I shifted in my seat. “They don’t usually, but it’s not unheard of. And with such a big city, and the city of Navane nearby, I can see the playing field attracting a group of them. Actually, I’ll bet you that’s what drew them in the first place—the Court of the Light Fae.”

  “That would make sense,” Wendy said.

  “So, what are we looking for, on a physical level? Did you see the one that was following you?” Vixen asked.

  “Yes, actually. Think of a human—in my case, male—who doesn’t look quite fully formed. The angles will be soft, the features not quite as strong as normal humans. There’s a softness to their features, almost like they were blurred a little.” I shrugged. “We’re not positive that’s what we’re facing but the fact that one attacked me, and we’re looking into Light Fae deaths that have no clear indication of how they died—it’s too much to be a coincidence.”

  “How do they kill?” Vixen asked.

  “They drain energy. Their psionics creates confusion in their victims, accompanied by a massive headache and the inability to think. That allows them to latch on and fully drain the victim of life energy. At times, they’ll drag the bodies away and eat the flesh. I was lucky yesterday.” I shivered. “I hate the things. They’re dangerous and they don’t give a fuck about their victims’ lives. To gollywyppers, anybody is just a potential juice box on legs.”

  “I’ll notify my bouncers to keep an eye out for anyone who looks blurry somehow or doesn’t look fully formed. And I’ll let the servers to know that if anybody seems to be drunk or sick, to check with them and see what’s wrong, rather than just calling them a cab.”

  Vixen glanced at their watch. “All right, ladies. Go on out. Wendy, Rob—the bartender—knows why you’re here. He’ll stand back as an auxiliary bartender. If you need any help with some of our drinks, just ask him. We have a few exclusive to the club that you might not know how to make.”

  “Will do. Is anybody on the floor going to keep an eye on Lyrical? With the crowds so thick, I might not be able to, and as we’ve seen, she’s susceptible to them.” Wendy crossed her arms and I had the feeling that unless Vixen said yes, we were going to abort this mission.

  “Of course, darling. Hold a moment.” Vixen spoke into their phone, and a moment later, the door opened and a hunkahunka entered the room. I had thought Yutani and Wager were gorgeous, but this man blew them both out of the water.

  He was medium height, with shimmering purple hair that fell to his midback. His eyes were silver—frosty as ice, surrounding the deep black pupils—and he was muscled, but still trim. He was wearing a pair of black jeans and a black tank top that showed off his lats and his biceps. His jaw was angular, his nose long and Romanesque, and his lips plump. When he entered the room, his body moved with authority, sinuous and yet dominant.

  I caught my breath as I met his gaze. He gave me a smile that was both feral and yet suggestive. While I tried to focus on something other than the musky smell coming from him, Wendy gave me a little jab with her elbow.

  “Rake, I want you to meet Wendy and Lyrical,” Vixen said. “They’ll be helping us out. Your sole job tonight is to sit with Lyrical on the floor and make sure nobody tries to harm her. If she gives you a signal, you’re to immediately let Wendy know, and to make certain no one tries to lead Lyrical away.”

  Vixen’s gaze slid to mine, and they gave me a knowing smile. “Rake’s one of the Ante-Fae. He’s…got unusual powers.”

  Rake gave me a knowing look and opened his mouth. The tip of his tongue flickered out and I saw that it was forked. My stomach lurched—in a good way—and I found it hard to catch my breath.

  “Hello,” I said, trying to modulate my voice. I stood and held out my hand.

  He took it, his index finger stroking against my palm, sending a shiver up my spine. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “You should all exchange phone numbers, in case texting is the only way you can communicate,” Vixen said.

  As we did so, Wendy let out a cough that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. “Now that we have a plan, shall we get out there?”

  Vixen nodded, their eyes on Rake and me as we turned to head out the door. “One moment. Lyrical?”

  I turned back to the snake shifter as Wendy and Rake waited outside for me. “Yes?”

  “Rake…if you tackle him, be prepared to give as hard as you take. He’s a match, for sure. Or so I’ve heard. He’s not exactly my style. Now go, and let’s hope we can put this mystery to rest without any more deaths.” Vixen waved me out and I turned without saying a word, and exited their office.

  Rake escorted me to a table near the door, on the edge of the dance floor. He held my elbow and all I could think about was passionate nights and summer heat and the feel of skin on skin, and the taste of heady chi in my lungs. I looked up at him as he held out my chair, and our gazes locked. I took a deep breath, my chest rising, and he lowered his eyes for just a moment, then brought them back up to my face.

  “I’ll be right here. If you’re in trouble…”

  “If I’m in trouble, I’ll let you know. If I can’t talk, I’ll do something like tip over my glass. But if the killer is who we suspect he is, his kind play dirty, so keep alert, if you would. I don’t fancy losing my life tonight.” I held his gaze a moment longer, then slid into my chair as he took his seat at the table next to me.

  The waitress appeared. “May I take your order?”

  I nodded. “Bring me a Neon Firebomb, and—do you serve food?”

  “Yes, we do. Would you like a menu?”

  Shaking my head, I said, “Do you have burgers and fries?” The waitress nodded, so I ordered a double cheeseburger and large fries. “With plenty of ketchup, please.”

  As she left, I leaned back in my chair. The Neon Firebomb was a safe drink. It was served blazing with fire, but the fire burned off some of the alcohol, and it was made with vodka, which seldom bothered me. It took a lot to get me drunk, and I planned on nursing the booze throughout the evening so I would remain clear-headed and alert.

  I looked around. The crowd was a strange one, with a lot of Ante-Fae, a smattering of Fae and humans, and a few others who I couldn’t pinpoint. I tried to keep my attention off of Rake, who was watching me. I could feel his eyes on my back, burning through me. There was something about the man that set me off, but I’d think about it later, when I wasn’t on the job.

  The stage was lit, and it looked like we were in for a show tonight. At eight-thirty on the dot, the DJ stopped as the lights blinked three times. Confused, I glanced over at Rake, and he texted me.

  that signals the show’s about to start. keep alert—don’t get lost in the show even though it’s mesmerizing. it would be easy for someone to sneak up on you while everyone’s attention is fixed on the dancers. Then, before I could respond, he added, are you available?

  I stared at the message and thought for a moment before replying. what do you mean, available? i’m not a candy bar on the supermarket shelf.

  no, but I have the feeling you’re just as tasty—if not more so. He added a wink emoji.

  Instead of being offended, it took everything I had to avoid squirming in my seat. yes i am, but leave it till later, I texted.

  The show started a few minutes later. The dancer was Vixen’s boy toy—Apollo himself. He was haloed in the spotlight, which gave him an almost angelic look, but the expression on his face promised a feast of sexual delights, and he was absolutely stunning. His body was a model’s body—trim, but muscled, and his hair coiled down to his elbows, golden as the sun. I stared at his face for a moment, realizing it was almost perfectly symmetrical, and I wondered what his powers were.

  He was bare-chested, wearing harem pants that were blinged out with sparkling crystals, with a satin sash around his waist. He was barefoot and lithe, and as he began to dance and spin to a rhythmic Middle Eastern beat heavy with percussion, I found myself sliding into trance. He was making magic with his movements, his dance both sensual and ancient, and it felt like he was dancing to the gods.

  I followed him with my gaze, unable to wrest my attention away, but a part of me was examining the energy he was giving off, and I suddenly realized he wasn’t turning people on—he was bringing them closer to the divine.

  And then, the rhythm grew heavier, and he began to slither into more suggestive movements. My breath quickened as three women appeared on the stage, dressed in goth PVC halter tops and shorts that barely covered their butts. They were angular, oddly reminding me of birds. Their capes were shaped like the wingspan of a bird, and they wore deadman’s hats and six-inch platform boots. Their hair curled down to their shoulders, dreads that were almost honey-colored, with white and black streaks.

  As they began to surround Apollo, I shuddered. They were dancing toward him, surrounding him as he darted around the stage. It was then that I noticed someone had pushed a divan on the stage, draped with white and golden sheets. As the women—surely they had to be triplets—surrounded Apollo, driving him back to the divan, a spotlight illuminated him, sending brilliant rays of light through the audience. At that moment, he raised his hands and the music changed, radiating out to match his movements.

  The women began to curl inward as they approached him, and they dropped to their knees, shielding themselves from the light. Apollo danced among them, leaning down to stroke their cheeks as though he was drying their eyes, and then he drew them onto the divan, and the dance ended as they coiled into an orgiastic tangle.

  As the lights came up to half-strength and everyone clapped, I tried to make out what I’d just seen. Whatever the case, it had left me both dazed and wet. I shifted in my chair as my phone dinged.

  made you hot, didn’t it? apollo knows how to work the crowd, and so do the vulture sisters. Rake added a tongue-out emoji.

  I debated whether to answer. He had read me too well, and that both irked me and yet, left me wondering just how skilled of a lover Rake was. I finished my burger, wanting more than just ground beef in my mouth, but I didn’t look over at him.

  too close for comfort?

  I stared at the text. Then, slowly I texted back, speculation will get you nowhere.

  what will get me somewhere?

  i’ll have to think about that for a while.

  then i have a chance?

  i wouldn’t be texting you back if you didn’t.

  I set down my phone as the next dance began, wondering just how far I was ready to go with Rake, and wondering if I’d be sorry if I did call his bluff.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  The next pair of dancers had to be acrobats. They performed a lively dance to Outasight’s “The Bounce” and “The Boogie,” and had everybody on the edge of their seats as they flipped and spun their way around the stage. They could put the Cirque du Soleil dancers to shame. Of course, they were both Ante-Fae, as well. As I watched, cheering for them before I remembered to pull myself back to pay attention to the energy around me, I realized that Vixen knew what they were up to. The club was quirky, kinky, and designed to make the outliers feel right at home.

  I texted Rake that I had to go to the restroom, and as I slipped out of my seat, he unobtrusively followed me and stood outside the door, waiting for me. As I washed my hands and touched up my makeup, I thought about him. If I was honest with myself, I wanted him. I wanted to fuck him, to draw chi off of him, to feel him inside me even as I drew his breath into my lungs. Deciding to take him up on his invitation, if he was actually interested, I straightened and pushed out the door. Rake was leaning against the wall right outside.

  “Everything okay?” he asked, his forked tongue slithering out. His voice had a rasp to it, a lot like Brian Johnson from AC/DC, which gave me the shivers.

  I nodded. “Yeah, so far nothing unusual.”

  “The floor’s opened up to dancing. Would you like to turn around the room? You might pick up on any unusual energy signatures if we do.” He curled his arm protectively around me.

  I shivered again, his touch igniting sparks through my entire body. “I’d like that.”

  He drew me onto the dance floor. David Bowie’s “Golden Years” was echoing from the DJ’s turntable now and Rake took hold of my hand as I spun out away from him, then coiled back toward him. He caught me in his arms and we began to whirl our way around the dance floor.

  My breasts were pressed against his chest, which was hard to ignore, but I managed to focus my attention on the dancers around us as we danced our way in circles around the edge of the dance floor. I caught fleeting glimpses of hunger and desire, of passion and jealousy—someone was insecure about their partner, and someone else was consumed with envy.

  As the music changed to the Eels’s “Souljacker,” Rake let go of me and we began to thrash our way into the music. I could dance with the best of them. I knew my body, I knew how to move it, and I knew how to draw the music into myself and let it race through my arms and legs.

  Rake wasn’t any slouch in the dance department either, and suddenly I realized that everyone had backed off, leaving us to dance in the spotlight. Rake held out his hands and I ran, grabbing hold of them as he boosted me over his head, spinning with me holding onto his hands, my legs split like an ice skater in a lift.

  As he brought me down, I readied myself and he tossed me. I landed in a crouch, coming up to end the song with my arms overhead.

  People began to cheer as another song started, and everyone moved back onto the dance floor. Rake and I moved right into the rhythm again—this time it was a song from Camouflage Nights, and the beat throbbed through my arms and legs, through my breasts and pelvis. My leather pants were flexible enough to make me look damned good, I knew that much, and yet—

  I froze, then forced myself to move again. Something had shifted out of place. I could feel someone aching with hunger, but not for sex or booze or anything that should be normal fare for the club. Whoever this was, he was starving, desperate to reach out and take what he needed. It was a hunger so deep that it almost knocked me to my knees.

  A headache flickered on the outskirts of my mind and I motioned to Rake, dancing my way through the crowd, trying to pinpoint the hunter, who was seething now. Then, there was a sudden disconnection.

  I looked around, frantic. If it was our killer, he had sensed me following him and cloaked himself.

  Head aching, I elbowed my way through the crowd, which had swelled, and finally reached the door. Rake was on my tail as I pushed open the exit door and raced into the back parking lot. Shading my eyes in the darkness, I tried to make out any movement. The parking lot was filled to capacity. I reached out, but could no longer feel the hunter. Moving into a clearing, I looked around, trying to spot any movement. Rake was at my back and Wendy raced to our side. He must have texted her.

  “What you got?”

  “I think it may be our suspect.” I shaded my eyes. “He was hungry—so hungry, but I think he sensed that I was aware of him and he ran out. There!”

  One of the cars three lanes away screeched out from a parking spot. Rake lunged forward, and the next moment he became a blur, racing on powerful legs toward the car. He was running so fast I couldn’t quite comprehend it. Wendy and I stood, staring as he skidded to a halt as the car spun out of the parking lot.

  “Good gods, how fast can he run?” I whispered.

  Wendy shook her head. “What the hell is he?”

  “I don’t know—Vixen said he’s Ante-Fae, but that covers a broad spectrum of possibilities.”

  “He certainly can move,” Wendy said. “I noticed you two were making it work on the dance floor. You move well together.”

  I tried to suppress a grin. “Yeah, we do. I wouldn’t mind exploring that—” I stopped as Rake returned to us, at a normal gait this time.

  “I couldn’t catch him, but I did get his license plate. I’ll text it to you.”

  Wendy turned to me. “Do you think he was the gollywypper?”

  “Yeah, I do. Same feeling and I think if he would have sensed me first, he would have started trying to snare me in.” I stared at the road, wondering where he was going. He was so hungry, I had no doubt that he’d be trolling for victims somewhere else close.

  “Did he try to attack you?” Rake asked.

  I shook my head. “No. But I sensed his hunger. Whoever he was, he was on the hunt for energy.” I shivered. The night was chilly and the wind had picked up. Overhead, a long shriek echoed through the air and I quickly looked up. Dragons, on the move again. I squinted. There were at least four of them flying overhead, to the north. “Where are they going?” I moved closer to Wendy.

  “Probably to their amusement park they’ve been trying to peddle to the locals. It never went over well, though. They attacked before they could win people’s trust, so pretty much it was a bust of an idea. I imagine they’re gathering there.”

  “The dragons are sure acting strange,” Rake said. “I wonder what it’s all about.”

  I realized that he didn’t know about the fact that they were now mortal. I wasn’t sure if it had been broken on the news, yet. So I wasn’t sure if I should tell him.

  “I’m not sure,” I murmured. “But Wendy and I should get back to the office to look up that license plate.” I turned to Rake, holding out my hand. “It was good working with you, and thank you.”

  Rake paused, holding the tips of my fingers. He scanned my face. “Is it possible that I might see you again?” He brushed the top of my hand with his lips and I could feel his forked tongue fluttering against my skin.

  I thought about it for a moment. I liked him, I was hot for him, but was I ready? Just how much did he want? If it was just a good time and a friendship, I was game, but I couldn’t handle a full-blown relationship right now. Finally I said, “I have your number. I’ll call. We’ll talk.”

  His eyes never leaving my face, Rake excused himself. Wendy and I walked to our car, but when I glanced over my shoulder, he was watching, keeping an eye out to make sure we made it safely.