With my side plastered to the wall, I press up on my tiptoes to whisper to Rion. “What is this?” I ask, and he grins back at me.
“It’s a feast.” My eyes widen even more. “Volunteers offer themselves up for the night of their lives,” he explains. “Not that I've ever taken part, of course, but I’ve never heard any complaints about the sultry night and what it has to offer.”
“Do they just drain them of their blood?” This seems a little too far, but I have to know.
Rion shakes his head. “No, it's sexy. As much as they might feast on them, they make it worth their while.
I shiver, my thighs clenching. I can’t deny I’m intrigued, but I don't say a word as we exit through the next door to find a completely different vibe.
Dark wood, Chesterfield leather seats, and a thick plume of smoke sits heavy in the room. It reminds me of a gentleman's club that I used to see in the old movies on Walker’s television. There are a few other people in here already, but the scene is much quieter. The soft jazz music playing in the background is far more calming than the dance tunes in the main area.
My muscles ease a little. “Are we allowed in here?” I ask, and Rion squeezes my hand again, standing at my side now that there’s enough space.
“We’re allowed where we want, Petal,” he says with a grin, pulling me deeper into the room where an empty sofa sits in the far corner.
I take the seat, content to watch the rest of the room as Thorne takes the spot on the other side of me. Nathaniel speaks to a guy already in here, and Ocean hangs off his arm like the perfect partner. I can’t help but wonder what it’s like to be carefree like that, but I quickly shake the thought from my mind as my gaze lands on Kael.
He stands by the small bar in the opposite corner, elbows braced against the wood, with his head down, defeated. My stomach churns, my emotions unclear, and I wish I had the time to untangle them right now.
Attempting to distract myself is hard work since there aren’t as many people in here, but I focus on it so my mind doesn’t wander. Nestled between Rion and Thorne, I already feel like Ican’t breathe, and the matter doesn’t get any easier when Rion clamps his hand on my thigh.
Nervously, I play with my bottle of water, acutely aware this isn’t the usual night in The Hut. At least it’s the atmosphere and relaxing environment that Ocean wanted.
Smiling at my friend, even though she’s not looking in my direction, I catch Nathaniel pull out his cell phone before quickly tucking it away, making sure no one around him saw the message. Especially Ocean.
My heart stutters as I watch him more closely. Was that another girl? Is he keeping secrets?
I sit taller in my seat as he leans in to whisper in Ocean’s ear. She smiles, nodding lightly as she steps away from him and makes her way to the bar. Instead of taking the open bar stool beside Kael, she slinks behind the bar top and glances over the liquors lining the wall behind it.
My gut clenches with concern, but if she wants to let her hair down a little bit, that's not for me to decide. I can be here to make sure she's okay. My gaze snaps back to Nathaniel, watching his every move. I half expect him to make an excuse and leave. If he does, I’ll follow after him. But to my surprise, he sweeps across the room and joins Ocean at the bar, taking the seat beside Kael.
My pulse quickens, my gut telling me this guy isn’t good news because of that sly text message, which could definitely be nothing, but my gut has never steered me wrong before. He seems happy enough to pretend Kael doesn't exist as he talks with Ocean, the pair of them chuckling together as she makes them both a drink.
Nathaniel wraps his fingers around the short glass, but before he brings the liquor to his lips, he leans in, whispering something in Kael’s ear, and in slow motion, I watch the vampire’s entire demeanor change.
His spine stiffens as he stands up straight, his fingers curling around the wood at the bar, his knuckles turning white as his nostrils flare. My heart pounds in my chest as Nathaniel joins Ocean behind the bar, drink in hand, as if he'd never spoken to Kael at all, while the vampire in question turns to me, eyes ablaze.
His hands fall at his sides and his lips lift in a snarl as he takes two steps toward me, but it seems I’m not the only one paying close attention.
Thorne launches to his feet. “Rion, now!” he commands as billows of black smoke swarm across the floor. Before Kael can take another step, the smoke consumes him.
“Let me see her now,” he snaps, his voice unlike his own.
My heart thunders in my chest as I realize Thorne is controlling his vision to defend me.
With wide eyes, Thorne glances back at me, his mouth setting in a thin line as he grunts. “Get the fuck out of here.”
Rion is standing before me in the next breath, tugging me to my feet while concealing Kael in the black smoke. My heart ricochets in my chest as realization washes over me.
Kael was triggered—a command set in place by a spy to change his entire being.
A spy that has just been revealed.
Nathaniel.
23
RION
