Chapter 11 #2
George studies the photo, lips pressing together. Regret flickers across his face. “Sorry. Can’t say I have. I’ve been off the last two nights. But I’ll keep an eye out.” He glances over his shoulder, then pushes the door open. A wash of sound spills out. “If I were you, I’d ask the owners.”
As Rose tugs me forward, I lean close. “Let me guess—you know the owner?”
“Owners,” she corrects with a grin. “I’ve booked bands for them before.”
The club swallows us whole. The pounding beat vibrates up through sticky floors, colorful lights flashing over the crowd. Onstage, a four-piece band thrashes through a punk anthem, the audience shouting lyrics like a war cry.
Rose points toward the bar. “There.”
Three willowy figures stand out even in the chaos, golden hair cascading like sunlight, their brown skin glowing under the shifting neon. The crowd parts around them without thought.
“Fae?” I murmur.
“Wood nymphs,” Rose replies, her grin bright in the shadows. “Triplets—rare, brilliant, and beautiful.”
She pulls me toward them, weaving through the crush of bodies, the beat pounding in time with my pulse.
“Rosemary, what an unexpected surprise.” One embraces her, plucking at her windblown hair. “The elements look good on you, witchling. Where have you been hiding?”
“Not hiding. Just working.” Rose tucks her hair back, and I fight the urge to run my fingers through it.
“And what brings you to visit, with such delectable company?” Their chocolate eyes flick toward me in unison.
“Erythena, Elayna, Ellasia—this is Carter.” Rose fidgets with her purse strap.
“Welcome to Summerwind, Carter.” One drags a delicate finger down my arm, and Rose stiffens beside me.
“Thank you.” I nod politely, gaze scanning the room instead.
“I’m going to say hi to Sapphire and get us drinks while you talk with them,” Rose says, gesturing to the red-haired bartender before slipping away into the crowd.
Carter, don’t let her out of our sight.
Her scent still clings to me—stubborn, sweet—but it’s drowned by sweat, booze, fae magic, and the sharp bite of vampire musk.
My wolf bristles. I track Rose weaving through bodies with a confidence that screams this is her world, not mine.
My fingers twitch with the urge to follow, to keep her close, but I force myself to stay put.
This is her territory. I’d only get in the way.
“Wolf shifter,” one of the triplets purrs, “what do you think?”
The nymph slides into my space before I can exhale, her hand gliding up my arm and curling against my chest like she has every right to touch me.
My jaw tightens. The fae’s contact sparks nothing.
Hollow. Mechanical. Empty. Not like when Rose is close.
When she looks at me, I feel seen. When she speaks, I feel as though she’s pulling me apart piece by piece—and somehow, I want her to.
“Of the club?” I ask, twisting slightly to break her touch. I’d heard fae were physical creatures, that they often communicated through touch. But there’s only one woman I want touching me, and she’s currently walking away to gather clues about the missing teen.
My eyes flick to the stage, then sweep the chaos of the dance floor—anywhere but Rose. “Can’t say I’m much for nightclubs. But… the music’s decent.”
“Yes.” She frowns, though her gaze follows mine. It doesn’t take long for her to spot where it lands—on Rose, laughing at something Sapphire just said, her smile brighter than any of the club’s neon.
“Are you with the witch?” she presses.
“Rose?” Her name tastes too familiar on my tongue, and I know it shows. Heat crawls up my neck as I stumble over my answer. “I’m actually here on business. Rose was hoping you might be able to help us.”
“Such a shame,” the other two sisters say in unison, dancing wantonly to the beat and gesturing pointedly at me. “We’d love to help you.”
“Fabulous,” I mutter, ignoring their obvious advances as I pull out my phone. “Have you seen this girl?”
They pause and lean in, lips pressed together.
“Yes,” the first says at last. “She was here last night with a fake ID—so close to eighteen, and so pretty for a wolf shifter.”
My pulse spikes. “What did you do?”
“We called her a cab and sent her off, of course. We may run a nightclub, but we have morals when it comes to children.”
“Do you know where—”
“No, thank you. I’m not interested.” Rose’s voice cuts through the bass and crowd. I snap my head toward her. Two vampires are coaxing her onto the dance floor, her bartender friend nowhere in sight.
Don’t touch what’s mine.
I storm forward without thinking, slipping an arm around her waist. My canines elongate as I growl at the vampires.
“I believe the lady said no,” I snarl. “I suggest you listen. She may not bite—but I do.”
“There’s no fighting allowed in the club,” one protests. “We only wanted one little dance.”
“There are also rules against forcing patrons against their will,” the triplets intone in unison as they appear beside us, the air crackling with unseen earth magic. “If you wish to continue visiting our property, you’ll abide by them.”
The vampires scatter, and the triplets turn to us.
“Unfortunately, your little wolf pup didn’t tell us where she was going. We just made sure she left here safely. We will, however, keep an eye out and alert Rose if we see her again.”
“Thank you. I hope all has been well,” Rose says, leaning into my touch. Instinctively, I tighten my arm around her waist—a silent promise of protection.
Good job, Captain America.
“Yes, thanks to you,” the triplets reply.
“If there’s any way we can repay you, we’re indebted for the success you’ve brought to our club more times than we can count.
This won’t be the last you see of us.” Their voices carry a cryptic edge, a vow lingering in the air.
Then, as one, they melt seamlessly back into the crowd.
Rose exhales softly, relief and exhaustion bleeding into the sound.
I pull her closer until the warmth of her body presses into mine.
“Let’s get you home, sleeping beauty,” I murmur, low and intimate, my lips brushing the shell of her ear.
She leans into me, light against my chest, and I guide her through the throng toward the exit—unwilling to let anyone, or anything, come between us tonight.