“Can I see your animals?” I’ve never seen a shifter, and the concept of turning into an animal is intriguing.
“You want to?” Lawson asks.
“Yes.” I stare into his eyes, and once again, he makes me curious. His demeanor is gruff, yet I sense his vulnerability.
“We'll gladly show you,” Remy says.
“But not tonight.” Hunter turns into a parking lot. “The club is owned by two vampires.” My eyes widen. “They are very old and powerful.”
“Rylee didn’t say much about vampires.” I have a visual of getting my blood sucked out of my body.
“They won’t hurt you,” Bane says.
“Ryker and Bash are mated. They respect the bond and are completely devoted to their mates.” Hunter parks the car andturns slightly in his seat. “We would never allow anyone to hurt you.”
“This is so weird,” I whisper, staring out the window at the huge building.
“We understand,” Hunter says. “We won’t rush you. Ryker and Bash are just like everyone else.” Lawson scoffs. “Yes, they have many gifts, but they would never hurt a woman.”
Remy opens his door, and the others follow. I wait for Lawson to get out and scoot across the seat. He holds his hand out to assist me. It is strong, yet I’m surprised at the rough texture. If shifters heal fast, why wouldn’t he? I’m curious about all of them. I leave my hand in his as they guide me toward the club. Hunter walks on my other side. Bane is in the lead, and Remy follows behind us. The line at the door is long and trails past the end of the building. We don’t have to wait for our turn. One of the men at the door nods at Bane. He holds the entrance wide. I gaze around in wonder as we enter the loud club. The dance floor is packed, as are the two bars that line opposite walls. I grip Lawson’s hand tight. Hunter slides his hand across my back, palming my hip. A wall of muscle surrounds me. Bane must know where he's going as he makes a path through all the bodies. He pauses at the bottom of a staircase, glancing over his shoulder, before ascending. Once we reach the top, he turns to the right onto the balcony. We pass one open archway, but he stops at the next. I freeze on the threshold. Even if I weren’t informed that there are vampires in the world, I would know these men and women are different.
“Bane.” A man steps forward. He has black hair to his shoulders, piercing blue eyes, and two knives strapped to his waist. The woman beside him has blonde hair and a delicate, yet striking, face. She moves gracefully, yet with power.
“Haven, this is Ryker and his mate Serenity.” Bane holds his arm toward me, and I move toward him. He presses his palm to my back lightly.
“Hello.” I wave and smile weakly. How do you greet an ancient vampire?
“I love your dress,” Serenity says.
“Thank you.” I’m stunned by her beauty as she grins.
“This is Bash and Marie,” Bane continues, motioning toward a striking man and another beautiful woman. They don’t move forward, but Bash nods politely. He could star in your fantasy with his white hair and muscled frame, yet at the same time, kill you without breaking a sweat. I swallow harshly, but manage to nod.
“You’re making her nervous,” Serenity mumbles.
“How? I’m just standing here,” Ryker says.
“Mate, that’s all it takes. I told you to leave the knives at home,” she says.
“I didn’t wear them on my chest. You know I can’t leave the house without them,” he continues.
“You still wear them when spending time with our girl.” Serenity gazes at him, tenderness in her eyes.
“Why wouldn’t I? She’s mine to protect.” He narrows his eyes.
“I’m just saying, you don’t realize the image you portray to a human,” she mumbles.
“Haven, would you like me to remove my weapons?” Ryker turns his attention to me, and I barely hide my shiver. Not from fear. Any woman would tingle a little when he's focused on them.
“No. It’s fine. It’s not you. Two days ago, I didn’t know that vampires existed outside of movies. I’m a bit overwhelmed in general.” I smile widely. “Plus, everyone is beautiful.”
“I think it would help if you let her sit and not be the center of attention,” Remy drawls, moving forward. He clasps my hand, pulling me deeper into the room and to the long couch. Igratefully sink onto the cushions. He sits beside me, and Hunter moves to my other side.
I don’t have an active social life. Being in a club is unusual. Going out to drink and party has never been a part of my life. My father never let me leave the house much, and I suppose I would rather go home after work. I’m not shy, and I can usually make small talk. Yet, I’m out of my element.
The strained silence is shattered as Sally bursts into the room with her mates, Rylee behind them, along with the others who were at the fight.
“Hey, sexy vampire.” Sally grins at Bash. “You should have seen Rylee. Her fight was epic.” His face softens as he looks at her.
