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“Yes, he should be expecting me. Alexei Vasilyev.”
The effect of my name was immediate. The vampire’s eyes widened slightly before he held the door open wider. He pointed his arm towards the back stairs with a small bow. “My prince. Please follow this staircase up to the bar where Thibault shall find you. Have a wicked evening.”
“Oh, I plan to.” With a devious grin, I wrapped an arm around Jade's waist possessively and led her further into the shadows.
A lone flickering lantern illuminated the ancient, creaking steps that led to a cozy jazz bar. Piano music drifted through the doorway while several creatures drank and danced in the moonlight streaming through the industrial-sized open windows. Portraits lined every inch of the wall space with photos depicting creatures from across the centuries who visited, along with a timeline of paintings portraying Boston throughout the years.
From the street, the building appeared dark and empty, yet so much life thrived inside.
As we stepped through the door, some patrons turned to watch our approach, the chatter slowly dying off as recognition dawned. Their curious eyes returned to their prospective drinks or company with a tinge of fear, though my skin still prickled from their unwavering attention.
I led Jade to a small table near a window overlooking the city below and angled my head toward the bar. “What would you like?”
“An aviation with extra cherries.” Anxiously, she watched my face before she turned to observe the couples dancing to the lively music. “But what am I supposed to—”
Leaning down, I brushed my lips against hers gently, silencing her. Against the delicate petals of her mouth, I breathed, “Just keep an eye out for anyone suspicious, and if you can, let your magick scout the room for signs of the talisman. I doubt Trystan would let it leave his Court, but there’s always a chance he’ll slip up in his arrogance.”
“Got it.” Her tense shoulders loosened under my touch. “Don’t forget the extra cherries.”
Sauntering through the crowd, I made eye contact with some vampires I had met in my long life, but many were young creatures new to the city. Some mingled with warmbloods who would no doubt not live to see the morning.
I knocked my fist against the glass bar top. “An aviation with all the cherries you can fit inside the glass and a blood-wine.”
The wide-eyed bar maid rushed to fill my order.
Oh yes, these vampires knew exactly who I was and what would happen if they dared dampen my evening. I leaned back against the bar and forced a bored air as I lost myself in the song's melody, wondering if I should let Jade cast a forgetting charm on the club before we left.
As I searched the crowd for Thibault, a scarlet-eyed male drained his goblet of blood, standing on swift feet as he approached Jade. Immediately, I identified him as a fledgling within the Boston Court, the silver ribbon around his wrist marking him as Trystan’s.
The male sneered, waving his arms with frustration, while Jade’s hackles rose at whatever the whelp said to her. A shimmer of magick rose from around her menacingly.
With a low growl, I grabbed the drinks and rushed for the table as I forced my mask into place. It wouldn’t do well to make a scene, but my blood-rage clawed close to the surface, risking my ploy for the evening.
Jade caught my eye over the male’s shoulders and smirked. She twirled her hair as she muttered, “It’s rude to join a lady without asking permission first. And I think you’ll find my date doesn’t take too kindly to anyone insulting her.”
The vampire didn’t take the warning. He hissed, “Witches are not welcome here by Trystan Dubois’s orders. Even the Prince of Pleasure should know that.”
The prick would be lucky if he only got out of this club with a mere forgetting charm.
“His exploits are that well-known, then?” Jade asked, fire simmering in her gaze as she watched my approach. “I suppose I should feel flattered to be on his arm tonight, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re pissing me off.”
The male’s hands suddenly dug into her shoulder, hard enough to nearly snap her clavicle. “Get the fuck out of here before I drain you dry myself.”
Black rage filled my vision until nothing of Alexei Vasyliev remained. There was only a ruthless vampire male set on protecting his mate.
The whelp was flying towards the grand windows before he could draw his next unnecessary breath. The glass didn’t shatter, but the sound echoed in the club.
“What the fuck did you just say?” I bit out, my voice unrecognizable to my own ears. “You dare touch my female?”
The room seemed to take a collective intake of breath as blood-rage simmered beneath my bones, violent and out-of-control. The vampires understood just how dire the night had become.
“Witches are not welcome here,” the fool argued from the ground, lumbering to his feet.
“Considering he’s aprince, I would say he can do whatever he likes.” Jade clasped her hands and rested her chin on them, the picture of amused ambivalence despite the chaos unfolding in front of her.
A purr of approval caught in my throat, and I collared the back of her neck with ownership. Jade stiffened minutely at the possessive grip before she relaxed. The primal part of me reveled in my claim.
“Ah, yes. Thank you,moj draga,” I spoke around a sip of my drink, handing her the cherry monstrosity with a slow grin that belied the fury consuming me. The familiar banter brought me back to myself minutely. “It appears some vampires within Trystan’s rule require education as to the hierarchy of our world. Not to mention reminders of the punishment for such treasonous words spoken before all. Nowthatcannot be allowed to continue, can it?”
