Riot rolled her eyes. “May your lovers drain every last drop.”
Ezra lifted her shot high. “And never forget…”
We all echoed together, “Family is everything. Syndicate now, Syndicate forever!”
We lifted up the glasses and downed our shots.
Heat bloomed down my throat, sweet and spicy with an intoxicating kick at the end. The world sharpened and softened all at once. Nova smiled wider. Riot stared at her empty glass like it offended her. Cal and Ezra exchanged knowing looks, and for once, Ezra smiled. I melted into the music, my body humming.
“Go. Dance,” Ezra said, motioning to the floor, another shot already in hand.
Another round had somehow appeared like magic—or just good service. Picking up the lone shot that remained, I slammed it back, head foggy and heart light.
Nova double fisted, taking her second and third in a row, while Riot politely refused hers. So naturally, Nova and I grabbed herand dragged her onto the floor, kicking and cursing, like only good sisters did.
We stayedlike that for hours, with our two eldest siblings lounging in our VIP booth, watching over us, while Nova and I danced like our lives depended on it. Riot? She moved like she was trying to dance, but we all knew the truth. She was scanning the crowd, guarding our backs, as always. Riot would always be Riot.
Their departures came as expected. Ezra got called away to deal with some emergency that only she could fix, but she promised she’d see me and bring a gift to the family dinner tomorrow. Calix dipped out soon after, loyal sap that he was, going to visit Valentina like the committed, whipped romantic he’d become.
Riot, ever the soldier, had another job lined up, one that had to be timed just right so she could make it in time for dinner tomorrow. Nova lasted the longest, soaking up some rare girl time before heading off to scout fighters at an underground ring for Dad.
Me? I had the night off.
Vesta, my mentor who was helping me understand the ins and outs of the skin trade, had officially ended my mentorship, gifting me this evening with one directive: live it up. And that was exactly what I planned to do.
With Riot gone, the protective barrier of her air magic faded, and the club’s heat and scent wrapped around me, invading all of my senses. Lust. Sweat. Hunger. The press of bodies movingtogether with a single intent. I let it soak into my skin, breathing it in deep as the music pulsed through my veins.
?*Eyes closed, hands raised, I let my hips sway to the rhythm. My blood beat with the bass, my body moving on instinct. My wings ached to be released, and I gave in.
A hush rippled through the space around me as my clear, delicate wings shimmered to life, swaying to the song in their magical elegance. Gasps. Murmurs. Male and female voices whispering their desires in the darkness, and I smiled.
Look at me. Want me. Fall in love with me. I own your hunger.
They didn't call me the Syndicate Flower for nothing. I was the youngest sibling, the one who lured her prey in with a siren's smile and killed with a kiss. Petals like lace. Thorns like razors.
So, when thick, possessive hands gripped my waist, I didn’t flinch.
Lips brushed against my ear, a deep male voice pouring over me like warm honey. “How can they stand it? How can anyone just watch this goddess dance without craving her? Without wanting to get on their knees and beg for her attention?”
I ground my ass back into his crotch, where a hard, thick length pressed against me. “Guess that’s not your problem.”
He groaned, starved, desperate, the kind of sound that said he didn’t know if he wanted to worship me or devour me whole. I liked that sound. I liked it far too much.
When his trembling hand traced down my wing and kissed the base of my spine like an offering, I shivered. Eyes still closed, I soaked in that sacred need. Craved. Desired. Devoted. The perfect birthday gift.
Rolling my body against his, I arched and dipped low until my ass almost touched the floor before snapping it back up into his crotch. My wings fluttered against his face, teasing him with their delicate nature. The music faded into the background, and the world shrank until it was just his body, mine, and the electricity crackling between us.
I heard them. The crowd. Lustful whispers. Envious stares. Fear tucked into the shadows. All of it fed me.
Still, I didn’t look at him. The mystery made it all the sweeter.
“Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” he murmured, almost to himself. “So much better up close. More powerful.”
That’s right, baby. Fall under my spell.
Closing my eyes, I tilted my head back, feeling the pulse of our magics bouncing off each other, telling me he was a demon. My lips grazed his chin. “Dance with me,” I purred, digging my nose into his neck to get a whiff of his delicious scent. He smelled like he was made of sweet nightmares and everlasting devotion. “Make them all wish they were you. Make them want to kill you to take your place.”
He growled, “They already do. Give it a few more songs and someone might actually try.” His arms tightened as he buried his face in my hair. “Would that make you happy? Seeing me bleed for you?”
