Thaddeus’ lips quirk, and he raises his hand in a neutral greeting instead.
We step into the white pool of spotlights, and the heat is searing. There are more lights fixed on us than on the stage, and I realize that in this club, Thaddeus is the biggest performer of all.
Brick steps up onto the throne’s dais, taking me with him. Standing, this puts me at eye level with the vampire on the throne.
“Alpha and Luna Blackthroat, welcome.” Thaddeus has a lovely voice, deep and melodic. There’s a touch of a plummy British accent, but it sounds affected. Up close, it’s clear he’s not wearing makeup. His skin is just that smooth, his eyelashes that dark. It makes me think his platinum blond hair is natural, not dyed.
“Thaddeus.” Brick makes it clear he’s not in the mood to play games. He towers over the man sprawled on the throne, but Thaddeus doesn’t seem to mind. “We got your invitation.”
“I’m honored you came.” He sounds so sincere, I know it’s an act. We’re already performing.
But isn’t that what life is, in business and politics? None of us are our real selves in the office or behind a podium. Any glimpse of authenticity is carefully crafted. I never thought all the posturing in the boardroom would prepare me to meet a vampire, but here we are.
“I was dying to meet your new Luna.” Thaddeus turns to me.
I’m careful not to meet his eyes, which is weird, but necessary, given the power vampires have. I think they can just use their voice to enthrall people, but just in case, I fix my gaze on his unwrinkled forehead and white blond widow’s peak.
“Hello,” I say. I feel Thaddeus’ attention on me. It’s flattering, how intensely he’s fixated on me. I get a rush of adrenaline and fight the feeling. I can’t succumb to his allure.
Besides, I’ve been around powerful men before. I don’t scare easily, but I’m also not going to underestimate anyone.
“Ah, Blackthroat…” Thaddeus purrs. “She’s exquisite.”
Brick goes still in a way that means his wolf is gearing up for violence.
“I’m right here,” I roll my eyes. “If you’re going to compliment me, you can speak to me directly. Unless you’re just trying to rile up my fiance.”
A few of the leather clad people behind the throne gasp, and then there’s a taut silence. At my side, Sully shifts slightly, and I know he’s gearing up to leap in front of me if the vampire king lunges for my throat.
Thaddeus lets out a booming laugh. It’s loud enough to be heard over the bass to the back of the club, but somehow it’s hollow. “I heard you had a backbone. I should’ve known a sheep couldn’t run with the wolves.” A few of his posse chuckle along with him, and I feel a flash of pity and contempt. A thousand years of life, and all you have is a fetish club and a few hangers on? No pack. No friends. No mate.
This poor guy. No wonder he pulled power strings to see if we’d dance like puppets. He’s bored, like Ruby said. All he has to look forward to is night after night sitting on a fake throne.
I lean into Brick, letting his warmth strengthen me. The way the vampire follows my every movement reminds me he’s an apex predator. “Brick knew I needed a night out. I was fascinated when he told me about this place.”
“Really?” Thaddeus knows I’m flattering him and can’t help but soak it up.
“Oh yes.” I lower my voice to a whisper. “I shouldn’t say this, but you have a certain reputation…among the lady wolves.”
This time Thaddeus’ laugh is truly delighted. He’s probably more amused by Sully and Billy’s outraged reactions than my comment, but I’ve surprised him.
He straightens up on his throne. “I’d love to show you more of my humble club’s charms if you’d let me.” And he holds out his hand for me to take it.
Brick hauls me closer. “No one touches my fiance but me.”
Another snort. “Wolves,” Thaddeus murmurs to me. “So territorial.”
“The possessiveness goes both ways,” I inform him and put a hand on Brick’s chest. Thaddeus inclines his head. We’ve made our position clear.
No one will be fucking with me or my fiance tonight. If they do, a wolf will rip their head off.
“My fiance wants to experience this club to its fullest,” Brick announces. “We’re going to scene on stage tonight.”
“Lovely.” Thaddeus says, like this is news to him and not something he orchestrated. A mutter runs around the room. I can feel everyone’s eyes on us.
“My attendants will show you the way backstage, so you can prepare.” Thaddeus snaps his finger, and two club employees in matching sparkly purple bodysuits step up to the dais. “Let them know your every request, and it will be granted.”
Brick puts a hand on my back to guide me to follow the club attendants. We’re halfway to a discreet back door painted black to blend into the wall when Thaddeus calls to us.
“And Blackthroat?” The vampire king is standing. The lights have changed, cooled, and Thaddeus’ figure now casts a long shadow that ends at Brick’s feet. “Break a leg.”
It sounds like a threat.
Backstage turns out to be a green room equipped with everything we might need. Including a wall of paddles, rope, handcuffs, and wicked looking whips-everything a top might need to play with a partner.
I set my bag down on a side table and let an attendant take my coat. Underneath I’m wearing a white slip dress and nude ballet shoes. The outfit is sweet and virginal and will contrast nicely with Brick’s black suit. An implicit power exchange and as close to CMNF we can get without having me naked.
“At least two extra exits, one through this back hall. One through the kitchens,” Sully is reporting to Brick.
“I still think you shouldn’t do this.” Billy has his arms crossed over his chest, leaning against the doorframe. “We shouldn’t be caving into that leech.”
“We’ve been over this.” Brick unknots his tie and stuffs it into his pocket. “Madi and I are going to put on a show. We’re doing it on our terms, but we’re doing it, and the sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can leave.”
“Maybe we kill one or two of them instead,” Billy grumbles.
“How would we sell that?” I ask. “A fight to the death, gladiator style? We’re trying to do this with no bloodshed.”
“We could just leave,” Sully says. “Make up an excuse.” His voice is low, barely above a growl. He hates this as much as Billy, probably more. He’s head of pack security, and here we are, the alpha pair, unprotected on hostile territory. This is his worst nightmare.
“We’re going to do what we said we’d do,” I say. “Thaddeus arranged all of this to see what we’d do. He’s making his power known-he can get us to come and do his bidding. We’re showing him we’re willing to play ball, within boundaries. We’re stable, sane, and able to negotiate. And, this will put him in our debt. In a power struggle, he’ll be more likely to side with us than another pack.”
“Unless he’s double-crossing us,” Sully says. “What if he records your scene and threatens to leak it?”
“He won’t do that,” Brick says. “A leak would imply his member’s privacy is at risk.”
“What if he shows it to another alpha? Like Aiden Adalwulf,” Billy asks.
“Then they’ll see I’m in control and in love.” Brick’s face is set, his eyes remote. “Now get out. My mate and I need a moment alone.”
Billy and Sully leave without another word.
“This is my fault,” he says. “If I hadn’t fought fate for so long, I never would’ve gone moon mad. Thaddeus knows I almost lost control. He’s doing this to see if I’m worthy.”
“Worthy of leading your pack?” I’m ready to remind him he more than proved he’s a worthy alpha, and besides, it’s his pack’s opinion that matters, not a vampire’s. But he shakes his head.
“Worthy of you.” He lifts a large hand and fingers the ends of a strand of my hair absently. “Thaddeus longs to feel again. I’m a powerful paranormal creature like him, and I now am thoroughly, publicly in love.”
The fierce flare of his eyes takes my breath away.
“The full moon,” I say. “Are you going to lose control?”
“No.” He lowers his gaze to mine, and my skin tingles in the area where he gave me the mating bite. “My wolf and I are in agreement. We do this scene and keep you safe.”
“I’m actually looking forward to this.” I face Brick and lay both hands on his chest. His muscles are heavy under my palms. He’s powerful in every way.
And he’s mine. All mine.
“You are?” Brick raises his brows.
“It’s going to be fun. And Thaddeus will behave.” Now that I’ve met the vampire, I feel like Ruby’s assessment of him is correct. Thaddeus is bored but has a code of honor.
“You certainly flattered him enough.”
Is Brick jealous?
I undo a single button of his shirt and smooth it open. Disheveling him a little to give him that “boss after work hours” look.
Yum.
“Don’t worry. You’re still the biggest, baddest boy in the room.”
He grumbles something, and I rise and tiptoe to kiss him. He bows his head to give me a peck on the lips but still seems distracted.
I wish I could help him relax. We’re about to scene in public, and the fate of our territory rests on our performance. I need him to focus.
There’s one way I know how to tease him. It’s risky, but I think I can walk the line.
“You know…” I’m still fussing with him, smoothing his shirt, but I make my tone thoughtful. “You didn’t tell me the king of the vampires would be so hot.”
“What?” Brick’s brows snap together, and his growl rumbles under my hands.
Oh yeah, he’s focused now.
I’m baiting the wolf, but I’m not technically lying. He’d be able to tell. I do think Thaddeus is attractive in the way a fighter jet or wicked-edged knife can be beautiful.
“I just want to be up front about this. I was Team Edward not Team Jacob.”
Brick goes still a moment. His eyes flare red gold, and I know he’s getting his wolf under control.
When he moves, it’s so fast I can’t see it. He threads his hand into my hair and draws my head back. His head descends, and he takes my lips in a searing kiss. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, claiming, dominating. By the end, my head is swimming, and my nipples are aching.
His eyes are still bright when lifts his head. “I don’t know who those dweebs are, but by the end of the night, the only name you’re going to remember is mine.”
Brick
I stand in the center of the small stage with the spotlights beating down on me. Everything in this place is calculated to be too loud, too bright, too garish. Leeches love to be obnoxious, even though they have just as heightened senses as shifters do. Maybe after a few decades running the club, Thaddeus is numb to the excess.
Seated around the stage are the club revelers. There’s a low hum like an audience waiting for an orchestra to begin. I ignore them all.
Thaddeus’ people have set the stage the way I asked, with a bare desk and an office chair as our only props. I figured Madi and I could recreate our office tryst. Play a little dominance game, appease the king, and go home.
She’s late. I left her in the green room after she said she wanted a few moments to freshen up, and I should wait for her. But she should’ve been out here ten minutes ago.
My wolf wants to barge back there and make sure she’s okay. But I keep my cool, watching Billy who’s at the door. I know he’s in full view of Sully, who is in communication with Madi.
The minute she comes out, they’ll leave, and the scene will begin, and we’ll get this fucking farce over with.
I can feel the head leech’s eyes on me. What I told Madi is correct-Thaddeus wants to test me-see if I can keep control-but he’s also curious. What is it like to find your fated mate? What sort of human can fall in love with a monster?
I can tell he’s impressed with Madi. Impressed and intrigued. As well he should be. He can stay fascinated with her all he wants, as long as he keeps his hands to himself.
A murmur in the crowd snaps my attention back to the room. At the end of the hall, Billy straightens. He looks surprised. Then he checks back with me and throws a jaunty salute.
I frown. Someone’s up to something.
Then Madi appears, and the world falls away.
She struts out with her head back and chin up like a supermodel on a catwalk. There’s a confident, sultry sway to her hips. She’s vamping this up for the crowd.
And she’s changed her clothes. Gone is the modest white dress we agreed she’d wear. She either packed a change of clothes, or got the club attendants to procure a whole new outfit. A siren-red dress puts her curves on display, and a pair of stilettos give her a few inches of height. The dress is short and sexy. Most infuriating of all, it has a deep slit in the front that showcases the swell of her breasts.
Windows is back.
The entire club seems to hold its breath. The audience is silent, as if a goddess has descended among them, and if they breathe wrong, she’ll smite them.
Thaddeus is smirking. If he was in on this costume change, he’ll be lucky if I don’t rip out his eyes before I let my wolf devour his still beating heart. It’s possible he’s just amused by my reaction and had nothing to do with Madi’s little rebellion and everything to do with the fact that all vampires have “resting douchebag face.”
Either way, I want to kill him.
But I’m not here for that.
I turn to face Madi as she sways up to the stage. Automatically I put a hand out to help her up. She’s redone her makeup, too. Her eyes have a sly, catlike slant to them. Her lips are a dusky red.
She’s breathtaking, and for a moment, I can only hold her hand and marvel that she’s mine.
She notices the desk and chair behind me and grins. She’s ready. The air turns heady with the scent of her secret musk.
I draw her close and growl, “You’re in big trouble, little girl.”
The scene has begun.
I’m going to show her-and everyone here-she belongs to me.
Madi
I stare up at Brick, and his deep voice sends shivers skating down my spine. I love the stage-I wouldn’t perform with Aubrey and my band if I didn’t, but I’ve never gotten a chance to act like this, and it’s thrilling. I’m channeling my inner theater kid hard.
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