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“I can’t wait for you to see the inside of Haven. Every weekend they have a different color theme. Everything from the accent lights to the throw pillows on the lounging couches, and even the signature drinks are colored to fit the theme,” Riley rambled so quickly it was hard to keep up. “It’s really crazy sometimes, because with the fabric draping from the ceiling reflecting the accent lights, and the smoke the fog machines make, it can sometimes look like a scene straight out of a horror movie when the theme is red or black.” She giggled and clapped her hands.

Aiden chuckled. “Breathe, Riley.”

Kai wrapped his arm around Mera’s lower back, pulling her to his side. “There’s always black in Haven.”

“Yeah, but the one weekend I went where they actually chose that as the color theme, the entire place felt like an abandoned castle.” Riley turned back to Blaire. “Just wait, you’re going to love it. The bartenders don’t even ID us for drinks!”

Blaire’s forehead wrinkled in concern. “Won’t we get in trouble?”

“We go all the time. They’re Vasirian. They never card academy students,” Aiden said with a shrug.

“Privileged brats,” Blaire muttered in jest, rolling her eyes.

Kai shrugged. “It does have its perks on occasion.”

Mera looked at her phone, checking the time. “We should get going.” She took Kai’s hand and started walking toward the gates, followed by Seth and Aiden.

“This is going to be awesome!” Riley exclaimed, grinning so big Blaire wondered if it made her face hurt. Riley ran after the others, her safety pins and buckles making all sorts of noise as she called out for Seth to slow down.

Lukas hadn’t said anything the entire time, just stood watching Blaire. She finally looked up to meet his eyes.

“Do you really think I look okay, or is it too much? I’m not used to this sort of thing…” She pinched the ends of her hair, stiff from all the hairspray.

Lukas cleared his throat again and ran a hand through his hair before whispering, “If you only knew.”

“What do you mean?”

He stepped toward her until they were toe-to-toe, then looked down at her. Blaire didn’t have to tilt her head far back to look up at him with the heels on, but despite being closer to his height, intimidating intensity radiated off him like heat. He wasn’t keeping his distance anymore—she certainly had his attention now.

Lukas lifted a hand and ran his fingertips over her jawline, and then slowly down the side of her neck, over the wildly beating pulse point. He lingered there as his breathing became deeper. He gently pressed against her pulse, never removing his eyes from hers. An increasing warmth where his fingers rested sent an unfamiliar jolt through her body.

He resumed his exploration by dragging his hand down the front of her throat, then just his fingertips over her sternum until he moved farther down to the top edge of her dress, lightly caressing the top of her exposed breasts. Blaire’s breath hitched.

“Lukas…” she whispered, closing her eyes as he leaned his head down toward her. He was going to kiss her again. The anticipation shot straight to her core, and she had to clench her thighs together.

“Are you guys coming or what?” Riley shouted from halfway down the path where everyone had stopped and looked back.

Lukas raked a hand through his hair and groaned in frustration, stepping back as Blaire opened her eyes. He swore under his breath as he turned away and clenched his fist.

He stalked away, leaving Blaire trying to catch her breath. This was becoming difficult. She couldn’t even control the way she responded to him out in the open like this.

She was a mess.

32

HAVEN

Walking into Haven felt like stepping into another world. Blue and purple lights saturated the room, reflecting off the sheer fabrics draping from the ceiling, creating an eerie atmosphere when combined with the fog that cloaked the air from hidden machines.

A set of descending, black stairs, lit on either side by blue strip lights, and black candles on wrought iron candelabras, led guests down into the club and through a lounge area where black leather booths and tables with various candles atop their surfaces surrounded the massive dance floor in the center of the club.

Above the dance floor sat an elevated stage for live performances, with a DJ booth situated above that. The far back wall of the club on the other side of the dance floor and lounge area, where the back door to the alleyway and bathrooms were located, held a huge bar with purple underbar lights and black, leather cushioned stools lining the front.

Several bartenders filled drinks from the many alcoholic choices available on display on the mirror wall behind the bar.

Blaire breathed in the strong incense mixed with the scents of the alcohol being consumed by the bodies that moved to the mix of metal, some form of rock electronica, and sensual beats.

“It’s blurple!” Riley said in excitement as they reached a table at the side of the dance floor.