He watched Vicki cradle her baby bump, glanced at Kate still laughing with Logan, and made a decision. “I’ll watch and I’ll listen,” he told Eric. “And when I find what I’m looking for, I’ll take care of it.”
“No. Bring it to me,” Prime directed. But when he saw Kellen’s determination, he smiled. “Thenwe’lltake care of it.”
“Take care of what?” Vicki glanced from Eric to Kellen.
“Your tired feet.” Malcolm lifted his mate in his arms for a kiss. “Now how about a foot rub, my queen?”
“Sure thing.” She forced Malcolm to put her down then poked Eric in the chest. “But don’t think you’re going to put me off. I want to know what’s going on.”
“That makes two of us,” Eric muttered, watching her walk away with Malcolm. He winced and rubbed his chest, the most powerful Ravager on the planet done in by a tiny human. He turned with a grin. “Remember that, Kellen. There’s nothing more dangerous on this world than a pregnant female.”
* * *
Kellen showeredand dressed in new clothes for his outing, compliments of Logan, who’d found him some new clothing a few days ago. Just one more way Kate’s pack was taking care of him.
He’d asked Eric if he should bring anyone from Kate’s pack tonight, but Eric had told him to go on his own with Dante and the others. A dozen Ravagers out for a good time, and bonus, but the lot of them didn’t seem to mind his company.
He wondered if Logan, Jesse, or Kate would miss him. Or if maybe they needed some space away from the new guy Prime had dumped on them.
“Rock Hall is the shit,” Dante said with a grin as they approached the pulsing nightclub. “Tommy Chen runs the place.”
That hadn’t changed in the years Kellen had been gone.
“And the excitement is about to get real. Mei Lin is back as reigning champion. Guess they’re gonna ignore the fact Vicki socked her one. Now Chen’s fighter is even more fierce. Hasn’t lost yet.”
“Lost?” Who was Mei Lin? Chen’s fighter?
Dante explained, “Oh, Tommy Chen has a fight club going on in the back for Voiders. Out front is mostly for Norms and Voiders just wanting booze or sex. The back is where the real action goes down.”
“I take it we’re going there.”
Dante snickered. “You got that right. Fighting and fucking, my man.” He winked, his grin a friendly leer and plenty suggestive. An invitation if ever Kellen had seen one, yet he smiled and ignored it.
Dante didn’t take offense. He chuckled. “I get you. I wouldn’t be stepping out either if I had Kate and her mates to play with.” He wrapped an arm around Kellen’s shoulders and dragged him forward.
They passed the bouncers with no problem, moving past a long line of Norms and Voiders waiting to enter in the front.
“You have important friends, huh?” Kellen asked him.
“Nah. We just drink a lot and usually entertain Chen and his men in the back at some point. Don’t worry though. You don’t have to fight or anything. You’re just here for a good time.”
Kellen nodded. He liked Dante. As large as Kellen, with long, light-brown hair and laughing eyes, he fought with passion and a zeal that had impressed Kellen. But he seemed young. Kellen wondered when he’d arrived through the Voids, if he knew of his lineage, and what he thought about being a Savage.
But the questions would have to come later. The heavy throb of techno vibrated in his chest, and he found himself moving to the music while one of the Ravagers flagged down a waitress to get them drinks.
Large and aggressive Voiders, they had no problem finding a space to congregate in the back of the bar, which gave Kellen room to look over the space.
A ton of humans moved throughout the club, dancing, laughing, and generally having a good time in the darkness broken by flashing lights. The music and chatter made it difficult to focus on any one conversation, so he made an excuse to hit the bathroom and wandered, curious to see so many gazes turned his way.
He could tell the Voiders from the Norms easily enough, though the Conduits were tougher to spot. The Norms moved slowly, almost jerky in their enthusiasm to blend with alien creatures. A few Sylphs moved close, females with avian sensibility. They looked as if they floated when they moved, and a few sported wings, which made the Normsoohandaah.
A rare Lite walked past, his white hair and violet eyes entrancing. And noticeable. He obviously wanted to be seen, as Lites were known to change shape, blending in with anyone or anything.
Some other Valks and a few Ravagers he didn’t know but had seen before dotted the club landscape, as well as a host of buff Norms, keeping the peace. He noted how many of them kept a cautious eye on him and wondered if the infamous Tommy Chen had ordered them to, or if he naturally drew attention due to his size. Maybe a little of both.
He tried but didn’t hear anything of interest, so he made a pit-stop in the restroom and returned to his new clan.
Dante was in the middle of a joke when a Vulcani neared, holding a ball of flame in her palm. She looked human, but the flame didn’t lie.
