As it turns out, Tannis’s nightclub isn’t justanypassing fancy. It’s an elite exhibition of the supernatural underbelly that not only requires an invitation, but a fair amount of money, too. There are also a number of other factors to consider, like family name, source of funding, and political alliances. And those are just the VIPs. The rest have to have connections for an invitation to filter down to them, so it’s no wonder it’s hard to find. I don’t know a single politician or heir to an auto dynasty.
“You’ve heard about it?” Gray asks. We headed out shortly after Tannis dressed and beautified me.
“A lot of us have.” I can hardly keep myself still or from looking out the window. I’m hoping I might see it pop up out of the darkness, rising high like a gothic cathedral with neon lights and thumping club music. At least, that’s what I imagined Your Fangtasy to look like. It sounded like something straight out of 80s pulp fiction, likeThe CrowmeetsLost Boys.
“Word gets around,” Nate adds from the driver’s seat. “I thought it was crazy that Tannis wouldn’t keep it a secret, but they insisted that hiding in plain sight is a better strategy.”
“Sounds like something Tannis would say.” Grays scoffs.
“Well, it worked. Everyone’s heard of it, but they have no idea how to find it or where to start looking.” I scoot closer to Nate, squeezing myself between the two front seats. Mostly, I just want a front row seat when we finally make it to our destination.
“There’s a good reason for that.” Nate chuckles. I can see his red eyes flash with amusement in the mirror. “Everyone who comes is compelled to forget a few key things before they leave, like the location and any vampires they meet. It’s an extra safety measure we take to protect the club.”
“Unsurprising,” Gray adds, and I can hear him rolling his eyes from the backseat.
“Sounds a little sketchy.”
“It might to a human, but to protect the community,” Nate pauses, “compelling is a clean and efficient way to do that. We just manipulate their memories a little. They’ll know they had a good time, and if Tannis wills it, they get an invite to come back.”
Compelled?
I go rigid, chilled to the bone. It seems like the less I want to think about my first encounter with Dante, the more it flashes in my mind like a bright strobe light. He had compelled everyone at String Theory to overlook me, as if I was invisible. If it’s that easy to force their will over someone, then I worry about bringing my two very human friends with me. It feels wrong to lure them in like this. I have Gray, but what kind of insurance can I guarantee Jill and Emma?
“My friends are coming,” I say stiffly. A cool hand brushes underneath the coat I’m wearing, splaying along my exposed lower back. “What about them? They don’t know about vampires.”
Nate laughs loudly. “They’ll be fine! Tannis has strict rules. No feeding without consent, and no feeding out in the open. Could cause a frenzy.”
“Will you keep close to them?” I ask Nate more directly, holding his gaze in the mirror.
“That’s what I’m here for.” His brows draw together seriously, then he holds out one hand to me. “I pinky promise I’ll protect your friends from all the hungry vampires.”
I can’t help but laugh, despite how cheesy it is. Still, I hook my pink in his. “Pinky promise.”
A second later, Gray is pulling me back and holding me against him. He pushes the fur coat aside and presses his lips against the curve of my shoulder.
“It isn’t too late,” he starts, a little muffled, “you can tell them we canceled. Save them the spectacle.”
“I think… it’ll be okay.” Though I worry about the compelling part. Emma might be somewhat naïve, but Jill isn’t dumb. She’s the watchful type.
“You never know,” Nate sings from the driver’s seat, “they might find they like a little bite to their evening.”
Gray grazes his teeth along my skin, as if to punctuate the point Nate is making. I jump and my entire body vibrates with the action, aroused by the thought of being bitten again in a room full of vampires. Though, I don’t think we can get away with it a second time, not when we have a chaperone and two other people with us. Of course, that doesn’t stop the horny side of my brain from thinking that I might want to test those strict rules.
“So, why didn’t Tannis come along with us?” I ask, changing the subject.
“They had some business to take care of,” Nate says with a shrug. “That’s why they sent me.”
Having Nate with us makes sense then. If he’s part of Tannis’s upper echelon of security, then of course they would send one of them with us to make sure we had no issues getting in — or getting out.
“Sounds mysterious.” Gray whispers, his voice low and deep. His mouth hasn’t left me. He’s moved from my shoulder to the nape of my neck, kissing anticipation along my back. I can’t tell if he’s trying to calm my nerves or make them a mess before we even make it inside.
“We’re here,” Nate says as he pulls into a dimly lit parking lot and comes to a stop.
“Finally.” I breathe a sigh of relief. If I had to wait another minute, I was going to lose it.
Scrambling out of Gray’s hold, I open the door and shimmy my way out. Gray chuckles, amused by the effort. Outside, Jill and Emma are already waiting, leaning against their car. It’s kind ofempty, save for a third car; a little white beater with rust on its doors. I wave to the girls and rush over to them, struck by the look on Jill’s face.
“What?” I ask.
