The bear snorted. “He doesn’t have time for the likes of you.” Continuing to grip the coyote’s arm, the bouncer nodded in our direction. “Please go right in, gentlemen. We’ve been expecting you.”
We didn’t wait, just moved quickly for the door but still had time to catch a certain coyote slinking off to the parking area.
“You’re on the list now, Willard.”
“How long this time?”
“Try to come back and find out.”
Chapter Nine
Indy
I tugged Seth’s sleeve. “They’ve been expecting us? How could they? They don’t know us. We’ve never been here.”
“Who cares. We’re in. And my déjà vu is back. There’s something here, Indy. Something we both need to see.”
Amid all the shifter aromas and perfumes, the alcohol and the food, there was another scent, unique and sweet, that swayed right through me. I turned too fast and got dizzy. It felt like someone I knew was right at my back. But only strangers were around us. No one I recognized.
The nightclub was noisy. I had to speak in Seth’s ear to be heard. “Do you think we could’ve been followed?”
“What?” He leaned toward me, practically shouting. “Here?”
“To San Diego. Someone from one of our packs.”
He shook his head. “That’s not the feeling I have. It’s this place.”
“I’m with you. But, babe, do you smell something different? I mean, not the sweat, not the food or drinks, but different. Underlying. It’s so wonderful. Sweet and fresh. Do you smell it?”
Seth sniffed the air. “I do. I have been. I thought it was just me. Or like a really nice perfume.”
“I thought it was just me, too. Whatever it is, I’m weirdly drawn to it.”
“There’s something about it. My beast is telling me we need to move, check out every corner, every nook and cranny.”
I nodded. “But first, I think I’m going to need a drink.”
He grinned. “Agreed.”
The scent kept wafting over me, filling me with a combination of anxiety and longing. Neither of us had any idea what we were walking into.
Seth and I got our drinks. Still standing at the bar, we turned and surveyed the area.
Several people lined up beside us to order drinks. Every one of them gave us a long stare. I mean, yeah, Seth and I weren’t completely unfortunate looking. He was the handsomest guy I’d ever seen. And we were both steeds—princes, he in his shimmer and me with my herd. Maybe we had attitude. Maybe we presented as if we owned the place. But I never thought of either of us as arrogant in that way. What in the hell were we projecting?
Then I noticed from farther away, on the dance floor and at the tables and booths, a few more people also turned to glance at us.
My hackles went up as if a predator was in the area.
Among shifters, unicorns were rare. I hadn’t been away from my home a lot in my life. I’d done most of my studies, including college, remotely. I had dealings with humans on occasion, but not much with shifters, other than my own kind.
My scent let me know some of the beasts that occupied this space. A lot of bears. Big cats. Wolves. All enemies of Equidae. My heart raced.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Seth shrugged. “Yeah, I have the same question. We’re getting stares.”
“I don’t feel comfortable. There’re predators here.”
