He shot me a wry smile. “Yes, you did. You can’t help it.”
I grinned and shrugged because he had a point. “I’m still sorry I pissed you off.”
“Talis and I…” He held out his hands. “It’s something that’ll take time to fix.”
“Okay.”
Nodding, he started walking again and I followed. Had any of that answered my questions? I had a sinking feeling that it had, but I hoped for Axel’s sake that I was wrong.
He pulled the door open and went inside. I waited as he gave our names, then walked through the next set of doors. A wall of heat and sound greeted us. I felt the thumping beat of the music in my bones, and the club was busier than I’d expected.
But that wasn’t what brought me to an abrupt halt.
“What the fuck is that?” I grabbed Axel’s arm and pointed to the archway in front of us. It glowed with varying colours as people walked under it. The magic coming off it was so strong I could almost taste it.
“Have you not seen one before?”
I shook my head.
“All paranormal clubs and bars have them,” Axel said.
“I’ve never been in one before.”
He turned around to face me. “What, never?”
“No, I prefer the mixed bars. Fucking humans doesn’t mess with my magic. Although I don’t tend to do much of that either.” My trips through the gateway, although frequent, usually came with a specific purpose. I didn’t get to explore everything like Axel did.
But he still hadn’t answered my question. “What does it do?”
“It’s a magical dampener. Once you pass through the arch, no magic of any kind can be used. It’s for everyone’s safety.”
I flinched, my hand immediately brushing over the tattoo of my daggers. “Why didn’t you say earlier,” I hissed. “I would have brought weapons that didn’t rely on magic.”
“You can’t bring weapons in here either.” He huffed. “It’s a nightclub, not a fae prison. What do you think’s going to happen to you?”
“Callum Walker, Gabriel, and Nick had their memories wiped in here,” I reminded him. We’d visited Callum a couple of days ago. He hadn’t been able to add anything that I didn’t already know, but I’d still shuddered when he’d explained everything that had happened to him.
Axel hauled me off to the side so we didn’t hold up the queue. I noticed the curious glances we were getting and wondered how many of them were shifters, listening to our conversation. I wasn’t used to being among so many non-humans who weren’t fae.
“That was Zane and he’s in prison. It’s safe to go through the arch, and nothing’s going to happen to you inside.” He cocked an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t have thought a member of the fae guard would be scared of anything.”
I scoffed. “I’m not scared. I’m cautious. There’s a difference.”
“M-hmm.” He adjusted his top and then his shorts before meeting my eyes. “I promise you going through that arch won’t damage your magic, just suppress it for the time you’re in the club. But if you want me to take you back to the cottage, I will.”
He meant it too.
And I knew how desperate he was to get in there, despite what he’d say if I mentioned it. The fact that he’d be willing to take me home meant a lot. I didn’t like the idea of not being able to call on my magic. I’d only just got used to the slow reaction this side of the gateway.
But Axel wasn’t the only one who wanted to get inside.
I closed my eyes, letting myself feel the magic humming through my body one last time, before swallowing thickly and then facing Axel. “Okay. I’m ready.”
He nodded and gave my wrist a gentle squeeze before leading the way to the arch.
I hung back while Axel went through it. A warm purple glow appeared as he walked underneath it with only the barest of shivers. He turned and smiled encouragingly at me, holding his arms out wide as if to say “See, I’m okay.”
Not giving myself a chance to overthink it, I clenched my fists and walked forward. I knew the minute I hit it. It felt like a heavy blanket wrapped around me, settling over my body. I shuddered. As I walked out the other side, the heaviness lifted but not completely, leaving me with a foreign, almost empty feeling that I didn’t much care for.
