"Fate wouldn't pair you with anyone who wasn't stubborn enough to deal with all of that." I gestured to him in a circular motion, and his nostrils flared. "Let's go. Liv's probably already there."
Callum followed me out to our car, and ice climbed over the steering wheel during the drive. The club wasn't far, but it was far enough that the silence was tense.
I let it be tense.
The tension was part of my plan.
I had no idea how long it would take to work, but I was hoping heat was going to help whenever it decided to make an appearance.
"Don't touch anyone else in the club," Callum said stiffly, after we parked.
"Wasn't planning on it."
"Don't let anyone else touch you, either."
"You're scary enough to keep them away."
"No dancing," he added.
"I'm not agreeing to that."
"I don't want anyone watching you move that way." His voice lowered.
"I'm here for Liv, and I'm pretty sure all she does is dance." I opened the door and got out of the car. He caught me just after I cleared the vehicle, his hand pressing lightly to my back as we walked.
"I'll have to dance with you," he growled, the words barely audible.
Everyone in line outside was already looking our way, but I ignored them.
"Try not to sound so excited about it."
He scoffed, pointing the expression at the crowd as we walked straight through the doors, let through by security guards that pointedly avoided looking at us.
If I'd liked nightclubs, the easy entry would've been a real perk.
Callum guided me up the stairway to the loft in front of him, his hand remaining on my lower back. I would've teased him about being so worried that I would fall, if I hadn't known he was only touching me to ease his magic's impact on him.
The music was loud enough to make my ears ache, but I tried to ignore it as we reached the top of the stairs.
Liv was already in a group of immortals on that small version of the dance floor, jumping and belting out the lyrics to a song I vaguely recognized.
Her eyes lit up when she saw me and Callum, and she ditched her group to jog over to us. Instead of throwing her arms around Callum, she launched herself atmefor a hug.
I laughed, stumbling backward into Callum, who managed to keep all three of us from falling down the stairs.
"Easy," he warned Liv.
"You came!" she exclaimed. "Come on." Grabbing my hand, she towed me to the dance floor.
The grin she shot at Callum said she knew he was going to dance if I did.
"I've been trying to get him to dance for at least a century!" she yelled over the music.
"It's your lucky day!" I called back.
She pumped a fist into the air, already shaking her ass as she tugged me, and Callum behind me, into the crowd.
The chill of his magic had the group parting a little, keeping their distance from me and the ice king when we joined them.
