Page 68 of The Howl
Despite the early hour, music already thumped loudly from the closed red doors of the Roost. I welcomed the noise and the warmth that wrapped around me as soon as I stepped inside. A few people were already on the floor, dancing. The back table was empty, though.
I debated what to do for only a moment before tossing Oanen’s jacket to the nearest couch. The heels quickly followed. Barefoot, I moved to the dance floor, closed my eyes, and lost myself to the music. I didn’t know how long I swayed to the changing rhythms, but it was long enough that I began to feel lighter. Freer. I wished I could dance forever.
However, the scent of a certain someone’s familiar lust pulled me from my happy place. I opened my eyes and looked around the crowded floor for Fenris. He wasn’t in the immediate vicinity, though. I turned a slow circle and found him sitting on the couch, Oanen’s jacket beside him.
Fenris’s brown eyes locked with mine, and he wasn’t smiling. My heart did an odd stutter. The corner of Fenris’s mouth lifted. He stood and walked toward me. I slid my foot back, already trying to think where I should run. He slowly shook his head. My pulse picked up speed, and his smile grew.
When he reached me, he offered his hand. The beat of the music called to me. I knew he could dance. I’d watched him with his girls plenty of times. I also knew how dangerous it would be to dance with him.
I shook my head ever so slightly.
“You know you’d like it,” he said.
My insides went hot and cold. I turned around, ready to head to the back table.
“Chicken.”
The word was spoken right next to my ear. The caress of his exhale against my skin sent a shudder through me. He didn’t understand that he was playing with a fire that would damage him for life.
I turned my head. He was so close, I could have licked his lips. The thought brought forth my hunger and changed my eyes. His smile deepened.
“I’m not afraid of you, Eliana,” he said.
“You should be. Together, we’d burn so brightly that I’d leave behind nothing but a blackened husk for your future mate. Don’t toy with me, Fenris. My kind doesn’t play well with others.”
He sighed, his gaze shifting between my eyes.
“We’ll dance some other time. Let’s go say hi to the humans.”
He gestured toward the back of the room, my escape. Only, with him tagging along, I wasn’t really getting away from anything.
Trying to calm myself, I headed toward Ashlyn’s table. Eugene was there with her. Neither looked up from their books when we approached. I realized too late that I shouldn’t be talking to either of them and veered for the bathroom. I cringed as I walked into the room, shoeless, and stared at myself in the mirror. What the heck was I doing? Why was I even at the Roost? Nothing good could come of my presence. Yet, did I have anywhere else to go?
My frustration with my life mounted.
The door to the bathroom opened, and Jenna came in carrying my shoes.
“Hey, Eliana. Fenris thought you might want these.”
“Thanks.” I slipped the first one on as she watched me.
“So are you two a thing?” she asked finally.
“What? No. My kind doesn’t do relationships. You know that.”
She nodded, looking a little sad.
“I know. It’s just, he seems to really pay a lot of attention to you.”
I weighed my words carefully.
“I think he just likes paying attention to a girl who’s safe so that you guys know he’s not playing favorites with any of you.”
“Oh.” Her expression brightened a little. “I guess that makes sense. No one wants another Aubrey.”
I smiled and nodded. Aubrey had been a mean queen bee for sure. I’d seen what she’d done to Jenna.
“Do you want to dance?” Jenna asked. “I saw you say no to Fenris.”
