Page 37 of Bound By the Sleeper’s Harp

“What made you choose Kentwood?” I asked as large properties sailed past us.

“I like the neighborhood.”

“Right.”

“Everyone keeps to themselves,” he elaborated. “Most of them are supernaturals. They stay out of my business, and I stay out of theirs. But…” He fell silent. “Mostly it was the house.”

“I like it,” I admitted. “Your house, I mean. I thought it didn’t suit you at first, but seeing you in it, now I get it.”

A grumble was his only response.

The city rose up around us, suburbs first, then taller buildings, until we were drifting through traffic. He didn’t drive like he had before. His maneuvering was smooth and leisurely. I paid careful attention to our path, curious as to the location of the infamous club. Admittedly, my mind raced ahead of me, trying to anticipate what happened next.

“When we arrive, I’ll glamor you,” Bastian said, his voice in my ear. “Having the ring will act as a conduit. On our way inside, we’ll pass by the bouncers. You’ll be on my arm, so you’ll have nothing to worry about. I need not tell you to avoid acting nervous. Obviously.”

“Right. Act cool. Got it.”

He huffed. “We’re going to head to the bar first. I’ll order you a drink. You won’t drink it—only pretend. After that, I’m going to leave you to go speak with Aramis. He has a VIP area exclusive to him and his clientele.”

“Wait, Aramis owns the club? The guy you’re meeting with?”

“Well…yeah. That’s why I’m meeting him there.”

“Oh. Shit.” That was news. Clearly Bastian knew people.

“The VIP lounge sits right beside the dance floor—overlooking it, actually. Aramis likes dancing, enjoys watching. You’ll be in sight the entire time. Even away from you, I’ll still be keeping an eye on you. You’ll be safe.”

“But what if others try to talk to me?”

“The glamor I’m putting on you will dissuade them from it. They’ll look at you, oh yes, stare, probably, but they will not try to approach you.”

“Okay. So after you leave, then what?”

“Then you go dance while I’m talking with Aramis. I want you to make a scene. Clear the floor. I want all eyes on you. Let me worry about the rest, all right?”

“Okay. So, act cool, walk with you to the bar, get a drink but don’t drink it, then you’ll leave, and I’ll go dance. And…that’s it?”

“That’s it. I’ll manage the rest from there.”

I blew out a breath. Didn’t sound too difficult. I wasn’t sure what his endgame was. He was bringing me because it had something to do with one-upping this Aramis person. But he’d said I needed to let him lead.

Well… At least I had a plan to work with.

I hadn’t even realized we’d slowed down until he parked his bike on the sidewalk right outside a city building. I could hear music coming from the basement beneath it. I huffed. This was The Vault? Hidden beneath the Chrylon Building?

“Isn’t this a national bank?” I asked. It had the words Chrylon on the top of the building, in glowing white letters that could be seen halfway across the city, and I’d seen plenty of the news stations pan across it when they did their aerial views.

“Yep. Funny right?”

“Yeah…absolutely hilarious,” I deadpanned.

The city’s most infamous club, exclusive to supernaturals only, was named The Vault and it was in the basement of one of the nation’s biggest banks. Ha ha. Very original.

“All right, sugar. Time to rock and roll.” He kicked the kickstand into place and we both climbed off. People milled around us, and I was sure that if I stared long enough and blinked a couple of times, I’d see them for what they were.

I felt a warmth radiating from the ring on my finger. “There, your glamor should be in place. You can remove your helmet.”

I pulled it free and handed it over. He took it and it disappeared. His was already gone, too. I looked at my hands. They looked the same. Curious, I lifted them to my hair and⁠—