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“Welcome to El Toro Rojo,” Ryder says. “The hottest supernatural bar in Jaco.”
I blink. “I’ve never heard of it.”
He shrugs. “Perhaps I should add, the hottest supernatural underworld bar in Jaco.” He glances over at me. “Just follow my lead and you won’t get into trouble, okay?”
A flutter moves through my chest, and I nod.
We get out of the Jeep and walk toward the bar. Before we even reach the front door, we pass a trio of warlocks smoking something that sends sparkly bright orange and purple smoke into the sky, and a group of blue-skinned demons that have someone pinned to the ground, their cheek shoved into the gravel. Ryder doesn’t even glance over, and I scurry to walk even closer by his side.
As we enter the place, I’m hit with a barrage of sensations. Rum, cigar smoke, frying meat, and about every kind of magical aura you can imagine. The place is packed. Vamps, faeries, demons, witches, shifters. I can see and feel the magic of each of them, blending and shifting like a kaleidoscope. Ryder waves to different supes as we push through the crowd, heading for the outside deck.
When we reach it, he continues until we arrive at a large table on the far side, just inside the overhang of the roof. “Dante! Long time, no see,” Ryder calls.
A huge figure turns to look at us. He’s got to be seven feet tall, though it’s hard to tell since he’s sitting down. Antlers spring from his head, and the lower half of his body is covered in fur, leading down to cloven hooves. He’s some kind of faun, but about twice the size of any I’ve ever seen. And not wearing a lick of clothing. I quickly avert my gaze from his lap.
“Ryder!” the faun roars. He reaches out a massive arm and claps Ryder on the back. Then his eyes swivel to me. “I see you’ve brought me a tasty treat.”
Panic spikes through my veins, but Ryder just chuckles. He reaches out and slides his arm around me, yanking me up against him. For a moment I freeze in surprise, but then I go with it, sliding my hand up the front of his chest and sinking into the curve of his body.
“I’m not ready to share this one,” Ryder says lightly. “But nice try.”
“You selfish bastard,” Dante says with a loud guffaw. “Sit down! It’s been far too long.”
There aren’t any seats at the table, as the rest are filled with a half-dozen other supernatural creatures. More fauns like Dante, a variety of demons displaying an assortment of horns, tusks, and wings, and even a werewolf that appears to be half-shifted, maintaining both wolf and human features. An unsavory bunch, to say the least.
The demon closest to Dante gets up from his chair after a pointed look from his boss, and Ryder sits down, pulling me into his lap. “So, how’s business?”
Dante shrugs. “Ah, you know. The usual array of political drama, kidnappings, and assassinations. Nothing too exciting.”
My eyes widen and Dante laughs, then he reaches out and tugs one of my curls. “This one must be new, Ryder. She’s a wide-eyed little doe. Bet she has a sweet little pussy, too, eh? Must have, if you won’t share.”
Through my shock and anger, I feel a flare of magic pulse out from Ryder. But this isn’t the usual lust-filled aura I’ve felt from him before. It’s something much more powerful. His grip tightens around my waist.
Dante roars with laughter. “Possessive, are we? I never thought I’d see the day that our Ryder actually falls for someone.”
Ryder grins. “Don’t be silly, Dante. Ven’s just sensitive, aren’t you darling?”
He jostles me on his lap and I force a smile. Sensitive, and about to kick someone’s ass. My surprise is fading and now I’m just getting pissed.
Dante laughs loudly again, along with the rest of his crew. His gaze returns to Ryder. “So, what brings you to my fine establishment today?”
The faun runs this place, which Ryder said was the hottest underworld spot? I suppress a shiver of apprehension.
“I’m looking for a missing witch,” Ryder says. “Which seems to be tied in with a new drug in the night clubs.” Ryder lifts his hand and uses a flare of magic to create the symbol we’d seen on the boxes in the club warehouse.
“Ahhh,” Dante leans back in his chair and scratches his immense belly. “That kind of intel is going to cost you. What’s this missing witch to you, anyways? You’ve already got a fine enough one perched on your cock right now.” He grins lewdly at me.
“Just a favor I owe someone,” Ryder says with a casual flick of his wrist.
“I hope it’s worth it to you, then,” Dante says.
“So, you have good info for me?” Ryder’s teal eyes burn into the faun’s brown ones.
“I’m always good for it. You know that.” Dante looks around the table at his crew, shooting them a look that illustrates how ridiculous Ryder’s question is, and they all chuckle and roll their eyes.
“Okay, then. Name your price,” Ryder says.
Dante’s gaze fixes on me, and that lascivious smile returns. I know what he’s going to say before he says it. “One night with your little flame-haired witch. That’s what it’s going to cost you.”
