Chapter 3
Valen
“Ican’t believe I let you talk me into this,” I groaned as we stepped up to the teleportation circle of standing stones. “This is such a bad idea…”
“Oh my god,” Lila muttered back. “Stop bitching or everyone is going to know how much of a stick in the mud you are. It’s a bar crawl, not the electric chair.”
“That’s a dated reference.”
“I’m almost two hundred years old,” Lila shot back. “Cut me some slack.”
“I will do no such thing. You dragged me into this and I’m gonna bitch about it the entire time.”
“Wonderful…”
We followed the group, bickering mostly just for fun.
There were only thirty or so students teleporting into Pigeon Forge, and we were part of the last group to go through.
Thankfully, I didn’t see anyone I recognized from my classes or the fencing team the previous year.
That, at least, was a small turn in my favor.
As much as I didn’t want to admit it, Lila was right.
I needed a night to let loose a little and just be… someone other than myself.
The teleportation circle hummed with magical energy, making my teeth ache in that familiar way that always accompanied group transport spells. I stepped into the glowing ring of stones, feeling the familiar tug in my stomach as the world dissolved around us.
When the spinning stopped, we materialized in a wooded area just outside Pigeon Forge, the neon lights of the tourist strip visible through the trees.
The scent of funnel cake and car exhaust hit my nostrils immediately, along with the overwhelming cocktail of human emotions that always made my head pound in crowded places.
“Okay, everyone remember the rules,” called out one of the nearby students, a senior who’d organized this whole expedition. “We’re just college kids having a night out. No magic, no supernatural abilities, and definitely no feeding on the locals.”
That last bit was clearly directed at the handful of more rambunctious students toward the front. Even from here I could tell at least two of them were werewolves and as I glanced up at the night sky, I realized that the full moon was only a few days away.
“And if anyone gets arrested,” he continued, “you’re on your own. The academy will disavow all knowledge of this trip.”
Lila snorted beside me. “Like they don’t already know exactly where we are. I guarantee Dean Thornfield has a tracking spell on at least half of us.”
She was probably right, but I pushed that thought aside as we made our way through the trees toward the main drag.
The sounds of human revelry grew louder with each step.
I could hear the music, laughter, and the general chaos that seemed to follow large groups of intoxicated mortals wherever they went, especially in a big tourist town like this one.
“So, what’s the plan?” I asked, already regretting this decision as we emerged onto the sidewalk. The street was packed with tourists, the air thick with the smell of alcohol and fried food.
“First bar is called The Moonshine Tavern,” Lila said, consulting her phone. “Apparently, they have live music and cheap drinks. Perfect for blending in with the locals and letting loose a bit.”
I followed the group down the crowded street, trying to keep my supernatural senses dampened so I wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of human emotions and pheromones. It was like trying to listen to a whisper in the middle of a rock concert.
The Moonshine Tavern turned out to be exactly what I’d expected, dim lighting, sticky floors, and the kind of country music that made my centuries-old ears want to bleed. But it was crowded and loud, which meant we could disappear into the chaos without drawing too much attention.
“Drinks!” Lila announced, grabbing my arm and dragging me toward the bar. “You need at least three before you’ll stop looking like someone’s forcing you to attend your own funeral.”
I was about to respond with something appropriately sarcastic when I caught sight of someone across the room, and every witty comeback died in my throat.
He was leaning against the far wall, nursing what looked like a beer and watching the band with an expression of polite interest that suggested he was about as thrilled to be here as I was.
Dark hair, sharp jawline, and the kind of understated confidence that came from someone comfortable in their own skin.
But it was his eyes that caught my attention.
They were intelligent, observant, and currently scanning the room with the practiced ease of someone who was comfortable in this sort of situation.
“Earth to Valen,” Lila’s voice cut through my distraction. “You’re staring.”
“I’m not staring,” I lied, though I couldn’t seem to look away from the stranger. “I’m just... observing.”
“Uh-huh.” She followed my gaze and let out a low whistle. “Okay, I take back every complaint I had about dragging you here. That is definitely worth staring at.”
The stranger chose that moment to look in our direction, and our eyes met across the crowded room. The connection was immediate and electric, like touching a live wire. He raised his beer bottle slightly in acknowledgment, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Go talk to him,” Lila hissed in my ear.
“Absolutely not.”
“Why not? He’s clearly interested. Did you see that smile?”
“Because I don’t pick up random humans in bars,” I said, though even as I said it, I was still watching him. “That’s not who I am.”
“Maybe it’s who you could be,” she suggested. “For one night.” Before I could argue further, she was already pushing me away from the bar. “Go. Now. Before some other local swoops in.”
“Lila, I swear to god—”
“You’ll thank me later,” she called over her shoulder, already turning her attention to the bartender.
I stood there for a moment, caught between the idea of fleeing back to the academy and actually approaching the most attractive man I’d seen in decades. The smart thing would be to order a drink, keep my head down, and wait for this whole evening to be over.
But then he shifted against the wall, and I caught a glimpse of the way his jeans hugged his legs, the casual strength in his shoulders, and suddenly the smart thing seemed vastly overrated.
I made my way through the crowd, weaving between drunk tourists and college students until I was standing close enough to smell his cologne. It was something woody and luxurious that made my enhanced senses practically purr with appreciation.
“Not really your scene either, huh?” I said, nodding toward the enthusiastic crowd line-dancing to what I was pretty sure was the same song that had been playing since we walked in.
He turned to face me fully, and up close he was even more striking. Those intelligent eyes were a bright blue, and when he smiled, it transformed his entire face.
“That obvious?” he asked, his voice carrying just a hint of an east coast accent. “And here I thought I was blending in so well with the locals.”
“The fact that you’re not wearing camouflage or a trucker hat kind of gives you away,” I replied, surprised by how easy it felt to fall into banter with him. “I’m guessing you’re not from around here.”
“College student here for the weekend with my parents and my sister,” he said. “You?”
“Same.” I gestured toward the bar where Lila was now chatting up what appeared to be a very interested bartender. “My friend insisted I needed to get out more. Experience the local nightlife.”
“And what’s your verdict so far?”
I pretended to consider this seriously, glancing around at the chaos surrounding us. “Well, I haven’t been asked to line dance yet, so I’d call it a qualified success.”
He laughed, a genuine sound that made something warm unfurl in my chest. “I’m Archer,” he said, extending his hand.
“Valen.” I took his hand, and the brief contact sent an unexpected jolt through me. His skin was warm and smooth, like he actually took good care of himself, and I found myself reluctant to let go.
“So Valen, how much trouble are you looking to get into tonight?” Archer asked, settling back against the wall in a way that created a small pocket of space that felt oddly intimate despite the crowd around us. “Because those amber eyes of yours are giving me ideas.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Forward. I like that.” I took a step closer so our shoulders were touching, the heat of him seeping through my clothing. “How long until your parents wonder where you’ve run off to?”
“Oh, they don’t know I’m here,” he grinned. “So I’ve got all the time we need.”
He reached up, his fingers playing with the hem of my shirt.
I swallowed hard. This guy meant business.
And from the way his gaze intensified, I had no doubt of his intention.
He wanted to fuck me, and soon. And I… well, I was starting to think that would be an incredible idea.
There was something about him that made me want to shrug off all my personal rules for the night and just have fun.
Not to mention, the sexual energy that I’d get from the encounter would probably sustain me for a month or more.
“You want to go for a walk with me?” I offered.
“Sure,” he grinned, his fingers brushing over the sensitive skin just above my waistband. “Let me just tell my sister I’m leaving.”
I nodded, watching as he pushed off from the wall with fluid grace and made his way through the crowd.
Even from behind, he was definitely worth watching.
The way he moved with quiet confidence, how he navigated the chaos without seeming to put in any effort was wonderful.
I found myself cataloging details like the way his dark hair caught the bar’s dim lighting and how his shoulders tapered down to what was undeniably a perfect ass.
Christ, I was in trouble.
But that’s what tonight was all about, right? Vampires like me that could feed off of sex didn’t take from our victims. We just found sustenance in what we created together. It was just that I would get a little more out of it than him.
I leaned back against the wall he’d vacated, still warm from his body heat, and tried to get my head on straight.
This was exactly the kind of situation I usually avoided.
Random hookups with strangers in tourist bars weren’t my style, no matter what Lila thought I needed.
I preferred my encounters with a bit more planning.
But there was something about Archer that made all my usual caution seem unnecessarily paranoid.
Maybe it was the way he’d looked at me like he didn’t expect everything from me.
So many guys either wanted me to rock their world or wanted to get married the moment we got done fucking.
But Archer just seemed like he wanted to have a good time. It was… refreshing.
I watched him approach a tall-ish blonde near the bar who was laughing at something the bartender had said.
She looked young, probably early twenties, with the kind of effortless beauty that suggested good genetics and expensive skincare.
When Archer tapped her shoulder, she turned with a bright smile that transformed into something more mischievous when he leaned down to whisper in her ear.
She glanced over at me, her gaze assessing in a way that made me straighten up automatically.
Then she grinned and said something back to him that made him shake his head with what looked like fond exasperation.
Sibling dynamics, clearly. I recognized that particular blend of affection and annoyance from my own interactions with Lila.
The blonde gave him a little push toward me and waved him off with an encouraging gesture.
As he made his way back through the crowd, I caught myself checking him out again.
The way his jeans hugged his thighs, the hint of muscle visible beneath his fitted t-shirt, and that mesmerizing bulge that shifted with each step.
My enhanced senses were picking up his scent more clearly now and under that cologne of his was definitely the scent of lust.
“All set,” he said when he reached me, slightly out of breath from navigating the crowd. “Amelia says to have fun and try not to do anything she wouldn’t do.”
“That sounds like it leaves us with a lot of options,” I observed.
“You have no idea,” he laughed. “My sister has very few boundaries when it comes to having a good time.”
I pushed off from the wall, letting my shoulder brush against his as I moved past him toward the exit. “Well, hopefully you take after her then.”
The night air hit us as we stepped outside, a welcome relief from the stifling atmosphere of the bar.
The street was still crowded with tourists, but it felt less claustrophobic than the packed interior.
I could hear music spilling out from various establishments, the distant sound of laughter, and the general buzz of a town designed to separate visitors from their money.
“So,” Archer said, falling into step beside me as we started walking away from the main drag, “what kind of walk are we talking about here? The scenic route through downtown Pigeon Forge, or...”
“Or,” I finished for him, steering us toward a side street that looked marginally quieter. “Definitely or.”