She glanced around at their surroundings. They were in a gravel parking lot of an abandoned strip of stores. Most of the windows were knocked out or boarded up but she couldn’t scent anyone inside. Across the street, behind a wire fence and about a football field length of overgrown underbrush, was where they’d have to get inside. The warehouse itself was a simple box and had once been a storage place. Christian said it was now being used for “underground club nights.” And since it was a couple hours till midnight things should be getting started.

  “Everyone remember the pass phrase?” she asked.

  Everyone nodded, though Griffin snorted, likely because the phrase to enter was “little red riding hood.”

  “Okay. Ren and I will head in now.” There were absolutely no vehicles across the street, nothing to give away that this place was in use. Which was very likely how the operators managed to keep its existence a secret from the sentries of King’s pack. Not to mention the surrounding area was one that his pack hadn’t fixed up yet.

  “Be careful,” Zephyr said, and she knew his words were directed at her.

  She should be annoyed with him but…ugh. Whatever. She just wanted to sit on his face more than anything. Freaking dragon.

  “Always,” Ren said in response when Juniper simply ignored him.

  After she and Hyacinth had returned from the Magic Man’s place, Zephyr had been needling her all day. Okay, not needling. But he’d been around her, just driving her mad with his huge, sexy presence. He’d basically staked a claim earlier that morning and she couldn’t get his words out of her head.

  Once they crossed the street and slipped through an opening in the big fence, Ren said, “Testing.”

  Everyone behind them answered in the affirmative that they could hear clearly through the comm line earpiece. Juniper immediately did the same with hers and got all affirmatives. So they were off to a good start.

  All the Magic Man’s spells were in place as well, masking their faces. She appeared to be a dark-haired female with bangs and dark eyes, and the shape of her face was rounder. Her body type was the same because it was hard to hide height with a spell, but at least she didn’t look like the same female who’d jumped out of a hotel room window and crashed a party.

  “How do I look?” Ren asked, doing a ridiculous head toss.

  She grinned as they stalked across the underbrush. The closer they got to the warehouse, she could scent other beings and feel a pulse of music from somewhere. “Adorable.” Under the spell, his hair was a pale blond and he had the “California surfer” look down—tan, cheeky grin, bright blue eyes. But she could still see the real him. It was weird, like looking at an overlay over him, but at least no one else would be able to see the spell in place. Not unless they were related through blood. She could barely see Zephyr’s overlay—which was more blond hair and blue-eyed surfer. No, all she could see was him. Because that was all she wanted to.

  The only one not in disguise was Christian. He’d said he wanted to go as himself so he’d be able to get information out of contacts if necessary.

  “I feel ridiculous,” she murmured as they neared the back of the warehouse. They’d been told that the door was on the west side and that they’d have to knock three times, then give the pass phrase to whoever opened it.

  Ren glanced at her getup and grinned. “At least they’ll know you’re not hiding any weapons.”

  She had on a silver sparkly “top” that barely covered her breasts and was connected behind her back with two strips of fabric. Her skirt was the size of a headband and she had on ridiculous five-inch heels—which made her six and a half feet, and taller than almost everyone.

  “Good thing I don’t need them.” She was a dragon.

  As they rounded the side of the building, she spotted the door Christian had told them about. It was go time.

  * * *

  “She’s incredible.” Axel nodded at Juniper, who was dancing on one of the raised platforms. Ren was on another one nearby, also dancing.

  The two of them had a dragon’s-eye view of the club from their position. Even with the spell covering her real face, Juniper was a magnificent-looking female. Everything about her was larger than life. It was hard not to admire her moves.

  Christian simply sniffed in that obnoxious way of his that Axel both loved and loathed. Goddess, he wanted to punch the male so much. But he also wanted to do other things. Hot, urgent things where neither of them were talking or had any clothing on.

  “At least pretend you’re having a good time with me,” Axel muttered, turning back around to face the long, glossy bar. He had no idea how someone had managed to trick out this place so well but it was incredible.

  There were multiple hardwood bars with incredible finishings, multiple dance floors, different levels with cages and platforms intermixed for dancing and other things. The space was huge and wild and clearly meant for partying.

  “Hard to do that when you’re checking out everyone with a pulse.” Christian sniffed once and took a sip of his drink.

  He was all proper and elegant too in his ridiculously hot custom-cut three-piece suit, and Axel just wanted to mess up his hair, get his suit wrinkled and kiss him until his mouth was swollen. Just to rile him up. Not to claim him or anything.

  Axel cut a glare at Christian. “That’s not what I’m doing.” He was keeping an eye on the others inside the club. Zephyr was the only one not inside—his job was to keep an eye on any potential strange happenings outside. Since he was a dragon, he was able to do better recon than anyone, so Juniper had assigned him that role.

  “Cut it out, you two.” Juniper’s subtle voice came over their connected comm line.

  Right. Axel smiled smoothly at Christian and leaned closer to him and that spicy scent hit Axel hard. Damn it, this vampire made him crazy. “Do you need another drink, darling?” He laid it on thick, ignoring the flash of heat in Christian’s eyes. Oh, did his vampire not like that? Too bad. And damn it, Christian was not his vampire. The male had made it very clear that he was too good for Axel. Jackass.

  As if summoned, the young vampire bartender, who couldn’t have been turned more than a decade ago, strolled up to them. Shirtless and wearing a sparkly gold thong—and matching beads around his neck—he grinned at Christian, checking him out in the most obnoxious way.

  He and Axel might not be an actual couple, but it was clear they were together. Axel started to growl low in his throat, then cut it off. He’d never been the jealous type. And he couldn’t start now that they were undercover.

  The bartender turned to Axel then, his flirty grin still firmly in place. “What can I get for you two boys?”

  Boys? Axel resisted the urge to grit his teeth at this child who’d likely been turned at the height of his frat boy days. He hated places like this: loud clubs with people just looking for hookups. He liked a good party, but everything about this club felt cold, impersonal. The parties he preferred involved friends and simply being around people he genuinely liked.

  “Another Manhattan for me and a beer for my friend,” Christian purred in the most fake way Axel had ever heard the male talk. Christian had a boyish quality to his face because of when he’d been turned, but that was just surface. Everything about him was polished, elegant, refined. “And maybe you can tell us where we can pick up some humans looking for fun.” He winked and Axel’s stomach tightened.

  Yeah, he didn’t like this. Many, many years ago he’d worked spec ops for a paranormal branch of the government, gathering intel and wreaking havoc. He, Harlow and Brielle had done a really good job of blowing shit up when they needed to. But he wasn’t good at this kind of undercover stuff, even if Aurora had thought he’d be perfect for it. And he hated it more that he was forced to work with the male he couldn’t stop fantasizing about.

  At least the spelled cord around his neck changed his appearance.

  “I can definitely hook you up.” The bartender grinned as he started pouring a beer for Axel. “Or maybe I can get between the two of you later.” There was a lot of hope in the male’s voice and Axel turned away while Christian continued talking.

  He should have told Aurora no to coming here tonight, because he wasn’t in the right headspace. But she rarely asked for anything, and hell, she was his Alpha now. It wasn’t in his nature to say no to his Alpha.

  “You get anything?” he murmured, his question subvocal when the bartender moved off.

  “Other than a phone number, no.” Christian sighed, sounding defeated.

  Axel knew Christian wanted to bring down this ring of traffickers and was stressed that they’d lost their lead the other night. Going on instinct, Axel reached out and squeezed the male’s knee, but then withdrew it at the way Christian stiffened.

  Goddess, Axel got it—Christian didn’t want him. Didn’t even seem to like him anymore.

  It shouldn’t cut so deep, but…it did. When they’d first met, there’d been a powerful spark between them. One that even Christian couldn’t deny. But after a flirty conversation, a couple drinks, and some kisses, it was like this wall fell in place between them and Christian just…didn’t want to be around him anymore.

  “Hey,” a male voice murmured so low Axel almost didn’t hear it. He turned to find the bartender sliding a piece of paper to them. “If you’re looking for fun with humans, try here later. I’ll be off here in a couple hours and can meet you there.”

  Nodding, Axel forced himself to smile at the male, glanced at the paper then pocketed it. “It’s an address.” He read it off and kept his voice subvocal so only Christian and those on the comm line would be able to hear him.

  Juniper did an erotic sort of twist on the platform before she slid down the attached pole to the main dance floor. “We’ll check it out soon,” she murmured, easily making her way through the crowd until she almost disappeared from sight among the throng of people. “I just saw some humans leaving with some vamps and they did not look sober enough to be walking on their own. You two stay here.”

  Axel knew she meant him and Christian. He bit back a sigh even as Christian said, “Of course.”

  Right about now he wished he was at home with his pack, far away from the male who made him want to crawl out of his skin. He slid off the barstool, held out his hand for Christian. “Want to dance?” At least then they could do a couple laps around the place, search for more humans who looked out of place.

  Something wild flashed in Christian’s eyes, and to Axel’s surprise he took his hand, tugged him close.

  And it was impossible to miss Christian’s erection as he pressed his body to his. Goddess help him. Axel didn’t want to want this vampire so desperately. This vampire who’d lost his mate and was determined to be a sad panda for the rest of his days, unwilling to let Axel in at all because he wanted to wallow in his misery.

  But…Axel was weak apparently. Because when Christian looked at him with that spark of hunger, Axel wanted to throw caution to the wind and chase after a male who’d made it clear that he was unavailable.

  So damn weak.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “We’ve got company.” Zephyr’s voice suddenly came through the comm line, sounding slightly out of breath. “There are three dragons waiting in the shadows about two blocks from the warehouse. I saw them from the air.” His voice was whisper quiet, but Juniper heard him as she and Ren slipped out of the club.

  The vampires with the trio of human females were leading the humans across the overgrown lot. One glanced over his shoulder and tensed when he spotted Juniper and Ren.

  So Juniper threw her arm around Ren’s shoulders and started singing a silly sea shanty off-key. Ren joined in and the vampires quickly lost interest in them as she and Ren veered in another direction.

  “They haven’t moved but one of the individuals is the same dragon female from the other night,” Zephyr continued. “The older one. I’m certain it’s her. What are your orders?”

  Even though Zephyr’s mere presence was driving her insane, she loved that when it came to work, he didn’t question her. Sure, he’d given her shit about jumping out of the window—and he’d been right. It had been rash and she should’ve known better. But there was never a question that she was in charge of this crew. Unfortunately she knew from experience that some supernaturals had fragile egos, especially males, and couldn’t deal with a female giving orders. Those kind of supernaturals didn’t last long in the black ops world.

  Once she and Ren reached the opposite gate from the vampires and humans, she let their song trail off. “Keep an eye on them,” she murmured to Zephyr. “I’m going to shift and go camouflage. I’ll follow the targets.”

  “I’ll head to the address Axel gave us,” Ren said, though it came out more like a question.

  She nodded. “Yes, follow the lead we got. Don’t go inside until you connect with one of us. Zephyr, I want you to stay on the three unknowns. Griff, how’s the club looking? Any more movement?”

  “The vampire and lion have it under control,” he said. “And you need backup.”

  Zephyr growled across the comm line, clearly agreeing.

  Griffin was right. She was capable but her crew tended to work in pairs. “You need backup too,” she said to Zephyr. But he could fly, which put the others at a disadvantage. And tonight was weird anyway—neither she nor Ren had a partner either.

  Even though she didn’t specify him by name, he snorted. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Griffin and Hyacinth, you two team up for now. I’ll contact you guys once I follow them to where they’re going and give an update then. Everyone, keep me updated.” She hated going after vampires in her ridiculous outfit but whatever. She could kick ass in stilettos just as easily as she could in boots. Though she’d likely end up ditching them, regardless.

  “Let us know if you want us to follow,” Axel said over the comm line quietly, though she could clearly hear the thump of music in the background.

  “I want you two watching the club for now.” They might be capable, but they weren’t part of her core crew and hadn’t signed up for this kind of work.

  She moved away from Ren, giving herself plenty of space before she called on her beast. Magic rippled through her, her dragon emerging in moments. Feeling settled in a way she only did in this form, she immediately called on her camouflage and took to the air as quietly as possible.

  The scent trail the vampires left behind might as well have been a little trail of candy. It was ridiculously easy to track and they didn’t go far. Only about three miles on foot, and she watched as the trio eventually picked up the humans who’d passed out. Juniper was guessing they’d been drugged. Then they used their vampiric strength and speed to enter an abandoned apartment building four stories high.

  Rising up to greet her in the air was the scent of humans. Too many of them. Fear and sweat battled each other for dominance. The humans were scared. In danger.

  As she swooped lower, the overwhelming scents faded, which was odd. She wondered if there was a spell around the building. Because she’d only scented it when she’d been high above it with her dragon’s-eye view.

  She made a mental note of it, and oh so quietly landed in the middle of the street by the building. She let her magic overtake her once again and shifted back to human. She kept her camouflage in place, however, so she wouldn’t be seen. She winced as her heels made clicking sounds on the pavement, so she immediately took them off.

  Quietly placing them on the sidewalk, she hurried up the crumbling pathway toward the building’s entrance. Maybe forty years ago this place had been nice but it had long since been abandoned, even before The Fall. And it was on the outskirts of King’s core territory, which was likely why it wasn’t high on his priority to renovate. She knew he was making his way around the territory cleaning everything up, but that took time and manpower. Clearly someone was taking advantage of that lapse for their own evil gain.

  As she neared a set of glass doors, she saw a vampire leaning against the wall smoking a cigarette. She contemplated knocking him out but decided to distract him instead. She picked up a discarded soda can and threw it behind her.

  He straightened in concern at the sound and hurried past her toward the sidewalk, never sensing her.

  She waited until he was to the sidewalk, his back turned, and opened the entrance door easily. As soon as she did, the scent of humans and fear almost choked her.

  “I’m inside.” She gave a quick description of the building and wished she’d seen an address somewhere. There hadn’t been anything visible out front.

  “I think this is the same place I’m at,” Ren said quietly. “Four-story brick building with blacked-out windows on the third and fourth floors. I’m on the east side. There’s no address but there is one listed next door on that building. If the addresses are in order, then this is the place Axel and Christian told us about.”

  Well, hell. “Everyone else, report.”

  Silence.

  “I’m in the lobby.” She kept her voice whisper quiet, trying not to worry that no one else had responded.

  “I’ll scale the side, enter through the roof if possible.” Ren’s voice was just as low as hers had been.

  Still no response from the others. She didn’t like it, but knew that noncommunication could mean a lot of things, not all of them necessarily bad. Moving on silent feet, she passed a set of elevator doors and was surprised the power was on. She wondered if they were siphoning it from somewhere. Or maybe they had a generator—or were utilizing magic. She took the stairs instead and eased the steel door open. As she did, voices from somewhere above trailed down to her.

  The fresh scent of blood assaulted her so she hurried, racing up a flight of stairs in seconds. At the next steel door, she quietly pulled it open and slipped into the hallway. Wincing in disgust as she stepped onto dingy brown carpet that was peeling away from the hallway walls, she focused on the scent of blood and headed toward it.