Jory nodded, gave him a short bow, and left the room. So far he liked this planet.
Chapter Five
Rounding the corner, Jory stopped. In front of him was an enormous neon sign with a man riding a dragon in full military regalia and high heels. "You've got to be kidding me!"
Z laughed. "Nope. The hottest men on the planet always come here, and during mating season, they're some of the easiest men too. Sometimes even the king comes here."
Damn. He definitely didn't want to draw the attention of a king; the last thing he needed were royal entanglements. His father would be out of control and way too happy with him if Jory caught a king. He wouldn't mind having more of Val though.
He looked at the sign again.
How do I get myself into these things?
Oh yeah, mating hunt rules.
Z dragged Jory and Lila towards the club, holding each of their wrists as if to stop them from running away, though Lila appeared more eager than unwilling in her tiny black dress.
When they reached the steps, Z released them. Giving Lila his arm, Jory helped her up the stairs so she didn't trip in her heels as they followed Z.
At the top of the stairs stood the largest fucking bouncer he'd ever seen. Entranced by the sign, he hadn't noticed the enormous man standing beside the line blocked off by velvet ropes.
"There's a line," the bouncer announced, frowning at Z.
Z stepped to one side and tugged on Jory's arm, bringing him forward and forcing him away from Lila. "Have you met my friend, Joriah?"
Blushing and shrugging off his friend's hands, Jory looked up at the bouncer.
"Sorry, I didn't see the line." He pointed to the sign with a smile. "I was distracted."
The bouncer, possessing the trademark dark hair and eyes of inhabitants of the planet, towered over Jory's smaller frame. Jory decided Val's brilliant green eyes must be a genetic fluke, because no one else appeared to have that color.
"No problem, beautiful, go right in," the bouncer said in a deep, rumbling voice.
"How much is the fee?" Z asked.
"Two ducats."
Jory reached into his pocket to pull out some money.
"No fee for you, beautiful."
The bouncer opened the door for him with a bow and a smile in a smooth choreographed movement.
Confused, Jory entered the bar. "I can't believe he didn't make us stand in line."
"Aww, don't be a spoilsport," Z laughed. "I love taking gorgeous people places. I always get in."
Lila giggled, and Jory shook his head.
Decorated in dark wood with a highly polished bar, the requisite mirror, and a large dance floor, the club had a surprisingly classy interior, and if the bartenders were extremely pretty men and most of the dancers were of the male persuasion, all the better. He looked back at Lila.
"Oh, don't bother with me. I love watching all the pretty, pretty men." Her eyes greedily scanned the vibrant crowd.
"Sometimes there are even men who like both." Z gave Lila a playful leer, flashing his green band.
Jory rolled his eyes and turned away. A place like this was bound to have at least one friendly soul to help him with his requirement for the hunt. His hormones were already rising along with the sexual tension in the room as men rubbed against each other in a parody of sex.
"I'll go get a table. Get me a white wine, will you?" Lila tossed over her shoulder as she walked off to claim a table in the corner.
