His eyes shifted to Jade, a smile spreading across his face that revealed just the tips of his fangs.
"And who is this vision?" he asked, though his knowing look suggested he already had some idea.
"This is Jade," I said simply, my hand moving to the small of her back in a gesture that clearly communicated our connection. "Jade, this is Leon, owner of the Orpheus Club."
Leon took her offered hand, bending over it with old-world charm. "Enchanted, truly," he murmured, brushing his lips across her knuckles without quite touching them. "Magnur has been designing for me for years, yet this is the first time he's brought anyone. You must be quite special indeed."
"Or just nosy," Jade replied with a smile that held just the right blend of confidence and warmth. "I wanted to see what kind of club required custom lingerie."
Leon laughed. "Magnificent! I love a curious mind," he said to me with a wink.
I handed over the garment bags, which Leon passed to a silent attendant who had materialized beside him. "Everything is as we discussed," I told him.
Leon unzipped one bag just enough to inspect the top item, his fingers traced the stitching with the appreciation of someone who understood quality craftsmanship.
"Perfect, as always," he declared, clearly satisfied. He gestured to the attendant, who disappeared with the garments. "Your payment has already been transferred, with the usual bonus for prompt delivery."
"Thank you."
Leon's pale eyes shifted between us. "Well now," he said, clapping his hands together once. "You're here, the night is young, and I owe you more than a check. Have some fun."
"We should be going," I started to say, still mindful of Jade's safety.
"Nonsense," Leon interrupted smoothly. "I insist. In fact, I have something special to offer." He leaned closer, though he knew perfectly well I could hear him at any distance. "The Azure Room is available, my private viewing suite. Complete privacyfor you, while still able to observe everything. The perfect introduction for your lovely companion."
I hesitated, glancing at Jade, I wasn't sure if immersing her in this environment was wise. The last thing I wanted was to overwhelm her or push her into something she wasn't ready for. But when I looked at her, I saw no fear, no hesitation. Her eyes were bright with curiosity and interest, her lips slightly parted, the scent of her arousal subtly intensifying.
"Would you like to stay?" I asked. "Are you comfortable here?"
"Yes," she confirmed, her fingers squeezing my arm gently.
I turned back to Leon, who had been watching our exchange with the patient interest of someone who had all the time in the world. "We accept your generous offer."
Leon's smile widened, revealing his fangs more fully this time. "Excellent. Follow me."
He led us through the club with the confident ease of someone who knew every inch of his domain. I kept Jade close to my side, my hand still at the small of her back, feeling the heat of her skin through the silk dress. The crowd parted for us—a natural response to Leon's presence and perhaps mine as well. I noticed the appreciative glances directed at Jade, the way eyes lingered on the curve of her hip draped in burgundy silk, the bare expanse of her back. Instead of the jealous rage I might have expected, I felt only that strange pride again. Let them look. Let them want. She was leaving with me.
"The Azure Room is my personal favorite," Leon explained as we climbed one of the curved staircases to the upper level. "Positioned to overlook the most interesting areas of the club, but with complete privacy for its occupants."
We reached a door that appeared to be made of solid sapphire—a stunning panel of deep blue that seemed to capture and amplify the ambient light. Of course, I knew it wasn't actually gemstone but a specialized material Leon had commissionedfrom a fae artisan, designed to appear opaque from the outside while providing perfect visibility from within.
Leon pressed his palm to its surface, and the door swung inward silently. "One-way visibility," he explained to Jade. "You'll be able to see everything happening in the club, but no one can see you unless you choose to be seen."
The room beyond was intimate but not small—perhaps twenty feet square, with a sunken seating area centered before the "wall" that overlooked the main floor. Plush velvet furnishings in deep blue surrounded a low table stocked with crystal decanters and glasses. The lighting was subtle, controlled by a panel near the door, allowing occupants to adjust from complete darkness to a warm glow.
"Refreshments are in the cabinet," Leon continued, gesturing to a discreet panel in the wall. "The room is soundproofed for your privacy, but there are speakers to pipe in the music if you desire. You control everything—what you see, what you hear, whether anyone knows you're here." He smiled, showing just a hint of fang. "That's the essence of Orpheus—complete control over your own experience, never anyone else's."
I watched Jade absorb this information, noting how she moved immediately to the viewing wall, placing her palm against its cool surface. From our vantage point, we could see the entire main floor—all the performances, interactions, and intimate moments unfolding below.
"This is incredible," she breathed, eyes wide as she took in a scene directly beneath us—a siren perched on a crescent moon suspended from the ceiling, her iridescent wings spread wide as she sang a melody that had three different patrons in various states of pleasured trance.
"I'll leave you to enjoy," Leon said with a knowing smile. "Stay as long as you like. Consider it proper payment for therush order." With a slight bow, he backed out of the room, the sapphire door closing silently behind him.
Alone now, I found myself suddenly uncertain. The day had been intense—the discovery of Trevor's stalking, Jade's revelation of her past, my own barely contained rage and protective instincts. Now we stood in a private room overlooking an elite sex club, surrounded by explicit displays of desire and pleasure. Was this too much, too soon? Was I pushing her into my world too quickly?
"Jade," I began, moving to stand beside her at the viewing wall. "We don't have to stay if you'd rather not. We could go back to my place, order dinner, relax."
She turned to face me, and what I saw in her expression stopped my concerns cold. There was no hesitation there, no discomfort or overwhelm—only bright-eyed interest and a flush of arousal that colored her cheeks beautifully.
