Chapter 59 - His Replica Mate

“You’re my what? My Alpha? My mate? In case you’ve forgotten, you aren’t- not anymore. So you don’t have any say in whether or not I do this,” I say, and I see the sadness in his eyes, but he’s quick to mask it.

He takes a deep breath. “I know that. I know I don’t have any say, but I’m just trying to protect you,” he tells me.

“And I appreciate that, but if this is the only way we can get to Merlin, then we have to do it. So, what happens when I get to him, Freya?” I ask her.

“Well, unlike other sick people like Merlin, he doesn’t drug the girls he’s with. He likes them lucid, so they can take whatever roughness he wants. Once you have his attention, you’ll lead him to a room, a room where Leo and I will be waiting for you. His guards don’t follow him when he goes into a room, so that’s all you need to do. Just lead him to the room, and we’ll take care of the rest,” Freya explains.

My hands are shaking, so I squeeze them together. “Okay then, let’s do it,” I tell them, my voice betraying none of the nervousness I feel.

Lena’s POV

We arrived at the club about thirty minutes later, and Leo was quiet throughout the drive. But you could feel the anger pouring off him. He didn’t like this plan at all, but at the same time, he knew there was no other way.

“So, can you remind me of the plan again?” I ask them.

“When we get in there, we act like we’re just there to party. We get some drinks, we dance-we don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb. Then after a while, I’ll go get a room. I need you to draw attention to yourself, make Merlin notice you. When you see that he’s got his sights on you, walk up to his VIP lounge. Then you’ll have to flirt with him. Once you’ve got him hooked, lead him to the room where we’ll be waiting,” Freya explains.

“Okay, I understand,” I tell her.

“Wait a minute, why do both of us have to be waiting in the room? I should stay in the club and keep an eye on her,” Leo says.

“No, that’s not going to happen. I’m pretty sure that the moment Merlin lays a hand on her, you’ll be over the railing, probably ripping off his head or his heart. Tell me I’m wrong?” Freya asks Leo.

“Fine, but the moment we’re in the room, I’m giving you ten minutes, Lena. That’s it-ten minutes. Then I’m coming to get you, and we’re calling this whole thing off. We’ll find another way to get to Merlin. This is my mess, not yours,” he tells me, and I can see that beneath all that anger, he’s actually worried and scared.

“Okay, ten minutes,” I tell him, and he gives me a little smile.

“Alright, let’s do this,” Freya says, then opens her door and steps out. Leo and I do the same.

Freya skips the line, and we follow her straight to the bouncer, who just nods and opens the door for us. As soon as we step in, I’m hit with the loud club music, disorienting me for a few seconds before my ears get used to it.

“You come here often?” I ask Freya.

“Something like that,” she smiles, then grabs my hand and drags me into the club.

“You’re still stiff. We need to get some drinks in you,” Freya tells me as she drags me to the bar, which, by some miracle, isn’t that full-maybe because there are three bartenders.

“What would you like?” Freya asks.

“I don’t know, surprise me,” I reply. She smiles, but that smile makes me feel like I might have made the wrong choice.

“Bartender, a round of shots for me and my friend, and a glass of bourbon, neat, for mister grumpy over here,” Freya tells the bartender. She proceeds to pour our drinks. The bartender sets out eight shot glasses and fills them with vodka, then pours Leo his bourbon.

“Okay, so don’t even think about it. You take four, and I take four. All in a row. Alright?” she says.

“Alright,” I reply. I swear Zoey won’t believe this when I tell her. I down the four shots of vodka in a row. The first one burns, but by the second, I’m used to it.

“You did it! Let’s go dance,” Freya says, dragging me onto the dance floor.

At first, everything is a little blurry, but then my body gets used to the alcohol, and I’m just the right amount of tipsy. Freya starts dancing, and before I know it, my body begins to move, finding the rhythm of the music. I haven’t had this much fun in a while.

I don’t know how long we dance, but then Freya tells me she’s going to get a room. I nod at her but continue dancing. Then, suddenly, I feel someone behind me, and I immediately know who it is-it’s Leo.

At that moment, the music in the club shifts to a slow tempo. Leo’s hands wrap around my waist, pulling me back so I’m leaning into him. We start moving together, and after a few minutes, the music becomes more sensual, and so do we.

In that moment, I let my body take over. I don’t think about the fact that this is wrong or that I swore to myself not to get close to him. I just let my body take the lead.

I grind back against him, and I can feel his bulge against my back. He runs his hand up and down my body, then stops at my chest, pinching my nipple through my dress, making me gasp. I can feel myself getting aroused.

The next thing I know, Leo spins me around. His eyes are gold again, and it’s like he’s barely holding himself back. He runs his fingers up my arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. Then, he reaches my neck, leans down, and runs his…

His tongue traces down my neck, sending shivers down my spine. God, this feels so good, and we’ve barely even touched each other.

He lifts his head, his gaze locked on my lips, and I know what’s about to happen. I want it. He leans down, and I wait, but the next thing I hear is Freya’s voice, which makes Leo step back, and it’s like the trance we were in has been broken.

“Is it just me, or is it really hot in here?” Freya says. From the smirk on her face, it’s clear she saw us.

“I got the keys, and both of you did well. That show you put on, it got Merlin’s attention. He’s the one in the black suit, in the VIP suite at nine o’clock,” she tells us. I glance in that direction and see him. His eyes are on me, and I can see the lust in them.

I turn to Leo. Did he do all that on purpose to get his attention? No, that can’t be it. I felt it-it wasn’t fake.

Freya wraps her hands around Leo’s. “We’re going to go now. Here’s your key to the room. Good luck, Lena,” she says, then discreetly slips the key into my purse before she and Leo leave.

I turn around, putting on a fake flirtatious smile, and look up at Merlin. He smiles back. Time to dance with the devil.

Lena’s POV

Merlin tips his glass toward me and signals that I should come up and join him. This is it. I leave the dance floor and walk up the stairs to the VIP area. As I approach Merlin’s suite, I notice his guards-one male and one female. I do my best to calm my racing heart, knowing that if either of them are shifters, they’ll hear it.

I get closer and discreetly sniff the air. I let out a sigh of relief. They aren’t shifters; I think they might be witches. As I approach them, both move aside to let me pass.

Merlin stands, takes my hand, and kisses the back of it. He lifts his head, and there’s a predatory smirk on his face. All I want to do is punch him, but I can’t-at least not yet. I have to play the part of the girl who’s enamored by him.

“What is your name, pretty lady?” he asks as he guides me to the couch, and we both sit down.

“My name is Selene,” I tell him, smiling.

“Selene, that’s a beautiful name. I’m Tommy Merlin. I’m sure you’ve heard of me,” he says, and I feign ignorance.

<< Previous Chapter

Next Chapter >>