where we stood; he had been aloof after finding out why Fox was hanging around our land. Maybe he blamed me for bringing trouble to our doorstep and putting Maizy in danger, but whatever resentment he might have held was now gone.
I rolled up the sleeves on my flannel shirt to my elbows as I walked down the hall. The club had a musty smell of stale cigarettes, spilled beer, and perfume. Wheeler was relaxing at a round table near the dance floor, holding a shot of whiskey to his lips. He froze when he saw me, so I nodded to let him know everything was fine.
“Pocahontas, you want to have a dance?” a man asked.
I turned around when someone tugged on my shirtsleeve. I surmised him to be a Vampire by his liquid black eyes—a striking contrast against his short hair. It looked bleached, similar to the way April used to dye hers.
“I have a thing for exotic girls,” he said with a mischievous smile.
I lowered my eyes to the cross on his neck, avoiding eye contact. With a single glance, Vampires could plant suggestions and charm a person into doing things they wouldn’t normally do. They could also erase memories and make a person talk, so that made them a dangerous Breed to tangle with.
“I’m afraid I don’t dance, but thank you.”
A smile spread across his face as if he were the Cheshire cat. “You are a polite little thing, aren’t you?”
“Are impolite women all you are accustomed to spending your time with?”
His smile waned. “I only wanted a dance.”
I gently pulled my arm free from his grasp. “Then don’t mock a woman when asking her to spend time with you. It shows your indifference to her feelings. Perhaps your clever remarks are meant to show you have a sense of humor, but how would you feel if I called you Dracula?”
He moved his mouth slightly to the side, giving my words some thought. “My apologies. Perhaps I’ll ask you again later and we’ll see how I do.”
Admittedly, he was forgivable. I’d never spent much time with other Breeds, so it was nice to see they didn’t all fit the stereotype.
“We’ll see.”
Satisfied by my answer, he pushed up the sleeves of his grey sweater and bowed. “Until we meet again, fair lady.”
Why is a Vampire interested in someone like me?
I thought, walking away. I couldn’t help but find everyone’s motives suspect. People didn’t date outside their Breed where I came from. Reno and April had always seemed like the exception.
I spotted Reno and waved.
He didn’t wave back. In fact, a little vein pulsed in his forehead as I approached. “What the hell are you doing out here?
Alone
?” he growled.
“Austin sent me on a food run, but I also wanted to speak with you. Can I sit?”
He pushed his short glass away and I sat beside him, turning my chair to face him. I set my cane against the table and smoothed down a few flyaway hairs. “How soon will you have information on the birthday party?”
His eyes lit with amusement. “I’m still waiting for my girl to call me with the details. Should be soon. You don’t need to worry about a thing; we’ll get the cake in time.”
“Tomorrow morning, Reno. That’s all I can wait. Something needs to change, or I won’t be able to attend the party.”
Reno leaned in tight. “Dammit, Ivy. Don’t put me in this situation. My hands are tied, and I can only do so much. It takes time to organize a party.”
For the second time, Reno’s eyes flicked behind me, scanning the room.
“I don’t want to distract you, but I’m hanging on by a thread. Please do whatever you can—whatever it takes.”
I left the table and reached the bar, signaling for the bartender. He had a silly black mustache that curled at the ends, and it made me laugh. “Hi. We have a private party going in the back, and I was wondering if you have any snacks—something that won’t go bad. Peanuts?”
He chuckled and pursed his lips. “We have a gourmet medley of nuts and cookies.”
“Did you say cookies? Fresh or from the bag?”
He leaned forward on his forearms. “From the bag. They’re little round ones, the kind the ladies like to nibble while sipping on their fruity drinks.”
“A friend of mine is opening a bakery soon. Would you be interested in some samples? Your customers might prefer cookies that are homemade by Breed.”
He reached into a small bowl and tossed a nut in his mouth. “That’s a tempting offer. Tell you what, bring a few samples in and I’ll let you know. Can’t promise you; it’s up to the owner as to who we do business with. If they cost more than the ones in the bags, then he’ll probably decline.”
“Are you charging for them?”
“Yep.”
I stood up straight and squeezed the silver grip on my cane. “Then you can raise the prices to compensate. Remember, these aren’t made in a factory by humans. I think your customers will appreciate that fact. Think about the little things that will set you apart from every other club.”
He slid a napkin and a pen in front of me. “Give me your number.”
So I wrote
Weston
and put down the main line to the house.
“My name’s Gilly,” he said with a wink. “Be right back with your nuts.”
“Wait, also a container of gelatin. Please, don’t ask.”
He chuckled and briskly walked behind the bar. I could sense Gilly was a Mage because when I got up close, I could feel his energy. It raised the hair on the back of my neck.
When he returned, I leaned in so my voice wouldn’t carry. “Gilly, are you a Mage?”
He gave me a crooked smile and touched his mustache. “Where are you from?”
“Oklahoma.”
He laughed and it rumbled deep in his chest. “That sounds about right. The flannel gave it away. Don’t worry, we don’t bite.”
“What can you do? I mean, I’ve heard stories. Can you show me something?”
His eyes slid around and he gave a gentle shrug. Gilly lifted his hands and threads of blue light weaved between his fingertips like electric cobwebs. “I’m afraid I can’t show you anything else without giving you a shock. So, what do you think of my light show?”
I gasped. “It’s beautiful.”
Gilly laughed and the light dissipated. “You made my night. Do me a favor and stay away from some of the jokers in the bar. Curiosity killed the cat and all that. Take your snacks and let me know if you need anything else.”
“Thanks, Gilly.”
I tucked the box of peanuts under my left arm and held on to a small cup of Jell-O. The music pumped at a steady beat and I felt so out of place among these people. The women were dressed in provocative clothing, and the men leered at them with hungry eyes. The pungent smell of cigarettes soaked through my clothing and hair. Breed bars had no rules about smoking; we didn’t live under the umbrella of human law, and it’s not as if we’d get cancer. I wondered how people could do this on a regular basis. Was this the only way to find a mate? If so, I was doomed.
“Let me help you,” William offered, appearing from the crowd on my right. “What do you think?” he asked in a loud voice over the music.
“It’s very… modern.”
William took the box of nuts from me and gave them a twirl in his hands. “Indeed. Maybe you should mingle. There are a few wolves in here looking for a mate.”
“I’m not interested in finding a mate.”
He leaned in close over my right shoulder. “Could have fooled me. Say, what’s going on between you and Lorenzo?”
“Nothing.”
“That’s his favorite shirt, you know.” William tugged at my sleeve. “Just wondering if he’ll be adding another bitch to his collection.”
I fell back and let him walk a few paces ahead before I thumped him on the behind with my cane. He jumped and, with his feet glued to the floor, peered at me over his shoulder. His cheeks mottled in red patches and a few spectators cackled.
“She can spank me with that stick any day,” a man razzed from the bar.
A lanky man sitting beside him widened his legs on the barstool, gazing down at my body. “I’d rather have her slap me around with that mane of hers. Sexiest damn thing I’ve ever seen. Just look at that hair all braided up for me to grab on to.”
“Is this how they normally speak to women in places like this?” I asked William, catching up with him.
“The Shifter population is pretty even with men and women, but some of the other Breeds are predominantly male. It’s like throwing a juicy bone into a pit of hungry panthers.”
“And the women enjoy being spoken to that way?”
He glimpsed over his shoulder at me, his unkempt hair falling over his eyes. “Beauty always loves a beast.”
“I’m not sure I’d care to come here again.”
“Shame,” William said, picking up his stride. “It’s one of Lorenzo’s favorite places to unwind.”
“Slow down, William. I can’t keep up.”
His brown eyes peered over his shoulder again. “Indeed.”
“And what do you mean by that?”
He pivoted around. “Maybe it’s best you don’t set your sights so high. I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but I notice the way your eyes soften when someone speaks of Lorenzo. Women are taken with him because he’s a warrior—a born leader. It’s why so many men are in line for consideration to join his pack. I don’t know what he said to lead you on, but he’s incapable of love. Nothing personal. It’s just that Lorenzo always does what’s best for him and no one else. A man like that is tempted by many women. Many
beautiful
women. You seem like a sweetheart, and it would be a shame to see you get hurt. Don’t give your love to a man who would rather hold a sword in his hand than the heart of a woman.”