They stepped into Ecstasy.
Multi-colored lights flew around the room. A heaving crowd shook on the dance floor, and the far wall held a huge holo-screen that projected a wild array of changing colors. The roomwas rimmed by a mirrored bar where people stood, two and three people deep. At the back, Xander spied some clusters of tables and chairs, and also a doorway guarded by another syndroid.
Justyn leaned in closer. “Private party rooms. Blon likes to invite some of the most beautiful ladies back there.”
“Let’s find out where Arar is.” Xander started forward, and wasn’t surprised when the crowd parted for him. Women cast him appreciative glances, but when they spotted his implants, most of those gazes skated away and fell instead on Niklas or Justyn.
Malin twined her arm through his. “You were worried about people looking at me. All the ladies are looking at you.”
He saw her scowl at a tall redhead who was brave enough to edge closer to him. The woman turned around with a flounce.
He found he liked Malin’s possessiveness. He slipped an arm around her waist. Because while she might be focused on the women, he noticed plenty of men staring at her.
When they reached the area where the tables were, Xander still hadn’t seen Arar. He looked at Justyn. “Anything?”
The smuggler shook his head. “He’s usually out here lording it over the place. Unless he’s taken some ladies back to the private room.” Justyn scanned the crowd with a narrowed gaze. “Niklas and I will ask around, then can you work your magic with the droid?”
Xander nodded. “Be quick.” He tugged Malin over toward the entrance to the private areas and the droid bouncer.
When they neared the table and armchairs closest to the guard, Xander gave a cool stare to the people sitting there. One look, and they scrambled up and left.
He sank into the chair and before Malin could perch on the chair beside him, he tugged her into his lap.
“Hey.” She settled back against him, despite the mock protest.
“I want you close.” And he wanted to stake his claim. If Xenia and his team could see him now, claiming a woman, they’d be shocked. He smoothed a hand down one slim shoulder, enjoyed her shiver.
He teased the hem of her dress, his finger making lazy circles at the back of her knee. He loved how soft her skin was. He pressed his lips to the side of her neck. To that sensitive spot he’d learned she liked.
She squirmed. “I think I’ve created a monster.”
He’d been called a monster before. By enemies, by people who only saw his implants. This time, however, that term didn’t bother him. For her, he was a beast wracked with desire.
He placed one last kiss on her neck before he straightened. “Your cousins are returning.”
Nik and Justyn slid into the seats across from them.
“He’s here,” Niklas said. “People have seen him.”
“He’s in the backroom,” Justyn said. “A very…helpful brunette told me he took a woman back there. An extremely beautiful blonde with a killer body and multicolored eyes like a nebula.”
Malin went stiff as a board, and Niklas let out a curse before he shoved to his feet.
Justyn frowned and stood slowly. “What’d I miss?”
“Darc,” Niklas said in a black voice. “Nera Darc.”
Niklas Phoenix watchedwith monumental impatience as Xander took care of the droid guarding the door to Blon Arar’s private party room.
Nera was here.
With every muscle in his body tensed to breaking point, he shouldered through the doorway and stormed inside.
He wasn’t sure what he expected. He guessed it should be what he saw now.
Arar was sitting on his butt, huddled against the wall, his black hair disheveled, his eyes wide. He had a trim build and was clad in a slick red suit. A bruise was forming on his cheek. He was going to have a hell of a black eye for the medscope to fix.
Jaw tight, Nik scanned the room.
