Chapter 1 #2
Zera sighed. She was too old for this. It’d be one thing if she were in her twenties again, but those days were long gone. She tugged at the hem of the shirt, trying to make it cover a little more of her chest, but she knew it was a lost cause.
As she stepped out of the bathroom, Jade whistled and gave her a thumbs-up. “You look hot, Mama!”
She grimaced. “I need a jacket. Or a sack to cover up.”
“A leather jacket and a scarf ’cause it’s cold, but don’t be afraid to let the girls out.”
“Girls? Seriously?” She laughed. “They’re more like sad, old ladies.”
“Shh, don’t say that! They’ll hear you.”
Jade laughed when she shot her a playful glare. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Not as ridiculous as you for thinking you don’t look good in that shirt,” Jade said with a smile. “Now, come on, you better get out of here or else you’ll be late.”
Zera checked her faestone sitting on the edge of the changing table. It was getting late. If she was going to go, she’d better leave now.
“Fine. I’ll go,” Zera said and took a deep breath. “But you’d better take care of Cole.”
“You know I will.” Jade picked up Cole, bouncing him on her hip as they followed Zera to the living room.
Zera pulled her jacket on, grabbing her purse and keys out of the cubby next to the front door. “And call me if you need anything or anything happens—”
“Zera, we’ll be fine,” Jade said, nudging her toward the door. “Just go have a nice date. Sloane will be home from the diner soon with food. Cole will have a nice dinner and will be fast asleep long before you come home. Promise.”
Zera nodded, taking another deep breath. She knew Jade would take good care of Cole, but it still didn’t make it any easier to leave him. She kissed Cole’s chubby cheek.
“Okay, I’m going,” she said before heading out into the evening breeze.
The sun was setting over the horizon, casting a blanket of pink and orange shadows across the endless red oaks of the Havenwood Forest that surrounded the small town.
The leaves were starting to brown for winter, crunching under her heeled boots as she made her way across the gravel and into her car.
It was a tiny four-seater she’d bought used and not unlike the sedans she’d heard about from the Human Realm.
Not that she’d ever been there. Only high-up fae in government could travel between the realms. But that didn’t mean they hadn’t brought back their technological advances and blended them with their own magical ones.
Zera started the engine and sped off through town and out onto the highway that separated the Havenwood Forest from the northern Shadowood Forest. She turned west, heading to the capital of the Fae Realm—Mystic City.
Pine trees that brushed the sky flew by her on the right, and the rainbow of browning red oaks, aspens, and birches blended together on the left, until she neared the city that stood majestic against the darkening sky.
Mystic City was the hub of the Fae Realm, the center of culture, and a place for opportunities. Zera had been living in Havenwood for a few years now, but she’d never ventured into the city before.
A thrill of excitement rushed through her veins as she maneuvered through the fancy high-rises of the west side.
Bright lights illuminated the storefronts and restaurants, and the sound of laughter and conversation filled the air.
The city hummed with an intoxicating energy that made her heart race with anticipation.
She had to remind herself that whatever happened, she wouldn’t fall for whoever this guy was.
No matter how handsome he was. Cole was her whole world, and she didn’t need another man in her life.
But that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy herself a little bit, did it?
It wasn’t every day she got to go out to a nice dinner, so she might as well enjoy it.
The restaurant finally came into view, a two-story, cylinder-shaped building with a crystal dome over the top that stood out like a beacon in the night. An elaborate sign hung above the door reading The Crystal in red text. Her stomach tied into knots. Guess this is it.
She pulled into the valet parking lot, and her anxiety spiked as she gripped the steering wheel.
She couldn’t do this. She didn’t even want to be on this date.
She’d much rather be in her pajamas, cuddled up next to their fireplace with a good romance book.
At least the men in those books couldn’t hurt her.
Someone tapped on her window before she could turn around. She sighed and rolled it down.
“Madame Zera?” the valet asked, his blond hair falling over his youthful eyes as he bowed. His pallid face with not a single wrinkle, on top of his fangs and fake Human Realm accent, told her he was a vampire.
There were whole nests of vampires obsessed with human blood and human customs. So, naturally, many of them latched on to not only the humans’ carotid arteries but to their accents, demeanors, and fashion too.
It was even rumored that somewhere in Blood Valley, the vampire queen herself had a secret back door leading into the Human Realm, allowing her kind to lure humans in for their blood.
Not that any of these rumors had been confirmed or anything, but that didn’t stop them from spreading.
The idea sent a shiver through her body.
“Um, yeah?” Zera blinked. How did he know her name?
“Your party’s already waiting for you. The host inside shall escort you.” The valet’s strange accent was thick but not enough to cover up the sound of his fangs clicking together as he spoke.
She glanced between the valet and the entrance of the Crystal as more vamps spilled out.
Well, that was just great. Her blind date had picked the worst spot possible.
Vampires were notorious for their insatiable feeding habits, and even though they were forbidden to feed on unwilling parties in the Fae Realm, she didn’t trust them.
Her stomach rumbled with hunger. She’d come all this way so she might as well get a meal out of the deal. She hoped he wasn’t a vampire luring her here to suck her dry. Or worse.
She forced herself to shove those thoughts to the back of her mind and stepped out of the car, handing her keys to the valet. “Thanks,” she called over her shoulder as she headed for the entrance.
Realizing she would likely stand out in a place like this, she decided it’d be best to mask her pixie features. With a little pixie dust and focus, she could do it. She drew in the energy from the reservoir of magic stored in a gland below the seventh vertebra, and heat warmed her body.
The dust rounded her pointed ears and subdued her lavender irises into a warm brown color.
She blinked, aware of the change in color as a film spread across her vision that was hardly noticeable if she ignored it.
The only problem was that, if there were any problems at the restaurant and she needed her limited supply of power, she would be unable to keep up the mirage.
Ideally, she wouldn’t need to use her pixie dust at all and the date would go smoothly without a fuss.
Chandeliers sparkled high overhead, casting the plush velvet chairs and marble floors underneath them in a glittery light. Zera gasped, unable to contain her awe. She had to give it to them—the vamps knew how to decorate. It was like she’d walked right into an art deco mansion.
“Welcome, Madame Zera,” the hostess greeted her before she could speak. “Right this way.”
How did everyone here already know who she was?
It was kind of creepy. She tried not to let her unease show on her face as she followed the hostess up a giant staircase to the second floor.
A waiter raced by, gripping a silver platter of wineglasses filled with what could’ve been wine but was most likely blood.
She shivered. This was not her scene, but she’d promised her sister she would give this date a chance. Though, in reality, the poor fae didn’t have one to begin with. Whoever this guy was, vampire or not, she was determined not to fall for him.
As she and the hostess reached the top of the staircase, Zera’s eyes widened as she took in the sight before her.
Even more chandeliers hovered overhead, dangling dangerously high under a glass ceiling, illuminating the tables below draped with white linens and scattered across a turf of green velvet grass.
The smell of rosemary and garlic bread filled the air, mingled with something a bit more coppery that made her want to gag. Perhaps it didn’t bother those who ate red meat, but Zera couldn’t stand meat that was even remotely raw.
Maybe if Jade had mentioned this on the profile she’d made for Zera, then her date wouldn’t have invited her to a vampire restaurant, let alone swiped yes to go on a date.
Vampires filled most of the tables, all dressed in their most elaborate attire and mingling, laughing, and drinking.
She wasn’t sure which was worse, the fact that they were probably drinking blood in those wine glasses or that she was significantly underdressed. Why hadn’t she looked up the restaurant ahead of time?
But it didn’t really matter. All she was here for were the delicious carbs and a strong cocktail. Nothing more.
“Your date is seated over there,” the hostess said, gesturing to a secluded booth near panoramic glass that offered a picturesque view of Mystic City.
Zera’s breath caught in her throat when she spotted the pair of stormy gray eyes trained on her, piercing through her soul. He was even more stunning in person, tanned with broad shoulders that filled his tailored suit to perfection and a strong jawline that could cut through glass.
His sharp cheekbones made him look lethal, like a predator ready to pounce on its prey. But she was no prey, and she wasn’t about to fall for this guy’s charms.
Despite her resolve to loathe this man, her heart slammed against her rib cage as she navigated the tables to meet him, her heels muffled by the turf grass.