Kugi chuckles, looking over my shoulder.
Slowly, I turn around.
A fae with the most gorgeous long black hair is making her way through the crowded room towards me. I remember how mesmerized I was the other night by her silky smooth hair between my fingers.
What I can’t remember unfortunately is her name.For the love of gods.
Another familiar voice comes from the other side of the bar. “Kregger!”
Somee.At least I remember her name. She is walking fast towards me as well. Her face doesn’t look pleased to see me at all.Shit.
The two young women approach me at the same time. I lean back against the bar and reward them with what I hope is my most dazzling smile. “Ladies, what a pleasant surprise to see you both here this evening.”
“Oh, is it now, Kregger?” Somee crosses her arms over her chest. “You disappeared. You promised to take me on a date and then disappeared. Did you think you could hide in Jaakii?”
I click my tongue.
“Oh, so you promised herthatmuch, but told me that you couldn’t be seen with me in public because you had enemies who would want to kill me if they knew we were together?” the other girl asks.
“Ladies—” I start to explain myself, but don’t even get the chance to finish the sentence before a fist finds my jaw.
Sharp pain goes through my skull, sending my head to the side.
“This one is for lying, you asshole,” Somee says.
“I didn’t—” Once again, I don’t get to finish because the fae with silky smooth hair slaps me so hard my brain rattles inside my skull.
“And this one is for thinking we’re dumb enough,” she says.
Before I can gather myself, both fae whirl on their heels and march away. Kugi and Dae are dying out of laughter next to me.
“I told you you’ll wish you didn’t have that effect on people,” Dae teases.
“You could have warned me, my friend,” I say, rubbing my burning cheek. “But truth be told, I might have deserved this one.”
Kugi pats me on the back, still laughing. “You sure as a goat’s ass do, kid. Oh, to be as handsome as you and still be an idiot…”
I drain my glass. The sweet wine burns my throat and warms my empty stomach.
“Well, I think I’ve had enough adventures for today, gentlefolk,” I say, rising from my seat.
“Not so fast, handsome,” Dae says, leaning on his elbow against the bar. “There is one more guest waiting for you downstairs.”
I brush a hand through my hair. My stomach is in knots. “Who is it, Dae? Is it another lover from the past?”
The look Dae gives me makes it clear as day that it’s not another lover from the past. I wish it would be that simple. There is someone way worse waiting for me in the private downstairs club.
“He’s been waiting for you for a while. You better get your ass there right now,” Dae says and jerks his head towards the stairs.
“It’s been a pleasure, gentlefolk,” I say and bow my head lightly to Kugi and Dae before I make my feet move down the stairs, to my doom.
CHAPTER EIGHT
JAX
Every muscle and bone in my body is against it, but I make my way down the stairs. The light and cheerful chatter from the bar is distant once I descend to the bottom.
A long, dimly lit corridor opens in front of me.
