My cheeks heated at the mere reminder of this morning and what Alek and I did together. I hadn’t gathered the nerve to text him yet—afraid Jules would somehow sense the betrayal—but I knew I would crack soon.
Especially if I had any amount of liquor in me.
“Masimov,” Nikolai shouted to one of the giant men at the front door, gathering their attention. I shrank under their assessing gazes. They were truly terrifying to look at.
“This—” Nikolai pointed at me. “—is Drakov’s girl. Evangeline Vale. Got it?”
Drakov’s girl.Was that Aleksandr’s last name? I supposed it made sense since that was Nikolai’s last name and he’d said they were cousins. Still.Aleksandr Drakov.The words tasted strange and thrilling in my mouth, like stepping too close to fire and feeling the heat even before touching the flames. My heartbeat raced at the thought of our names spoken together.
I pictured myself doodling the name over and over in my diary like I used to whenever I saw a cute boy when I was younger. I pictured our names said together.Aleksandr and Evangeline Drakov.
I liked that. Ireallyliked that.
“Remember her face,” Nikolai continued. “If she wants in, she gets in. And add Satan’s offspring to the list as well, I guess.”
“Why you little fucker—” Mia began, but I squeezed her hand to attempt to cut her off.
“Please,” I whispered. “Don’t fight. Not now.”
Mia knew I hated any sort of conflict at all. I didn’t see the point in using sharp words to hurt each other. We were all adults. If Mia and Nikolai had an issue with each other, then they could calmly talk about it. No need for insults or name-calling.
It was something I’d been trying to convince my brother of, though instead of witty barbs, he preferred to use the muscles he spent almost every day building and the hothead temper he’d honed over his lifetime. I liked that even less than Mia’s sort of warfare and did everything in my power to stop any of his fights before they began.
Mia sighed. “You’re right. It’s your big night. I’ll hold it together.”
“Thank you.”
“But if he tries anything, I swear toGod, Eva, I will fuck him up so?—”
“Nice, remember?”
“Ugh. Yes.” She turned to Nikolai and gave him a saccharine smile. “Thank you, nice asshole, for helping us get inside.”
I sighed as she strutted inside. “I’m sorry. She’s not like this, normally. I don’t know what got into her.”
He bit back a grin. “Oh, I do.”
He didn’t clarify any further, instead gesturing for me to go inside. The two guards at the front of the door gave me a nod of respect, one of them muttering in a thick Russian accent, “Enjoy your time at Obsidian, Miss Vale.”
The moment I stepped inside, the world shifted.
The door sealed shut behind us with a muted thud, cutting off the city noise as if it had never existed. All I could hear was the steady pulse of music reverberating in my bones, lining up with the beating of my heart.
Obsidian exhaled around me—dark, rich, predatory. The air was cold, perfumed with liquor and something metallic, expensive, dangerous. Underneath it all, a raw scent lingered. Desire sharpened by the eyes of strangers, the thrill of watching and being watched. Sex.
I gulped. I didn’t belong in a place like this.
I followed the tall silhouettes of Nikolai and Mia. The main room was dark, lit only by the occasional flashing light. In the background, I could make out dozens, if not hundreds, of bodies moving in a fluid rhythm, their shadows sliding over one another like ink atop water. Hands rubbing inner thighs, gripping breasts. Mouths poised on necks. Pelvises pressing together.
I wished Alek were there more than ever, not only because I wanted to be like that with him, but because I knew he would keep me safe through it all.
Heads turned as I passed. Conversations paused long enough to make me feel the subtle shift. There was a second-floor balcony where people watched below, drinks in hand, like voyeurs waiting for a show.
I felt likeIwas the show. A siren trapped in an aquarium while people stood by, waiting for me to sing.
Nikolai moved like he owned the currents of the room, unfazed by every stare, every whispered assessment. The crowd parted for him with practiced ease. Every staff member we passed acknowledged him with a nod, their eyes flicking briefly to me before returning to neutral professionalism. My skin prickled. I suddenly felt very aware of my dress, my posture, the way my heels clicked softly against the dark floor. I felt both invisible and overexposed.
I leaned closer to Nikolai, shouting over the music. “Is it always like this?”
