Chapter Five Hot House #2
His brows inched together. "Does this have anything to do with the other night? In the throne room?"
The gossip had truly circulated if it had reached Osho's ears.
"We're being forced to work together, and the King's behest." Adan sulked.
"I'm sure you're loving that." Osho bumped his shoulder into her playfully.
"At least he's handsome—for a lord." Adan didn't know where Osho's political moral compass landed.
It wasn't something people talked openly about.
It was one thing for Czanadra to know things, her and Adan had a mutual interest.
She thoroughly enjoyed Osho's company but trusting people in the City of Bones was messy business.
"The problem is he knows he's handsome and who cares if he's a lord."
"Apparently woman—lots of them—males too." At Adan's sour face, Osho laughed loudly. "Let me take you out tomorrow night. You look like you could use it."
"What's that supposed to mean?" She rounded on him.
"It means that you should go home and get a good night's rest because tomorrow night you and I are going to hit the town."
For the first time in a while, Adan grinned broadly.
—
The King never called for Adan, so she left the castle early. Headed straight for the Sicarii, not to see Osho. They had plans later that night, but to use the training facilities. She was always liked to get in a workout the before a night of drinking and debauchery.
She went for a run first before her workout.
The training centre in the basement of the Sicarii was empty.
Most of the assassins had already come and gone, or they trained at night.
She was sweating by the time she switched it up, to play with her daggers.
Setting herself up in front of a dummy. She stood there until her arm went numb.
Every dagger landing perfectly into the dummies head.
it wasn't until she couldn't raise her hand overhead that she called it quits for the day and headed out into town.
She showered quickly in the barracks before heading to the Luxus , Shadow territory, to do a bit a quick shopping and pampering.
Even if Lennox Hollow was the head of that territory, it didn't stop her from loving that section of town with all her heart.
She enjoyed her day off with purchasing a new outfit for tonight.
She got her nails and hair done, then got a massage before heading back to the castle to change and drop off the rest of her shopping bags.
Adan was going to enjoy tonight if it was the last thing she did.
She needed a goodnight out with a friend to forget—if only a moment—her life.
The stylist didn't do much with her hair, other than cut off the dead ends.
Curly hair was always the hardest to work with.
She pinned pieces of honey blonde and light gold and streaks of red, high off her neck.
Pulled out her new black silk camisole. It hung off her shoulders, clinging to her chest, leaving her back open.
The hot pink leather skirt with a massive slit sat perfectly on her hips.
She placed a dagger at her thigh, tightening the straps on her sheath, making sure that it was secure.
The black leather boots she chose stopped just at her knees.
She looked at herself in her full-length mirror, she pinned one last curl up into her hair before turning to leave to meet up with Osho.
—
They met at the new dance hall; Hot House.
One of the few places in the City of Bones that welcomed everyone, no matter their station.
The bar was dark enough, lit by glowing red lights on the walls and ceilings.
One light in particular wrapped in a circle, like it was eating itself.
If you look closely enough, you could tell that it was a rendering of a snake.
The lights themselves were different from any other in the city, they ran on magic, but they weren't like the ones powered by the Undine like everywhere else in the city centre.
It was just before midnight, and early for an evening of dancing, but Hot House was already in full swing.
The smell of sweat and spirits filled the air.
Osho and Adan started with a round of shots before making their way to the dance floor.
She surveyed the room while she swayed her hips, and noticed all different types of creatures here tonight.
From Succubi to Wolves, even a Mermaid danced on two legs in the center of the dance floor.
Osho and Adan danced together for a bit.
Swaying to the throbbing of the music. They danced and let the sounds and smells and alcohol chase away their nightmares.
The music pounded in her ears, and the base made her drop her inhibitions.
Giving over and letting go was easy once she was on her third shot.
She was sweating and panting as she plopped down in a nearby booth.
Osho followed suit, sitting down across from her.
He waved to the waitress, asking her for two waters and two beers.
Not something Adan would have ordered for herself, but they were both cold when they arrived.
She swallowed the water in one go, and then switched nurse to the beer.
"Thank you for this. I needed it." She yelled over the music to her friend.
He shrugged, "Not a big deal, I needed it too." He flashed her his perfect smile, with even more perfect straight white teeth. She sipped her beer, surveying the crowd. His eyes snagged on a beautiful vampire, and she could only laugh at her friend.
"Go." She nodded her chin at the woman, and Osho snapped his head towards her. " I'll be fine." She winked.
"Gods, I love you." And he was gone, chasing after the vampire.
She watched her friend for a bit before finishing her beer, only to head back to the bar.
She ordered two more shots. Polished the first one quickly, and the second immediately after.
The alcohol burned her throat and the effects soon made themselves known.
"Another round. For me and the lady." Adan swivelled her head towards the warm, solid body beside her.
He was tall, with brown hair and blue eyes—kind eyes and a boyish face.
She flashed him a drunken smile. While the bartender landed four more shots in front of them.
"Cheers" He smiled back at her, raising his shot glass.
She clinked it against his, and downed the liquor.
She could no longer taste the burn of it, which was never a good sign.
"I'm Corey." He held up his hand and she took it.
"Adan." She smiled sweetly at him—she had already forgotten his name and didn't care if he could hear hers over the pounding bass.
"Beautiful name. Nice to meet you, Adan. So what brings you out tonight?"
"Do I need a reason?" She eyed him up again.
Possibly from Shadow House. He could be a succubus, they were always fun for a good fuck.
He didn't smell like a wolf, but it was challenging to tell in a room full of sweating bodies.
His blue eyes reminded her of a Sphinx, but they belonged to Fire House and were purged along with their house.
"Not when she looks like you." He smirked, his eyes dragged up and down her body. Normally, the look would make her see red, but she was out for exactly this reason. She needed to burn off steam, and this Corey seemed like the perfect ticket.
"Want to dance?" She polished off her remaining shot and took his hand. Before he could give his consent, she was already dragging him into the middle of the dance floor and placed her arms around his neck.
Their bodies ground up against each other, his hands splayed out over her stomach and held her close.
She felt his lips drag over her neck and her head tilted back to allow him better access.
They were reasonably tame compared to the other couples on the floor.
But suddenly Corey was ripped from her arms, and a bouncer stood in his spot, and another bulking man held Corey by the neck.
"Come with me." The bouncer stated to Adan, her hand went to her thigh for the dagger strapped there, but he snapped out, grabbing her wrist. "Don't do anything stupid." The other guard dragged Corey out into the street, while the one holding her dragged her into the back room.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?"
She yelled over the music, but the guard paid her little mind.
If she wasn't so drunk, she might have been quicker on drawing her blade and ending this male's life before he got his hands on her, but alas.
She allowed the bouncer to easily man handle her until she was in a quiet back room, an office, she realized.
Big enough for a large black stone desk, and one chair for her in front of it.
It took Adan a few blinks for her eyes to adjust to the bright lights, only for her to realize who, exactly, sat behind that desk.
Lennox Hollow.
For fuck sakes.
"Hello, love." He purred.
"You!" She saw red, and went to lung for the Lord.
The guard grabbed her by the shoulder, and pushed her into her seat.
His hand still wresting on her shoulder, keeping her there.
She turned to him, "get your hands off me, or you'll lose the hand."
His eyes slowly rose, and drifted towards his boss.
With a wave of Lennox's large hand the guard left the room, the music from the club boomed as he opened the door, and it silenced again as it closed behind him with a snap.
"Are you following me?" She whirled on him.
"Hardly, you came to my club." He waved around the room, it was his office that they were in. His desk, his paintings that hung on the walls, his club. She would make a mental note to never return. "I have multiple holdings in the city, this bar is just a small part of a bigger picture."
Am I supposed to be impressed? "Is it normal for you to drag your patrons into your office? What do you want?"
She moved from her chair, placing her palms flush onto his desk and leered over him.
Flashing him cleavage—unintentionally. His eyes only dipped for a second, but Adan caught the movement, smirking like a cat.
"You of all people shouldn't be here. Especially dressed like that," he waved a hand at her, up and down. "And drinking irresponsibly."
"Since when do you think you have a say in how I live my life?" The fucking nerve.
"Since we're now working together." His voice laced with quiet venom and clenched teeth.