Chapter Fourteen
Aaliyah
A fter I ran away from the others after killing Alistair, I went straight home. Yes, I will admit that I ran like a coward, but I’m also not accepting criticism of my actions at this time. I know why I did what I did, and I don’t regret it.
Well, not much anyway.
I’d jumped into the shower before climbing into bed where I slept away most of the day. I’ve never had much of a sleep schedule, but I definitely lean more toward being a night owl, so it’s not all that uncommon that I wake up just after six.
I slept for nearly twelve hours, and I feel so much better for it. Stretching, I glance over at my pillow to see if another card might be waiting for me, but nothing sits atop it. I fight back the disappointment that rushes through me as I throw back the covers and climb out of bed.
After a quick trip to the bathroom, I try to decide what I’m going to do with my day. I need to get something to eat, and if I remember correctly from this morning, my fridge is mostly empty. I’m going to need to go grocery shopping soon, but I definitely don’t want to do that right now.
A bark pulls me from my thoughts, and I smile down at Kira. “There’s my pretty girl. Thank you for letting Mommy sleep. She definitely needed it.”
Kira lets out two short barks as she sits in front of me, her tail thumping against the floor. I’m thankful that I automated everything for her with an automatic feeder and an electronic door that allows her outside access while I’m sleeping or out.
Deciding I need to spend some quality time with Kira, I head downstairs and grab a protein shake from the fridge. That’ll be good enough for now, and I think I’ll head into the city for food and a night out to relax later. I grab the basket of outside toys from the table next to the back door as Kira bounces around me barking and wagging her tail excitedly.
An hour later, Kira and I make our way inside and collapse on the couch together, both exhausted from our time outside. I turn on a movie as Kira drapes herself on me, just enjoying each other’s company.
Once the movie is over, I pat Kira on the head and make my way upstairs. A quick shower to wash off the dirt and sweat from my time with Kira and a few minutes doing my makeup are the easy part of getting ready. Then I’m standing in front of my closet as I try to decide what to wear tonight. It’s hot and muggy outside even with the sun down, as is the usual for this time of year, so pants are a no go. But I really am the worst at trying to decide what to wear.
Maybe I have too many clothes.
Nah. It can’t be that.
Grabbing two dresses, I hold them up in front of me. “Which one, Kira?”
Kira, used to this game, walks over and sits down, glancing between the dresses as if she’s actually considering them before she noses at the one on the right.
“Good choice, Kira. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I pull on the slinky black dress, admiring the scoop neck that shows just a hint of cleavage unless I bend over. It’s snug on top but flares out in a flirty skirt that hits high on my thighs. Spinning in this one could mean giving everyone a show, so I make sure to pull on a black thong beneath it. The last thing I need is to flash my pussy to everyone at the club.
And yes, I’m heading to a club instead of Danny’s. I’m not in the mood for a laid back night. Tonight, I want to lose myself to the alcohol and music, which is why I order a car. Alcohol might not affect supes in the same way, but if we drink enough, we can absolutely get drunk—which is my plan for the night.
I don’t want to think about Tyson and his lovers or Archer and Naomi. Maybe I can find someone to take me home tonight. If I find the right person, or people, to take home, then maybe they can make me completely forget all six of them and the things they make me feel.
I don’t want or need to have anyone in my life. All I need is Kira, and I know she’ll never leave me.
Pulling my hair from the bun I’d put it in for my shower, I pull out the curling iron and add a few curls before walking downstairs to wait for my car. When the driver calls to let me know he’s outside, I say goodbye to Kira and head out.
I smile at the driver, who opens the back door of the town car as I approach. It’s times like this I’m glad I’m rich. Instead of ordering a rideshare like most people do, I’ve hired my driver, George, for the night. He’ll bring me from destination to destination until I’m ready to head back home.
George drops me off at a quiet bistro for dinner before driving me to Luxe, one of the hottest new clubs in the city. The line is wrapped around the building when I arrive, but I don’t wait with the others. George drops me off right in front of the door, and I bypass the line, going straight to the bouncer.
“Aaliyah!” he yells, stopping the person at the front of the line from moving forward as he opens his arms.
I grin as he engulfs me in a hug. “Hey, Theo. I’m glad you’re the one working tonight and not your brother.”
Theo laughs, waving for another bouncer to take his spot as he leads me inside. “Cy is just jealous that you haven’t taken him to bed yet, and that I would not let him join us the last time. He is still practically a child, and he still acts like one at times.”
Theo and his younger brother Cy are the heirs to the largest wolf pack in the area. Yes, Theo is one of my lovers, and I have no intention of allowing his younger brother into my bed. Where Theo is laid back and a people pleaser through and through, Cy is volatile. He’s quick to anger and has been known to make more than a few reckless decisions because of it.
But the main reason is that Theo is a trained Dom, while his brother just wants to play at being a Dom.
It’s not often that I want to partake of that particular fountain, but when I do, it’s with Theo, who I not only like, but trust. I don’t think I could ever trust Cy in that way.
“Cy is working the VIP entrance, so I’ll walk you over and get you set up before finding someone else to man it.” Theo wraps his arm around my shoulders as we pass the main bar and head straight for the slightly raised VIP area. Theo is in charge of security at the club, which is why it always surprises me when he’s manning the door. He’s a firm believer in not asking his guys to do something he won’t do.
“You don’t have to do that, Theo. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
Theo makes a face, but doesn’t say anything else until we reach his brother. “Cy, do not give Aaliyah any trouble, or you’ll be looking for another job.”
Cy rolls his eyes. “Whatever, Theo. I know how to do my job. Plus, I’m over Aaliyah—no offense.”
His tone suggests he means all the offense, but I give zero shits.
“I’m glad to hear it,” I tell him before pulling Theo down to my height so I can press a kiss to his cheek. “Thanks, Theo. You’re a doll.”
Theo shoots me a wink as he walks away, and when I turn back to Cy, he’s smirking. “You did that to make me jealous, didn’t you? It won’t work. I’ve got my own girl now.”
“Definitely wasn’t to make you jealous,” I say with a laugh as I pat his chest. “But I’m glad you met someone. Have a good night.”
He returns the sentiment as I take the two steps into the VIP, glancing around to look for an empty table, I find my eyes drawn back to a rather full booth. My brows shoot up in surprise when I find Naomi, Archer, Tyson, River, Hayes, and Reid sitting there.
My lips draw down, my eyes narrowing as I stalk over to them. “Have you all decided to become stalkers now?”
“Stalkers?” River laughs, the sound so filled with joy that I have to fight back a smile. Damn, that nymph magic of hers is powerful even when she isn’t trying. “We decided we deserved a night off after being kidnapped, and Noami knows a guy who got us in. Archer threw around some money and we ended up in VIP. As nice as it is to see you, it’s just luck of the draw.”
I want to believe her words, but I can see the smirks on Archer and Tyson’s lips from the corner of my eyes, belaying her words.
“You know what? I don’t even care. You guys have a good time over here. I’ll just grab a table on the other side of the room.” Except when I turn around, all the tables are now filled. How the hell did that happen?
Fucking hell.
Now I know they planned this shit.
Naomi leans forward, running her hand down my arm. “It looks like there aren’t any empty tables anymore. We have plenty of room. Why don’t you sit and have a few drinks with us? Then, if you want, you can join me and River on the dance floor.”
As much as I want to say no, I’m not sure I have much of a choice if I want to sit at any point in time tonight—which I do.
Fuck it. If you can’t beat them, join them. Isn’t that how the saying goes?
“Fine, but that means Archer is buying my drinks tonight, and I plan on having a lot of them.” I lift an eyebrow in his direction, a smirk on my lips as I dare him to turn me down.
He just shrugs. “Seems fair to me.”
My mouth gapes open for just a moment at his easy acceptance before I snap it shut and sit beside River in the room she made for me. When the waitress comes over, I order a tray of shots and a Palmoa before turning to the others. “Did you want anything?”
“Are you not planning on sharing the shots?” Reid asks, amusement painting his words.
I snort, shaking my head. “A tray only has eight shots, and I need all of them if I want to get a buzz going before dancing.”
Reid throws his head back as he laughs, and he’s so exquisitely beautiful in that moment that I’m awestruck by him. I’ve known more than a few kelpies in my life, and I know just how dangerous they can be in the water. I just didn’t realize how dangerous they could be on land.
Humans always seem to get some of our mythology right while getting so much of it wrong. Kelpies can, in fact, turn into horses as they roam the line between the sea and the land. Yes, they have been known to drag unsuspecting humans to their deaths by drowning them in the sea, it’s usually only those with souls as black as night.
What they’ve gotten wrong is that kelpies are cousins to sirens, and share many of the same traits. When submerged beneath the waves, they can choose their horse form or they can transform into what equates to a mermaid or siren, depending on the story you’re reading. Gorgeous tails of scales on their lower halves and human bodies on top. Except for the mouthful of razor sharp teeth. Kelpie songs are similar to the human tales of sirens, able to lure anyone into their grasp.
But their songs are so much more than that. They can kill with their songs. They can destroy with their songs. They can heal with their songs. They can entice or seduce with their songs. Whatever they’d like their song to do, they can make it do. It’s all about intention.
And as Reid’s eyes meet mine, I wonder if it’s something they can do without their song. Possibly by using their pheromones? I don’t know what it could be, but I feel like I’m trapped in his gaze as he smiles at me. As I stare into those inhuman eyes, I can hear the others talking around us, but I don’t hear anything they say. Have I truly been bewitched?
Something slamming onto the table has me jerking my eyes away from him, eyes dropping to the shots the server has set on the table none too gently. When she sets my drink down just as roughly, it spills over the edges. I glance up at the pretty redhead and tilt my head to the side.
“Do we have a problem?”
“Not yet, but we will if you don’t keep your fucking hands off what’s mine.” If looks could kill, I might be dead right now.
Fighting back a laugh, I nod. “I can absolutely do that, but I’ll need slightly more information about who is yours.”
“Cy. Don’t think I didn’t see you with your hands all over him. He told me how you’re obsessed with him and didn’t want to take no for an answer.” Her eyes flash red as her fangs drop. “You will leave him alone, or we’ll have a problem that you won’t like the solution to.”
“I’ll gladly keep my hands far from Cy,” I tell her with a smile. “There won’t be any problems between us. I promise.”
She looks shocked at my easy agreement before nodding. “Good.”
Shaking my head as she passes out the rest of the drinks, I grab the first shot and throw it back. By the time her tray is empty, I’ve finished all eight shots. Her eyes are wide as she takes the tray. “My name is Bambi. If you need anything else tonight, just let me know.”
Biting back a snicker, I take a drink of my Paloma. It’s perfect. Yum.
“Who’s Cy?” Tyson growls, possession in his words.
I just lift an eyebrow at him before returning to my drink. Conversation carries on around me, but I ignore their presence, keeping my eyes on the dance floor instead of those around the table. I don’t need to be trapped in anyone else’s gaze.
A nice buzz fills me as I finish my drink, turning back to River beside me and Naomi across from me. “You mentioned something about dancing?”
“Hell, yes!” River crows, pushing at me to exit the booth. “You too, Reid. Tyson and Hayes don’t dance, so it’s usually just me and Reid. I’m glad you and Naomi are here though. It’s nice to have more dance partners.”
“But Tyson danced with me—“ I start to say, cutting off at the look Tyson shoots my way, almost pleading as he shakes his head. Eyes narrowing, I decide he’s lucky I’m more interested in dancing than figuring out why he doesn’t want them to know.
As soon as Naomi is out of the booth, River is waving her hand impatiently at Reid, who’s stuck in the booth until Archer and Hayes slide out and allow him to get up.
As soon as Reid’s hand is in hers, she grins up at Archer and Hayes. “Thanks, demon daddy. Thanks, pookie.”
I blink after her as she drags Reid behind her, making a beeline for the dance floor while she yells for me and Naomi to hurry up.
Glancing at Hayes, I fight back a smile. “Did she just call you pookie?”
“She did.” Hayes shrugs, but a flush sneaks up his neck and onto his cheeks. “It started as a joke, but she’s not one for normal pet names so it stuck.”
“It’s very River,” I respond, glancing at Archer. “And how do you feel about being called demon daddy?”
Now it’s Archer’s turn to blush as he pushes Hayes to sit back down. “It’s what it is. Something tells me if I complain about it, it’ll just get worse.”
“You’d be right on that.” Tyson laughs before turning his attention to me and Naomi. “You might want to hurry. If you take too long, she’ll start screaming like a maniac from the dance floor.”
I consider his words for a moment before grabbing Naomi’s hand and dragging her to the dance floor. “I don’t think he’s joking.”
“Neither do I, and I’ll never turn down a chance to hold your hand.”
I’m smiling when I glance over my shoulder at her, deciding maybe it’s not so bad that they’re here—even if I don’t condone stalking. It might not end up being the night I set out to have, but it definitely won’t be a dull one.