Page 110 of Hand-Fasting and Other Hazards
“Work,” Nia replied, her grin wide and unapologetic.
She turned on her heel and led him toward the club door without waiting for his reaction. Lochlan followed, his steps quickening to match hers. The stairs down were narrow and dimly lit, the soft glow of multicolored lights and the faint thrum of bass vibrating up from below.
Inside the club, the air was balmy and alive with the rhythm of slow, sensual music. Couples moved together on the dance floor, their bodies swaying as if drawn by invisible strings. Pressed up and along the walls, pairs kissed and whispered in low voices, their laughter mingling with the pulsing beat. On stages at either end of the room, dancers moved with hypnotic ease, their silhouettes fluid in the low light.
Nia let her eyes flicker to Lochlan, watching his reaction. His gaze swept over the room, taking it all in—the dimly lit bar, the haze of smoke curling in the air, the charged hum of desire. It wasn’t always this spicy. Some nights, it was just a dive bar. Others, an open mic night. But tonight, there was something in the air that made people open to anything. Maybe a love witch had wandered in. Or a nymph, letting their magic curl through the room.
“Never been here before?” she asked, her tone teasing, though she couldn’t quite mask her curiosity.
He shook his head, his expression unreadable.
A twinge of guilt struck her, sharp and unexpected. She stepped closer, touching his arm lightly. “Hey, I’m sorry,” she said, her voice softening. “I should’ve asked… or explained. We can leave if you want.”
Lochlan turned to her, his gaze steady, and the faintest smile curved his lips. “No,” he said, his voice firm. “You asked me to come for a reason. Let me get my bearings.”
Nia studied him for a moment, searching for any hint of unease, but she saw only calm determination.
“Alright.” She nodded toward a table, her grin returning. “Let’s sit and get a drink.”
Lochlan followed her as they wove together through the crowd. Nia noticed the way people turned to watch them, their gazes lingering on Lochlan and the way he carried himself—confident but unassuming, like he belonged anywhere, even if he didn’t realize it yet.
After slipping into a secluded corner booth, Nia caught the bartender’s eye with a subtle nod. Mairead, a fox-eyed fae who always seemed to know what you wanted before you said it, offered a wink in return and disappeared.
Lochlan rested his hand on the table, his fingers drifting across the worn wood until they paused on a faintly etched rune. His brows lifted. “So, who’s your next victim?”
“Victim?” Nia scoffed. “You make it sound so sinister.”
The bartender approached, setting their drinks on the table. Nia gave the woman a quick smile and a quiet thank you, her fingers brushing the cocktail napkin as she slid her drink closer. Her gaze caught on the black scrawl on the napkin’s edge:
He has company.
She let her gaze follow the bartender’s retreat, her eyes moving steadily across the bar until they landed on her mark. He sat near the end of the counter, his obnoxious tie practically glowing under the dim lights.
Nia leaned in toward Lochlan, resting her hand on his thigh as if they were just another cozy couple in the crowd. Her lips brushed his ear as she whispered, “See the man at the end of the bar? Terrible tie?”
Lochlan’s body tensed slightly under her hand before he turned his head just enough to catch sight of the man in question. He nodded once, his expression neutral.
“That’s Raymond Bell,” Nia said, keeping her voice low. “He’s a reg from a couple towns over—Dunlowe. He’s helping fund a development that would tear down a stretch of unprotected forest just north of town. If it goes through, the runoff hits the ocean inside a week.”
Lochlan’s brow furrowed, his gaze flicking back to her. “And?”
“And,” Nia said, her lips curving into a wicked smile, “I have proof he’s been cheating on his lovely wife. If I give her the evidence, their prenup is void. He loses half of everything.”
“Why not just give her the evidence?” Lochlan asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
“Oh, I will,” Nia replied. “But I need to stop this transaction first.”
For a moment, Lochlan said nothing, his gaze lingering on her. Then, without warning, he leaned in and kissed her.
The contact was swift and unexpected, but it ignited something hot and electric between them. Nia’s pulse spiked as his hand slid up to cradle her jaw, his lips firm and warm against hers. All thoughts of her work and marks dissipated, replaced by a heady rush that left her momentarily breathless. When they pulled apart, Nia’s heart was still racing, her lips tingling.
Lochlan’s eyes were dark and focused, his smile slow. “I missed you so much.”
“It was just a few days.”
Don’t ever leave like that again, was what she wanted to say.
They watched as Nia’s mark slid into an empty booth. He leaned back like he owned the place, but the effect was ruined by the way his eyes darted across the room, barely masking his nerves. His fingers drummed an uneven rhythm against the table’s edge, impatient—like a kid waiting his turn for a game he hadn’t been invited to play.
