“Have you had any luck at the club?” He changed subjects with the smoothness of someone deliberately redirecting. “Finding information about your target?”
I considered lying, keeping my cards close. But he’d been honest with me about his hearing. The least I could do was return the favor.
“I’ve heard whispers about something called the Second Circle.” I watched his face carefully. “Dancers talk about it like it’s some kind of exclusive clubwithinthe club. But nobody will give me details.”
Every muscle in Rowan’s body went rigid. His eyes—previously warm with affection and desire—went cold and hard as winter ice.
“Second Circle.” He repeated the words like they tasted foul. “You need to stay away from that place, Violet.”
“Why? What is it?”
“Nothing you need to concern yourself with.” His tone had gone flat, final. “If dancers are mentioning it, they are either trying to recruit you or warn you away. Either way, you do not go there. Ever. Are we clear?”
I bristled at the command in his voice. “You can’t just tell me to avoid something without explaining why.”
“I can, and I am.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “The Second Circle is not a place for mortals who value their sanity and souls. That is all you need to know.”
“But—”
“No.” The word came out sharp enough to cut. “This is not a negotiation, Violet. You do not go near the Second Circle. You do not ask about it. You do not accept any invitations if they are extended. Promise me.”
“I am not a child, nor do I need protecting.” I yanked away from him, my breathing shallow.
“Violet, you need to—”
“Don’t tell me what I need. If Edward is connected to the Second Circle, I plan to figure out why.” I snapped.
Rowan’s expression was tight. I’d never seen him like this—genuinely frightened beneath the authoritative exterior. Whatever Second Circle was, it terrified him in a way shifters and murder apparently didn’t.
“There’s something else,” I said finally. “Two vampyres have been. . . persistent. At the club.”
“Vampyres?”
“I mean, I don’t know if they’reactuallyvampyres.” I rushed to clarify. “But based on what you’ve told me about these. . .supernaturalsas you call them? They match the description. Pale. Beautiful in that uncanny valley way. They don’t breathe regularly—I’ve watched them. And they’ve been trying to get me to go to a private room with them for the last week.”
“Them.” Rowan’s voice had gone deadly quiet. “As in plural.Twovampyres?”
“Twins, I think. Or at least they look identical. Both male, dark hair, heterochromic eyes.” I shrugged, trying to appear unconcerned despite the unease that crawled up my spine whenever they watched me dance. “I’ve been declining, obviously. But they’re getting more insistent.”
“Names.” It wasn’t a question.
“They haven’t given me names. Just keep calling me‘beautiful girl’and saying they want to‘taste’me.” I rolled my eyes. “Very original.”
Rowan was across the room before I could blink, his phone in his hand. “We need to identify them, and I need to know if management is aware they are hunting dancers.”
“Hunting?” The word sent ice through my veins. “Rowan, they’re just customers. Creepy customers, but—”
“Vampyres do not simplywatch, Violet. They do not show persistent interest without intention to feed.” His jaw clenched hard enough that I could see the muscle jump. “And twins hunting together is significantly more dangerous than a single vampyre. They coordinate, trap prey between them, making escape nearly impossible.”
“I haven’t agreed to go anywhere with them.”
“Good. You will continue to refuse.” He looked up from his phone, and the expression on his face was pure lethal promise despite the tension between us.
He cared. Possibly more than he should. Definitely more than I deserved.
“Okay.” I kept my voice calm. “I promise I’ll stay away from them, but not from the Second Circle.”
Some of the tension bled from his shoulders, but his expression remained serious. “Thank you.” He set his phone down and returned to me, his hands gentle as they cupped my face. “I know you can take care of yourself, Violet. You are one of the strongest people I have ever met. But you are also mortal and breakable, and vampyres are neither of those things. Promise me you will not take unnecessary risks.”
