“That’s what I just said,” Thana agreed.
“Aw, you two are so sweet.Can I have a refill?”She shook the empty champagne flute in front of the other female’s face.
“Female, I am not sweet.As far as you're concerned, I am gone.Thana can serve you.In fact, I am not looking at you.”Thane turned away, making Starla laugh.
“Seriously, I need that outfit when you’re done with it.”Thana sighed.“Never mind.I can guarantee Scepter is gonna ruin it by the time the night ends.Can you send me the designer's information?”
She huffed a laugh and settled onto a stool.“Stellina Designs.”
“Is that you?”Thana asked, eyes on her.
“Yep.This is the first piece I created.I’m not like a real designer, where I had to sit down and sew and search out the fabrics and stuff.”She ducked her head, pointing out the obvious seemed the right thing to do.
“Honey, you think every one of us hasn’t had to recreate designs we’ve seen?Trust me, I’ve done it, and every other supernatural being on this Earth has.The big difference between you and me is I’ve never created an outfit I haven’t seen before.That right there is a work of pure genius.Now I said what I said, and I meant it.When you start thinking up and creating more delicious works of art, I will be your best client.I’d say first, but I have a feeling you’re going to be your own client if Scepter doesn’t flip his shit.Which I am so looking forward to.Here, bottoms up.”Thana placed a new flute of bubbly gold liquid in front of her.
“Thank you for the drink and the compliment.Um, have you heard from Scepter?”she asked, hating the tremble in her voice.He’d put a wall up between them to protect her from whatever business he’d gone to take care of.
Thana shook her head and moved to help a customer down the counter.Starla got up, planning to walk back up to where Savage and Aurora were waiting.She downed the drink in one swallow, placing the glass on a table as she passed.
The DJ played a song she recognized.An eighties classic, played with a mix of rap, made the floor vibrate beneath her feet.Starla danced along the edge of the crowd, not wanting to get caught up in the gyrating bodies, but at the same time, she really loved dancing.
“Would you like to dance?It’s such a shame for a beautiful woman to be out here all alone when she should be making memories with a partner.”
The hair on the back of her neck stood up.She felt an inexplicable fear race down her spine as she stared at the male.He had black eyes that screamed evil.At five-foot-four, she wasn’t tall, but this male stood only four or five inches taller than her.While most males she’d seen were fit, due to their long lives and supernatural abilities, the one in front of her appeared more like a human who’d eaten one too many fast food burgers and skipped the gym altogether.She shoved the fear down.Starla wasn’t powerless.
“It is rude to stare, girl,” he rumbled.
She did a slow blink, unwilling to show him any sign that she was scared of him.Hell, she no longer feared him.If he tried anything, Savage or one of the others would be on them in a snap, if she didn’t take him out herself.“I don’t want to dance with you or anyone but my mate.He will be here any moment.”
The male made a deep inhale that reminded her of a hissing snake.“Your male isn’t taking very good care of you if he’s leaving you all alone.Do you have any clue what kind of predators are out here?”
She narrowed her eyes, working to keep her wolf from rushing forward and ripping this fuckers throat out.“That would be an issue if I were prey,” she rumbled low.
“Oh, a female with a bite.I love the feisty ones.They taste so much sweeter when they...break.”
Starla’s skin prickled.She lifted her right hand and flipped the male the bird.Before he could respond, she raised her right leg and kicked out.Her foot hit him in the groin, hard.A roar of rage followed his oof of pain.
“You little fucking bitch.I’m going to enjoy hurting you before—”
“Shut the fuck up, you fucking weasel.The only thing you’re hurting is my ears.What’re you going to hurt me with?The micropeen you got in your pants.Hard pass, thank you.”
The smile faded from his thin lips.“You think you can hide behind that mask and fake fairy scent?I know you’re a shifter.I can smell you from a mile away.Here, you are nothing but cattle for ones like me.”
Her claws threatened to burst from the nailbeds of her fingertips at his audacious words.She huffed a small giggle at him.“Big words for such a wee male.I’m bored with this conversation.”She turned to head back toward the stairs at the opposite side of the dance floor.If she were to flash away, he’d think she was a coward.
Her head snapped back as he must have grabbed her by the back of her hair.Her wolf was ready.She arched her back, allowing the power of her Fey to fuel her rage.She moved fast, ignoring the stinging burn in her scalp, and punched out.Using her fist, she struck his throat first, followed by slamming his solar plex with her left palm.The impact sent him sailing backward into a column.In a blink, she moved, dodging the blade he tossed.She didn’t need to see him move to know what he’d do.It was as if she could predict his next steps before he made them, feel the air move seconds ahead of his decision to attack.
The commotion caused the dancers to give her and the vampire room, which Starla figured meant Savage would be popping in shortly to play hero.She gasped as the male conjured up a blade that grew as long as a sword.The jackhole had to take it up a notch, making it glow and shit.
“I guess we gotta see whose dick is bigger, huh?”She bent her legs and got into her best fighting stance, preparing to brandish her own sword when a male who looked so much like Scepter appeared behind the vampire.“Who the fuck are you?”
With a roar, the asshole charged her.The tip of the blade jabbed into her abdomen.Eyes eerily similar to her male’s went as wide as saucers, then lifted to her shoulder, and he smiled.She stumbled back from the hit, grunting out a curse.
“Astaroth,” Scepter roared, catching Starla before she fell.His red eyes glowed down at her from behind.“What the fuck are you doing alone?Never mind.We’ll discuss this after I dispatch this bastard of his head.”
Whoowee, she heard the absolute truth in his tone.She looked down at the blade still trying to penetrate her stomach, then at the male Scepter called Astaroth.“You’re so dead, fucker.”
“Starla, please flash to Savage and your sister,” Scepter gritted out through clenched teeth.
