“Yeah.” Kylie shrugged. “Of course. She talks to a lot of people.”
“Anyone stand out?” I asked.
Kylie hmmed and tapped her fingers. “There was a guy she sat with at the bar for a bit. Killer hot.”
“What did he look like?” Nova asked.
“Dark hair. Bright green eyes. Nice body.”
Nova turned to me. “She mentioned talking to a guy who looked like that.” Facing Kylie again, she asked, “Did she leave with him?”
“Not that I saw.” Kylie shrugged. “But who knows? It gets busy here at night.”
“Did you catch his name or anything else?” I asked. Who did I think I was—Sherlock freakin’ Holmes?
“No.”
I asked whatever questions that came to mind that might give us any clues. The sooner we found Gianna, the quicker Nova would stop worrying.
What was going on with me lately? Why did I care so much? How had Nova become such a part of my life in such a short time? I wanted to care for, protect, and make her happy.
Kylie stared at us both as if assessing what she should tell us. “I don’t think he was—” she bent down and whispered, “human.” She gestured to me. “Like you, but different.”
She must have sensed I was a vampire. “What do you mean exactly?”
“I’ve worked here long enough to differentiate humans from supes. It was in his intense eyes. And the way he moved. More graceful than humans. Like a suave, almost floating sort of gait.”
Nova glanced around. “And you haven’t seen him since?”
“Nope.”
“When you see Gianna, please tell her to call me.” She grabbed a drink menu. “I’m going to hang out a bit and wait.”
Kylie said, “I wouldn’t worry about Gianna. She can take care of herself. Besides, she likes to have fun. I’m sure she found someone she likes, and she’s having a good time right about now.”
“I hope you’re right.” The worry in Nova’s tone indicated she didn’t appear as convinced.
Maybe I could help ease her concerns.
After Kylie moved down the bar to take another order, Nova said, “It’s just hard to shake off this sense that something’s wrong.”
“I know just the thing to help take off the edge,” I said. “Let’s start with a drink.”
I leaned closer to look at the menu with her. My nostrils flared. “You smell good.”
Nova smiled. “Thanks. That’s a compliment coming from a vampire, I’m sure.”
“You bet it is.” I pressed closer to her to glance at the menu. “Let me take a look.” The drink options were printed in a black bifold menu that had the dungeons logo embedded in the front cover. Inside were a variety of cocktails with cheeky twists on rock and metal songs. The “Rock You like a Hurricane” looked like a recipe for regret the morning after, judging by the amount of alcohol. Nova chose a “Love is a Battlefield” cocktail which had a mix of vodka and cranberry juice.
I ordered a glass of red wine. When I placed the order, Kylie winked. “Got you covered with the house special.”
After she returned with our drinks, I knew why. The wine had blood in it.
“Nice,” I told Nova. “They have options for the bloodthirsty.”
“Oh, are you thirsty?” Nova asked with a hint of suggestiveness.
A craving stirred in my veins, and my fangs itched for a taste of her. “I am indeed.”
