“Have you met Tudor’s new progeny?” Nova asks. “The one who used to be a cleaner?”
“Hallie. She’s sweet.”
They wrinkle their nose. “I suppose. I don’t know, vampires weird me out a little bit.”
“I know what you mean. But she didn’t have any choice.”
“Well, no vampire has achoice, do they? I’m sure none of Tudor’s progeny had any say in whether they became vampires, especially the older ones.”
There’s a strange pang in my chest. I’d never thought about that. I suppose Celine was like Hallie once. Brave, full of life. Before she was pulled into this world. I wonder what her life was like before…
There’s a loud crash from the back of the club. Not the normal chaos, but a deliberate bang, followed by shouting. Nova immediately jumps to attention.
“What was that?”
I look around frantically, but I can’t see the vampires who came in.My heart almost stops.
“Hallie…she’s in Celine’s private suite!” I tell Nova. “There were two vampires here, but I can’t see them now!”
“On it,” Nova says, and they begin to push through the crowd toward the sound.
Fear churns in my stomach.Whydidn’t I do something before? I should have trusted my instincts. I pick up the bar phone and dial the concierge.
“Get Celine to the club! Now!” I shout. I slam the phone back down and grab my bag. If things escalate, I want to have my wand handy.
In a matter of seconds, there’s a massive uproar in the club. Screams of terror slice through the thick air like butter.
All concerns about blowing my cover are out the window. I’ve got to do something! As lovely as Nova is, there’s no way they’re a match for two vampires. I wish Xia hadn’t gone home early. How could they not have a vampire or witch security guard on a weekend evening? I’m definitely mentioning this at the next health and safety meeting.
Do vampire clubs have health and safety meetings?
Throwing caution to the wind, I leap over the bar and onto the dance floor. Luckily nobody notices. Most of the guests are caught up in the frenzy and heading to the elevators as fast as they can.
Then I see why.
At the back of the club, lit by neon purple and red lights, is the most enormous bear I’ve ever seen. It towers at least twelve feet in the air, its wingspan equal to its height. It throws its head back in a mighty, terrifying roar, spit flying from its mouth.
Its coat is a shiny white. The very same colour as Nova’s close-cropped hair.
Their ripped security uniform lies on the dance floor in front of me.
The sudden appearance of a massive bear shifter in the underground nightclub distracts both of the vampires for long enough to give Nova’s bear a critical advantage. With a powerful swipe of their paw, they knocks the first vampire over, sending him flying into the DJ booth on the far wall.
Hallie runs out to me, her eyes full of fear.
“They…they were coming at me!” she shouts. “Celine warned me about that, but then…then that bear!”
“They’re a shifter,” I explain to her quickly, moving in front of Hallie to shield her from the fight unfolding before us. She might be a vampire, but she’s younger than the other two, and my offensive magic may be enough to keep them away if Nova can’t.
“Awhat?”
“A bear shifter - a person who can turn into an animal.”
Hallie’s eyes widen. “Cool! Like a werewolf?”
“That’s ridiculous. There’s no such thing as werewolves.”
She strains to get a better look.
