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“To the Night Ravens!” the entire bar repeated.
The music returned, and the entire basement of the bar seemed to erupt back to life. Music began beating so loudly again that I could feel every beat of the songs deep in my bones.
Alek didn’t seem phased.
“Let’s head to the bar,” he said in my ear over the music. “There’s someone here I want you to meet before this night gets started.”
I didn’t ask him to clarify. This night was overwhelming enough already. I slid out of my seat and waited for Alek to lead me through the crowd. We shoved past dozens of sweaty bodies now talking just a tad bit louder than they had been before.
“Lyra,” Alek said as he pulled me to the bar, “meet Salem. Salem is my sister.”
Salem stuck her hand out from behind the bar. “Lyra!” she shouted over the music. “It’s nice to meet you! I’ve heard so much about you!”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” I shouted back.
Salem was entirely different from Alek. She had short, choppy blonde hair and the tips were dyed a bright blue color. She wore a skin-tight crop top, and her sculpted abs peeked out from beneath.
And I was starting to wonder what Alek had been saying about me behind my back.
Salem scurried down the bar, getting the drink orders from the dozens of others waiting. Alek moved to stand behind me, his massive frame shielding me from the surrounding drunks as he placed an arm on either side of my body, resting his hands on the bar.
I tried not to think about how close he was standing. And how the hair on the back of my neck stood up, even though the basement was getting warmer with every hot body crammed inside.
Salem was back in two seconds, and she slid Alek and I two shots. “Here! On the house.” She winked.
“Myhouse, you mean?” Alek retorted.
Salem only smiled, and she was gone as quickly as she appeared.
I grabbed my shot and spun around in the tight cage of Alek’s arms. “She seems nice,” I said. “Much nicer than you.”
Alek leaned toward me to grab his shot, and his chest almost brushed against mine. “Very funny,” he whispered. “Cheers, darling.”
He clicked his glass against mine, and we both threw the shots back.Tequila.
When I opened my eyes again, Alek was staring at me. “What?”
“For someone who doesn’t get out much, you can take a shot like a pro.”
I shrugged. “Natalie must be a good teacher.” I left out the fact that I was beginning to enjoy the heated burn of alcohol moving into my stomach.
He raised an eyebrow, but his attention was pulled away by something in the distance that I couldn’t see. His body stiffened immediately, but he didn’t back away from me. I could have sworn he leaned in even closer to me.
The crowd seemed to quiet down just a touch, as everyone’s attention pulled in the same direction.
“What’s going on?” I whispered.
Alek’s jaw tightened. “Nothing we’ll have to worry about,” he whispered back. His arms retook their positions on either side of me. “You’re with me tonight. Don’t forget that.”
It sounded like a cliche, predatory threat, but there was a hint of something in his voice that I couldn’t quite recognize.
I could smell the tequila on his breath mixed with sandalwood as he bowed his head next to mine. “Look at me,” he whispered so close that his lips brushed my ear.
My eyes met his. His brows were drawn together, and his eyes were darker than I had ever seen them.
The sound of the chaotic crowd around us grew silent as I stared into his emerald ocean eyes.
“What is it?” I breathed.
