The platform was lowered to the stage floor. The crowd continued screaming insanely as I stepped down, and Ivy took his place beside me. The platform rose back into the catwalk as Ivy and I duetted the chorus, melding our voices into a synchronized harmony.
My vices and my darkness I’ll take to my grave
Because if given the chance I’ll always misbehave
Addicted to the high of wanting sex and freedom
You’d better bow down, cause this prison is my kingdom
I’ll be riding on top and screaming as I say it
I’m a bad bitch and don’t you forget it!
We broke into a coordinated dance just as the beat dropped. The club was so loud that the floors shook. Thank the ancestors Ivy had put some good silencing wards on this place, because if he hadn’t, the guards would hear us for sure.
But at that moment, I didn’t care. I was free, and I didn’t belong to Charlie, nor the Warden— not anybody. I was a powerful being who was fully in control of her life, and who had a body these men would die for. In this room, I held all the power— and all the attention. Ivy and I danced like we were one sexy being as the music swelled to a close, provoking us to take our final stance on the last beat.
The ground thundered as the act concluded. My chest heaved up and down as I struggled to catch my breath from the singing and the dancing. So much money was thrown onstage that I had trouble wading through it all. I couldn’t put my heel down without stepping on a dollar. Ivy and I hastily collected the money as other dancers walked onstage to perform the rest of the night’s entertainment.
Kallie cheered like a madwoman. I searched for Charlie and saw his back as he stormed out, punching the door open so he could leave.
Fucking jackpot.
I was still trying to catch my breath as I strode offstage. I took a seat beside Ivy, who’d planted himself on Chancey’s lap and grabbed a cocktail. Chancey had ordered drinks for us, and I took a long sip as the party continued around us. People flooded onto the dancefloor with their dates, grinding on each other to the music.
“You were spectacular, doll face.Verysexy,” Chancey said as he clinked his glass against Ivy’s.
“A toast!” Ivy cried out. “To the club’s opening, and for Ava showing her ex that he ain’t shit!”
I heartily agreed. I threw back my drink and chugged it in a few gulps before I asked Chancey, “You don’t feel shitty for leading him into a trap?”
“Hey, he needs a wake-up call,” Chancey said. “Besides, it was good to get a little payback for him whacking me in the face.”
Everyone laughed, and Ivy ordered another round. Kallie had left the group of fae girls to come sit with us, giving me a high-five for my wicked revenge.
A dancer serving drinks had stopped at a nearby table. A warlock slapped her thigh and laughed.
The waitress let out a yelp. Ivy was instantly on his feet, calling over the bouncers. “Hey,nobodytouches my girls, you got that?”
“Oh, yeah? What are you gonna do about it?” the warlock growled.
Ivy grabbed the loser by his neck and tossed him into the table. It collapsed. The warlock gaped, rubbing his shoulder and looking up at Ivy in fear. Before Ivy could pounce on him, a couple of bouncers grabbed the dude, pulling him out of the club.
“I gotta handle this,” Ivy said with an eye roll. He got up from the table and hurried off to talk to the bouncer who was dragging off the jerk. Chancey followed him.
“I’d figured you were bringing a date,” I said pointedly as I turned to Kallie. Marcus had gotten an invite, but it didn’t look like he’d shown up.
Kallie knew exactly what I was talking about. She fiddled with her glass. “Marcus is ignoring me. It’s pretty clear we’re never going to get the happy ending I’ve been hoping for.”
“You don’t know that for sure,” I objected.
“I do. Mates don’t always end up together. It happens.” She shrugged. “So... instead of pining away for him, why can’t I be happy with someone else?”
“Are you saying you’re looking for someone to fool around with tonight?”
Kallie grinned in a very fae-like, mischievous way. “I might be.”
“Well, good.” I looked around the club. “Maybe I’ll do that, too.”
