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She didn’t question why. This evening couldn’t get any stranger. She heard herself recite the words as they loomed in front of her.

We are the children of the Night.

Seeking darkness, revelry, and fright.

We pledge our life’s essence to all.

Nightfall! Nightfall! Nightfall!

“You are worthy, Mara. Join us,” Alaric announced.

She shivered as the impact of his approval swirled around her. Carina’s hand tightened on hers, making Mara realize that at some point she must have linked her fingers with the other woman. A sideways glance at Carina told Mara that this entrance requirement had affected her as well. Instantly, Mara trusted Carina more.

An inner door opened, revealing a waiting staff member in a Nightfall polo. Carina drew her forward. “Last step. I promise. Press your wrist to the screen. You’ll receive the entry stamp.”

Mara allowed Carina to guide her arm into place. A slight prick made her yank her hand back. The sight of a glowing full moon on her wrist captivated her. Mara ran a finger over the symbol. Her skin was smooth.

“Welcome to Nightfall,” the staff member said with a smile and gestured for the two women to continue inside.

As she moved forward, Carina gripped her hand tighter, and the woman who’d helped Mara get inside whispered, “I knew you were special. Come on. I can’t wait to see this.”

Chapter

Three

Darius. You should have answered her attempts to contact you. Bram sent through the clan’s mental link.

Do you have a clue how many phone calls I get every day? Darius growled.

She’s your mate, Bram announced.

The confirmation of what he’d already figured out still rocked Darius. After so many years, his mate’s appearance seemed unreal. But Darius had felt her impact on him even through the leather gloves.

He’d already figured that out. Marcus’s amusement echoed through everyone’s minds a second before congratulations and celebrations echoed through the clan’s connection.

I like her. She’s spunky, Carina observed. She’s looking around, wondering what’s going on. I’d come quickly, Darius. Your mate’s about done with us.

Without hesitating, Darius threw himself through the nearest shadow to emerge from the supply closet behind the bar. Titus struck his shoulder with a blow that would have knocked a man off his feet before clamping his fingers on Darius’s biceps to hold him in place.

“Congratulations, Darius. Trade shirts with me. You don’t want to meet your mate splattered with her assailant’s blood.” Titus pulled his shirt over his head and handed the polo over as the two dozen human bartenders and servers swooned.

“Go, Daddy, go!” Alessia cheered, enjoying the sight of her mate’s chiseled body.

“Fuck!” Darius cursed as he ripped the stitching of his polo in his urgency to get to his mate.

“No problem, Darius. I didn’t need to wear a shirt today.” Titus ribbed him as Darius grabbed Titus’s shirt and squeezed into the tight fit. His bulkier frame challenged the seams of the borrowed garment.

“Oh, no! Not a half-naked, hot bartender!” Alessia said in mock horror. “Congratulations, Darius.”

“Gloves, Darius,” Titus reminded him as he grabbed a damp bar towel he’d been using to wipe glasses.

The leather protecting his hands shredded as Darius tore those off. He’d only started wearing the silly things in the last couple weeks when his skin became sensitive. Right around when the phone messages started. Shaking his head at his failure to put the pieces together and pay attention to his reaction from his mate reaching out to him, Darius grabbed the towel and rubbed the material over the splatters on his skin as he ran toward the woman who stood with Carina at the entrance. As he stopped in front of his beautiful mate, Darius wadded the towel and shoved the fabric into his back pocket. He stared at her tousled hair and wild eyes, memorizing the first glimpse of his mate and kicking himself for not protecting her better.

“Mara Eliot, Darius. You really should have taken her calls.” Carina introduced them with dancing eyes.

Before Darius could reach out, his mate’s gorgeous eyes hardened into a furious glare. She raised her hand and slapped his cheek with all her force before gasping with pain and cradling her palm against her chest. Darius smiled as the impact of her skin against his for the first time sent a wave of intense desire and need through his body. He felt those sensations echo through her mind.

He wrapped his hands gently around her upper arms and drew her forward into his arms. Her stiffness evaporated instantly as their bodies met. Bending his head, Darius claimed his mate in a kiss that exploded with passion instantly. Her arms wound around his neck as he held her tightly against his torso without lifting his lips from hers. Her legs wrapped around his waist as Darius carried her through the nightclub toward a more private spot. Around them, the interior of Nightfall exploded with cheers and congratulations.