What in the heck was she going to wear to a Deuce nightclub?
3
Lyra leaned against the building across the street from the Witch’s Brew.A line of hopefuls waited between the velvet ropes, moving to the beat of the dance music that pounded through the walls and burst out like a fiend every time the door opened.
Dragons and Deuces had a variety of clubs just for their kind.Some were lounges, some were high-energy dance clubs like this one, and some were places that allowed darker sorts of entertainment.Or so she’d heard.
She had cruised past the line of Deuces who’d looked at her like she was some Deuce wannabe.As if.Now she was staking it out, waiting for…
Ah, there he was.
Archer pulled up in his Aston Martin, handed the valet his key, and headed toward the line.Unlike her, he hadn’t conceded to the kind of style one would wear to a nightclub.Or at least what she’d seen in the pictures, a lot of black and studs and skin.Lyra had chosen a black shirt with a bleeding rose on the front, black pants, and studded high heels.Though she’d be tagged as an outsider by her fiery eyes, at least she’d be dressed like them.
Archer looked as though he’d just come from a business meeting with his white long-sleeved shirt, though it was open at the collar.At least his dress pants were black.By his expression, which she could see as she neared him, he was not happy about going inside.In fact, he looked pained.
Just wait, baby.It’s only going to get worse when you see me.
He strode to the front of the line and approached the bouncer, a bulging steroid advertisement.The guy’s smirk showed how ready he was to turn this pretty-boy Caido away.As she neared, she heard Archer say, “You will let me into the club tonight.Go ahead, check your VIP list.I’m on there.Archer Grant.”
The bouncer’s face softened as he looked into Archer’s eyes, the mist in his own swirling faster.He scanned the list, nodded at the name that was not on there, and said, “Enjoy.”
She ran the remaining few steps and linked her arm around Archer’s arm as he began to go in.“I’m here, I’m here, sorry I’m late!”She flashed the bouncer a smile, seeing a glazed look in his eyes.
Archer’s eyes, however, were as sharp as cut glass.He was not fool enough to make a scene here, though.He reluctantly guided her ahead.
“You’re not surprised to see me here, are you?”she asked.
“No.”
“You’vegotto stop being so talkative.Yammer, yammer, yammer.”She hiked her thumb toward the door.“You mesmerized that guy, didn’t you?”
A man in a black suit opened the door for them, and pulsing music drowned out anything Archer might have said.He paid for both their cover charges, which surprised her.Was he resigned to her presence?Or maybe just a teensy bit happy he didn’t have to come in here alone?
Electronic dance music packed the dance floor.The bass throbbed through Lyra’s entire being, and lights flashed in smoke-choked air, lighting the haze blue, green, and red, over and over.
Several Air Elementals rode the music like invisible surfboards, their knobby knees and elbows bent, skinny arms out for balance.They loved the nightclubs.Mischievous buggers, too, causing a ruckus when they pinched a butt here or there and disappeared into a mist, leaving some hapless Crescent to take the blame.And the lushy ones would drain your drink if you weren’t paying attention.
She didn’t mind the Elementals, but her chest tightened and her Dragon shivered at being surrounded by so many Deuces, all staring at her.Women had a whole different expression when their eyes alighted on Archer.It wasn’t because the black lights changed his shirt into a brilliant purple or that he was using that mesmerizing thing on them, because his expression was as shuttered as could be.
Both men and women were drawn to him like a magnet.Two women slid through the crowd, purposely rubbing their bodies against his as they passed.A blond man paused in front of him, staring into his face.Archer stepped around him without missing a beat.
Another woman aimed for him like a rocket, her tongue tracing her red lips.She gripped his shoulders, her face close to his.“Dance with me.”
He removed her hands.“No.”
Everyone’s gaze was riveted on him.Hullo?Did no one see that Lyra was next to him?No, because several people touched him as though they couldn’t help themselves.In the flashes of light, she saw his tight mouth and the sheen of sweat on his skin.
“Beautiful…” one woman said, lifting her drink to him.
“Hey, gorgeous…” a man said, giving his shoulders a wriggle.
Exclamations floated between the beats as she and Archer worked their way to the bar.He looked as though he were in pain.She remembered Cyntag’s warning about touching Caidos, but here, women touched Archer with the reverence given to a demigod.
Lyra slid her arm through his, pressing tight by his side, aiming harsh glares at every person who approached with a hungry expression.At his surprised expression, she winked to let him know she wasn’t coming on to him, too.He stood out even among the magick men here.He was purity, sensuality, and godlike beauty.That Caidos rarely mixed with others made him even more alluring.
Women still reached for him, but Lyra pushed their hands away.“Mine.Hands off,” she growled, feeling her Dragon heat in possessiveness.
Just pretending!
