Page 38 of Reap the Night
Another shadow fell over us cast by a handsome man with wavy dark hair and milk chocolate eyes. Slender-hipped and lithe, he was dressed all in black. Even his hands were covered in leather gloves. He could have passed for human, albeit an extremely pretty one, if not for the tail swishing back and forth behind him.
“Crushale, are you going to introduce me to your friends?” he said.
Crush leaned back in his seat. “Shay, it’s been a while.”
“A year,” Shay said. “A year, two months, and three days, but I’m back. Who are your friends?” He cast his smile like a net, and it was impossible not to be caught in it.
The male oozed charm.
Introductions were made, and Shay’s brows went up when he found out we were all part of the Order chapter.
“Crushale!” a growly voice called from the shadows. “Are you joining us, or should we join you?”
The shadows shifted and expanded, and Crush quickly pushed back his seat and called back, “I wouldn’t subject my new friends to the likes of you.” He dropped us a nod. “I’ll leave you to your evening. You can find me in the corner over there if you need me.”
“Who are the others?” Padma asked. “They look huge like you. Trolls?”
“No, he’s the last of his kind on this side of the veil,” Merry reminded us.
“Ogre bloods,” Crush said. “Friends of mine.”
Shay snorted, and Crush shot him a warning look. “Behave,” he growled.
“Always,” Shay said.
Crush ambled off, and Shay took his vacated seat. “Now tell me all about yourselves and—” He frowned and reached into hispocket and pulled out what looked like a compass. He studied it for a moment, then tucked it back into his pocket. “So what was I saying?”
“You were asking us to tell you about ourselves,” Holly reminded him.
“Ah, yes.” He leaned back in his seat. “Do tell.”
We chatted for a while,and Shay summoned the server. More drinks were poured, then someone suggested we head to the other room to dance, and there were more drinks there, and after that, everything was floaty and fuzzy, and I was having a whale of a time.
Shay grinned down at me, twirling me in his arms. His fingers were warm on my cheek. Gosh he was handsome. So fucking sexy. A spike of desire shot through me, the need to have him, to give myself to him.
My arm burned.
What was I doing?
Wait, where was he leading me, and why was I going?
“It’s all right.” He pressed a glass to my lips, and the urge to drink was too much. Sweet nectar. Delicious.
The world melted into sparkles and laughter. Was that Henry in the shadows? I took a step toward Agatha’s fiancé but was pulled away. He didn’t see me. I was right here so why was he looking through me?
A rush of hope stole my thoughts.
I barely felt the chill of night air because Shay’s arm was wrapped around me.
A small part of me woke, wondering where I was. No longer in the club but outside on the street in an alleyway. When had that happened? I should be worried, but I wasn’t. I should panic, but there was nothing but the fuzzy concoction of happiness and safety inside me.
“This way,” Shay said. “We’re almost there.”
“Where?”
“I’m taking you home.”
“But you don’t know where I live.” I giggled. “I don’t think I told you.”
