On the bartop, all the usual drink stared back at me, and since we were at a vampire school, bottles of dark red blood were present too. In fact, the bartender had placed them front and center, which I found a little strange. That is until a vampire approached and gave Diana a hearty sniff as he reached for a bottle. I shot Francis an accusatory glance.
He held up both hands. “Iswearhe’s not a true newblood. The swine merely has poor manners. They don’t even allow newbloods into Nightdwellers. You have to have been a vampire for a decade to apply.”
I pursed my lips. “Good to know.”
We ordered drinks, and I began making a loop around the tower. Almost right away, I found the shifter champions. They were huddled near the fireplace, nursing beers, and looking as if they were ready to bolt.
I steered that way, curious about the group and intent on getting some answers.
“Hey. Crazy party, huh?” I said as I approached them. “It’s like a gothic rave in here.” I gestured to the wider room with my soda and lime.
Dasha, the female, grinned at me. “It’s interesting. Not quite my taste. Still, I figured it would be worth it to check out the competition.”
“But you’re all alone,” I teased.
The burliest male grunted. “Finally.”
Dasha rolled her eyes and ran her hands through the man’s long, red hair. “Please excuse Gregor. We just broke away from Simone. She claimed that she needed to go . . . nourish herself. She was quite intense, and the guys don’t like people trying to dominate me.”
I tilted my head. “Can I ask what might be a dumb question about shifters?”
“We’re here to learn about each other, aren’t we?” One of the males held out his hand. He wore glasses and had a slender, muscular frame beneath his tight black t-shirt. He wouldn’t have looked out of place in a tech company. “I’m Howley, by the way. If I recall, you’re a Dane?”
I nodded, but not wanting to get into my family history before I figured out the dynamic, I caught Dasha’s eye and blurted out my question. “Are you an alpha? I sense something between you four, but I can’t place it—probably because I haven’t been around a lot of shifters. And those I have been around were . . . unusual.” Memories of Colorado flooded my mind and, unable to help myself, I cringed.
Dasha’s eyes widened, catching the gesture. “To answer your question, yes, I’m alpha blood—but that’s probably not what you sense.”
Slowly, she moved to stand between the guys, and their attention followed. She caressed Howley’s arm and batted her eyelashes at the one who hadn’t spoken yet—Heath.
“I’m not technically an alpha yet. I won’t be until my mom dies. In the meantime, I wanted to spy for my country. But the magic in my blood is already working to make sure my reign is powerful. It’s chosen a mate for me—actually, three.”
I gulped. Holy crap. I’d heard of fated mates among shifters, but never of anyone having more than one. My gaze swept Howley, Heath, and Gregor. All three were super hot and clearly infatuated with Dasha.
As long as they didn’t tear each other to bits, she was one lucky lady.
“It’s unusual,” Dasha admitted, “But then, you’re unique too, aren’t you, Dane?” She sat in an armchair in front of the hearth and patted the one next to her. “I’ve heard about your parents. But most recently, word of your latest mission reached our academy.”
I joined her by the fire. “How?”
Dasha’s lips curled up in a smile. “Leslie is now enrolled full-time at the Shifter Academy of Spies. She had a lot of valuable information on the Crescent Springs pack. The PIA asked how they could reward her for divulging it. She chose a career in espionage. I’m mentoring her.”
“I didn’t realize that. Good for her. I hope she’s doing well.”
“She is. I bet once I tell her we met, she’ll be excited to see you when we host the Games.”
A smile broke on my face. “Tell her I’m looking forward to seeing her again. I—”
The music cut, and the sound of cymbals crashed through the room.
I sat straight up in my armchair. “What the hell?”
“Oh for shit’s sake,” Gregor muttered. “She’s back.”
I twisted to face the room, and my eyes went straight to Simone, sitting in a chair raised up over the crowd by four other vampires, like she was a queen.
“Quiet! Quiet peons! Champions of the Spy Games, may I have your attention? It is time for the festivities to truly begin!”
I rolled my eyes.This girl is seriously into herself.
