Well, Drea and the team were counting on me, so I pushed my theories about the neck snakes from my mind. Spinning to the large beefcake to my right, who was dancing with some blond chick, I leaned into him and whispered in his ear. “Boost me up on stage?”
After giving me a once-over, he nodded. Turning, I gripped the lip of the stage, which came to my chest. Two seconds later, I felt strong hands latch onto my waist and then I was flying. The dude basically lifted me like I was made of air, and I had to quickly tuck my legs under me or I was going to face-plant on the elevated platform. My feet hit the stage directly in front of the DJ booth and I popped up into a standing position right before the DJ.
His glowing red eyes met mine, then he flicked his gaze to where the bouncer moved in my peripheral.
“Can I come in the booth? It’s my birthday!” I screamed as I leaned over the table. I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth and nibbled on it in what I hoped was a seductive manner.
Shame tried to rise up inside of me for acting this way, but I shoved it down.
Take one for the team, Tatum. If things get too uncomfortable, you can just fly away.
“Sure!” he grinned, looking back to the bouncer and waving him off.
I squealed in mock excitement and then went around the table to the side, where he opened a little half door for me. Stepping into the booth, I did get a bit entranced with all the dials and glowing knobs.
“What’s your name, beautiful?” The DJ’s hair was dark, and his breath washed over me, bringing with it the stench of liquor.
“Kallie,” I lied.
A sly grin pulled at his mouth as he stepped up behind me and pressed his body against my back. Reaching around me, he started to fidget with the knobs. “Want to help me spin the next track?” he breathed against my neck.
Okay, I was totally going to throat punch him soon if—
The fire alarm blared, and the lights automatically kicked on, illuminating the entire club.
Bless you, Jacob.
With a hard shove, I pushed the DJ backward and yanked the mic from his table before scrambling out of the booth and to the edge of the stage.
I scanned the dance floor as people stared up at me, seemingly waiting for instruction.
That’s when I saw it. The level four had the head of a bear but the body of a human… if said human had paws for feet and hairy hands.Gross.
“Drea, there!” I shouted into the mic, pointing in the direction of the demon.
Drea and Dash darted in the direction of the level four as I gripped the mic firmly in my fingers. “There’s a fire in the back. Everyone needs to get outside,” I yelled.
The crowd exploded into chaos then, trampling outward in every direction in search of the exit. I didn’t see or sense a portal nearby, assuming I had that ability, so the level four must have walked here or something.
That thought was horrifying. How many demons were just aimlessly stalking the streets of New York looking to get into trouble? Clearly those scanners Drea had pointed out on the streetlightscouldbe easily fooled. At least by one or two creatures. It probably took a demon mob to set them off.
“Tatum, behind you!” I barely heard Drea’s scream over the blaring fire alarm. I had only just begun to turn and check over my shoulder when a force slammed into my back and then I was falling off the stage.
By the time I recalled I had wings and that using them in front of humans would be okay because they couldn’t see them, I’d already slammed to the dance floor below. The fall wasn’t a long distance, but I’d landed at an awkward angle. My left knee and right wrist took the brunt of the impact.
Ow.
After the zing of pain that ran through my body dissipated, I rolled onto my back and activated my weapons storage tattoo. Pulling a light blade from my arm, I looked up at the stage to see who had pushed me.
Holy mother of all things hideous…
An even larger demon stood over me, looming from his place on the stage. Goat head, three eyes, andfourfurry arms. The horns protruding from his head looked razor sharp.
I swallowed hard.Great, there’s two of them.
With a well-executed kick up, I was on my feet and ready to slice and dice.
Okay, party time.
