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As Zee headed to the bar to refill our drinks, Victor leaned over, catching my eye. “Zodiac’s earlier suggestion may have some merit. The plan could use a little extra . . . ooh la la, as he mentioned.”

“What do you have in mind?”

Victor’s side-eye coasted toward the restrooms, then back to me, making my heart skip. I was not going to say no to any kind of offer that saw me and Victor getting up close and personal.

“Just a quick one?” I grinned, and took his hand.

It was quick and frantic and greedy fun that saw us back at the table in under fifteen minutes, just as Zee got back from the bar. He instantly knew we’d been up to some sexual shenanigans, and grinned. No comment required. We chatted some more, the music and drinks—but mostly the company—providing the perfect atmosphere.

A little after one a.m., Kat poofed to our table in a cloud of pink glitter. “Are you all set for the showdown?”

“As set as we’re ever going to be,” Zee said from his lounged position in the oversized seat, with me tucked next to him.

Even Victor appeared relaxed, with his sleeves rolled up and his hair bundled into a messy bun.

“Fabulous, then can you entertain us, Lycian? It’s been so long since I’ve heard your gorgeous voice.”

Zee merely smiled, almost shyly. Why didn’t he jump at the chance to strut his stuff in front of a more-than-willing crowd?

“Zodiac?” Victor enquired, as surprised as me.

He caught Victor’s gaze, and his lashes fluttered when he looked down at the table and our half-finished drinks. His arm, draped over my shoulder, tightened some.

I knew what this was. He wanted to be with me and Victor, wanted to drag out the seconds into hours. He really was worried about tomorrow.

I sat forward, and looked him in the eyes when he raised his gaze. “It’s alright. You should go have some fun. We’ll be right here.”

Victor gave a slight nod, agreeing with me, and offered up a soft smile too. “I must insist. One of your breathtaking performances will be the icing on the cake of this fine evening.”

“They even have a stage.” It wasn’t a big stage, and it had gotten a bit lost behind the jungle-like foliage. But once Zee was on it, and the lights were on him, it would shine.

Zee glanced over, as though he hadn’t clocked the stage the second he’d walked in. “It would be a waste not to perform something,” he said, as though he hadn’t already decided to get up there and drive this unsuspecting crowd wild.

“Exactly,” I agreed.

“Oh fine, because you guys asked.”

“Excellent!” Kat squealed.

Zee was on his feet and leaving the table with Kat when he glanced over his shoulder, looking back at us. I gave him a wave, and he smiled back, that soft, quiet, gentle smile. My heart cinched and an unexpected lump tried to climb my throat. A cough cleared it, but not before Victor noticed.

“Are you well, my dear?”

I didn’t know any words powerful enough to explain how I never wanted this night to end, how I’d drag time to a standstill if I could. I was a dragon—one of the last, one of the strongest, most powerful beings to exist this side of the veil—but I couldn’t slow time.

“I just uh . . . I’m just goin’ to get some air.”

“Adam?”

“I’m okay . . .” I got to my feet and left the table. If he came with me, I’d turn into a sobbing wreck. He’d hold me, tell me everything was going to be alright, but it wouldn’t change anything. Victor could stop an angry mob with a single word, but he couldn’t stop tomorrow either.

After fighting my way blindly through the crowd, I found a back door, and stumbled out of the main club just as the opening bars of “Feeling Good” began to play. One of Zee’s favorites, and he always performed it to perfection.

The short corridor led to an outside fire escape someone had wedged open. I stumbled outside and leaned against the wall. The music played. I could hear Zee inside, giving it his all.

If my brother snuffed out his light, so help me, I’d tear the stars from the night sky and use them to shred his scales.

“Hey buddy, you okay?”