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  “The arrogant SOB is waiting to be escorted to the table, even though he damn well knows where it is. What’s his deal anyway? They’ve taken over one or both of the VIP booths weekly for the past six months. He does know there are other clubs in the city, doesn’t he? Besides, the hotel he’s been living in has two bars. He has hundreds of other places to choose from,” Sadie groused.

  “He does,” Maya said quietly. She waved to Killian quickly before grabbing two bottles of Cristal from the fridge and whipping up their usual order. “I guess they like coming to a club owned by supernaturals. The Coven is the only one in the city now, Sadie.”

  “Yeah, maybe.” Sadie snagged a few drink menus off the bar. She knew what they would order; she gave them drink menus anyway just to pretend she didn’t. She glanced at David and Ivan. Killian’s two friends were nice enough, at least as far as wolves were concerned, but they still made her uncomfortable. It wasn’t just them, though. All werewolves set Sadie on edge. Maya and Trixie were different; they had been turned after the treaty was in place. They hadn’t seen what it was like when rogue wolves were around every corner and the bastards only had one thought on their furry minds—killing every vampire they could find. “I still don’t like him.”

  Steeling her resolve, Sadie held the menus in front of her and strode over to Killian and his pack with the most confident air she could muster. This was her place, and she’d be damned if she was going to let an arrogant alpha werewolf and his cronies throw her off her game.

  Ah-ah-ah. Trixie’s teasing tone slipped easily into her mind. Don’t start trouble with our resident werewolf royal. Besides, if you ask me, he’s coming here for more than the music or the constantly flowing Cristal.

  I know exactly why he’s coming here. Sadie glanced at Maya and then to Trixie before moving past them. He’s keeping an eye on Maya. The son of a bitch probably reports back to his father and tells good old King Heinrich her every move.

  Yeah, right. Trixie laughed. Keep telling yourself that. You and I both know that our furry friend clocks your every move when he’s in here. He can get overpriced champagne anywhere in this city, but he comes here to annoy you. I think he gets off on bugging the shit out of you, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re starting to enjoy it.

  Trying to ignore Trixie’s commentary, Sadie stopped directly in front of Killian and tilted her head back to look him in the eye. He was just over six feet tall, broad shouldered and impeccably dressed as always. Unlike the club patrons, he was dressed more like a Wall Street tycoon than a club rat. The man exuded wealth and class. She had to admit that the devilishly handsome Killian Bane cut a striking figure.

  The sidelong smile, the one that almost always curved up those firm-looking lips, made him look like he was up to something. His wavy brown hair brushed the edge of his jacket collar, and the crisply pressed white button-down was undone just enough to give her a glimpse of dark chest hair. Her gaze skittered over his perfectly chiseled jawline with the ever-present five o’clock shadow until finally settling on those brilliant caramel-colored eyes.

  Damn it. Sadie put on a tight smile. Butterflies. It felt like a damn swarm of them swirling in her belly, and she gripped the menus to keep her fangs from unsheathing. Why on earth am I attracted to him when I don’t even like him?

  I knew it! Trixie’s victorious claim sliced into Sadie’s mind.

  Sadie cursed and shut her mind off from Trixie’s laughter. Being around this wolf was making her crazy and sloppy. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d accidentally let her thoughts be exposed.

  “I was beginning to wonder if you’d forgotten about me,” Killian said through a widening smile. Hands clasped in front of him, he bowed his head while holding her stare. He dropped his voice low, to a level that only another supernatural would hear above the noise of the club. “You don’t mind if my pack and I settle into one of the VIP booths again, do you?”

  Sadie held her ground and glanced at David and Ivan. The two men stood about a foot behind Killian. Flanking him the way bodyguards would, they scanned the crowd with the same intensity she’d seen on the faces of Shane or the other sentries. She wasn’t stupid. These two wolves weren’t Killian’s pack members, not really. They were more like secret service for the heir to the Werewolf Society throne.

  It made sense, didn’t it? The prince would surely have extra protection in a city that was run by vampires. But that’s what didn’t make any damn sense at all. Why would the werewolf prince be living here in a vampire-dominated city? Why not stay in Alaska or go to Canada where the wolves owned most of the territory?

  The question that nagged at her the most? Why was Killian Bane frequenting her club week after week? They drank while they were here but not enough to get a werewolf hammered—a wolf’s tolerance for alcohol being notoriously high. They never danced. In fact, come to think of it, all they ever did was watch what was happening in the club. Once in a while, Killian would chat up a pretty girl or two, but only in passing.

  The wolf was definitely up to something, and she’d bet her left fang it had to do with Maya. She flicked her gaze back to Killian, and a slow smile spread over her face. Come hell or high water, Sadie would figure out Killian’s game plan.

  “Why would I mind?” Sadie said sweetly. She swept her left arm wide. “Follow me, gentlemen.”

  Without glancing back, she led them around the dance floor full of heaving, grinding bodies and directly to the empty VIP booth. Above the odor of sweat and sex that flowed among the humans, Sadie could smell Killian’s earthy, woodsy scent and it was remarkably unsettling.

  Unhooking the red velvet rope, she stood at the end of the curved red leather booth and waited for the three of them to settle in. Ivan and David slipped into the booth easily, and as usual, neither of them gave her more than a cursory “hello” and head nod. Well, weren’t they a couple of chatty Cathies?

  As focused as the two men were, Sadie didn’t miss the fact that David had his sights set on Justine. She cast a glance over her shoulder just in time to catch the sexy wink her DJ shot back to the wolf. Sadie’s eyebrows flew up. She shifted her attention to David, who immediately looked away and cleared his throat.

  Interesting.

  When Sadie turned around, she found Killian Bane standing right in front of her. Instead of sitting with his friends, he’d sidled up to her at the end of the booth. His massive frame loomed over her, and he invaded her personal space with calculated precision. The son of a bitch was trying to get her to submit to his big, bad alpha wolf.

  Not likely.

  Meeting his challenge, she held her ground. The heat from his tall body wafted over her in thick waves, and to her surprise, the onslaught made her a bit dizzy. A werewolf’s body temperature was significantly higher than a human’s and they had a distinct scent, like wood burning on a cold winter night. Killian’s surrounded her like a thick cloud of smoke and had her head spinning.

  Killian’s heartbeat thrummed strong and steady in his chest, and even with the thundering music pulsing around them through the club, Sadie could practically hear the pulsing flow of blood as it rushed through his veins. His blood called to her like a seductive siren song, willing her closer, tempting her with its forbidden power. Drinking from wolves was a big, fat no-no and doing so could effectively break the delicate treaty between the two races.

  Logically she knew that. Sure. What vampire didn’t? But bloodlust was anything except logical. It was carnal, primal, all consuming, and savage. It could turn even the most sedate vampire into a horrid, vicious creature—and that was something Sadie never allowed herself to forget.

  Unfortunately for Sadie, she had tasted werewolf blood once before, and the two-hundred-year-old memory was still gut-wrenchingly fresh. Her fangs hummed as she recalled, with haunting clarity, the rush of energy she’d felt when that wolf’s blood had seared through her body.

>   Sharp. Intense. Powerful. Intoxicating.

  Just like Killian.

  Damn it all.

  Before she could stop herself, Sadie took an involuntary step back. Killian countered, taking one step closer, and his lips tilted into a lopsided grin. Shit on a stick. How annoying. She blinked first in their little game of chicken, and the worst part was that Killian knew it. He folded his arms over his broad chest and cocked his head while studying her more closely than she cared for.

  “You don’t like me much, do you?” Killian asked with mild amusement.

  “You’re a customer, Mr. Bane.” Sadie kept her voice even. She placed the drink menus on the table and slid them toward the other two without looking away from Killian. “Your money is as green as anyone else’s.”

  “True.” His eyes glittered with mischief, and she could tell he was trying to get her riled up. “But you didn’t answer my question.”

  “Fine.” Sadie folded her arms, matching his stance and meeting his challenge. “Let’s just say I don’t trust you. Liking you has little to do with it.”

  “I disagree.”

  “Shocking.” Sadie rolled her eyes.

  “Why?”

  “Why, what?”

  “Why don’t you trust me?”

  “Are you kidding?” Sadie scoffed and placed her hands on her hips as she leaned closer. “Let’s see. Where do I start? You’re a werewolf, a royal one at that, and you know—” She stopped herself before mentioning Maya’s secret and cast a sidelong glance at Frick and Frack, who were staring at her with predatory gazes. “And, of all the clubs in this city, you come to the only one that’s owned and operated by vampires. You never dance and you barely drink, at least by werewolf standards. So, yes, I think it’s a little suspect that you keep coming here night after night. To be quite honest, I would like to know why.”

  Silence hung between them for three beats of his heart, with only the surge of the music surrounding them. If he didn’t respond soon, she was gonna scream.

  “Fine, you want to know why I drag Ivan and David here? Because they’re about as happy about it as you are.” Killian’s grin widened as he leaned closer. Sadie’s jaw clenched when his crisp scent wafted around her enticingly. Looking her square in the eyes, he whispered, “It’s you.”

  Sadie blinked, like he’d just proposed marriage or something equally ridiculous.

  “Me?” Her body hummed with anticipation, shock, and much to her dismay, a pure shot of lust. Of all the things this guy could have said, that response was nowhere in the litany of items she expected. Trixie’s teasing words drifted through her mind. “Y-you come here because of me?”

  “Yup,” he murmured. Those glittering eyes skittered over her face. Sadie swallowed hard against the sudden surge of desire that had her fangs vibrating and clenched her thighs together at the unexpected rush of heat between her legs. For a second, just a second, he leaned even closer and she thought he was going to kiss her—which was both terrifying and intriguing. “Who else can teach me about running a nightclub in this city?”

  Sadie’s mouth fell open, and Killian smiled broadly before stepping back and casually slipping into the VIP booth.

  “What?” Sadie sputtered. She gaped at Killian, who was now leaning back in the booth with both arms stretched out over the back of the seat. “What are you talking about? I thought your family had some kind of handmade furniture business.”

  “That’s my father’s business,” he responded abruptly. The cocky exterior wavered briefly, and if she didn’t know better, Sadie would swear she saw the eyes of a wounded little boy. It only lasted a split second, and then the wolf was back. “I’ve been looking to branch out on my own and try something new. In about a month, I’m going to be opening my own place. I thought Olivia would’ve told you.” He lifted one shoulder and flicked his gaze to the DJ stand before giving Justine a friendly wave.

  “I knew that coming here and checking out the way you handle business with the humans would benefit me. And it has.” The smug smile on his face widened, and she wanted to give him a good punch in the nose. “My place will be different, but the customers are the same. I’ll cater to both humans and any supernaturals who might be interested in what we’re offering. I knew your expertise would be helpful…and it has been. I have to admit, it would be a hell of a win if I could get your DJ as well. Once we open, of course.”

  Anger shimmied up Sadie’s back and now she really wanted to smack the smug, satisfied look off Killian’s face. A million different responses ran through her head, but she was so angry she could barely see straight…angry and embarrassed. Why hadn’t Olivia told her about this? And why, oh for the love of all that was holy, why had she assumed that he wanted her?

  What. A. Dummy.

  “Why?” He cocked his head to the side and his lips tilted. “What did you think I was talking about?”

  “Nothing.” Sadie wrestled to compose herself and plastered a smile on her face. Before leaving, she said, “Trixie will be over with the bottle of Cristal shortly.”

  “So you do know what I want?” Killian asked with more than a little innuendo. Sadie’s face heated with embarrassment. He saw right through her, which was more than a little annoying. “You just might be the woman of my dreams. Well, except for the vampire part.” He sighed and looked her up and down. “Unfortunately, that’s a deal breaker.”

  “Yeah,” Sadie snorted. “A real bummer. And for the record, Your Highness, vampires don’t dream.”

  “Really?” Killian’s brow flew up in surprise before his gaze slid over her in one slow, lazy stroke. “Now, that’s a damn shame.”

  “Yes,” Sadie said sarcastically. “It’s a real tragedy. Right up there with world hunger.”

  “Nah. It’s just that I’ve had some lovely dreams.” His eyes twinkled at her mischievously. “You give me a drink menu every time I show up just to make me think you don’t know what I want. Don’t you?”

  “I just want to be sure you have plenty of options.” She scooped up the drink menus, and keeping her voice even, she murmured, “And I assure you I’m well aware of what you’re after, Mr. Bane.”

  Without another word, and with Killian Bane’s stare drilling a hole in her back, Sadie strode to the bar. As she cut through the crowd, one voice stood out amid the cavalcade of sounds. “I’m counting on it.”

  Chapter 2

  The club was finally empty and quiet, except for the familiar sounds of cleanup—bottles clanking, chairs scraping across the wooden floor, and the playful banter of her friends while they closed the place. Sitting at the end of the bar and tallying the night’s receipts, Sadie tried to keep her cool. Everything was going to be fine.

  She swore and slammed the pen onto the bar.

  Like hell it was. She’d been fuming all night after what Killian told her.

  The son of a bitch was opening a competing club here in Manhattan, and when he said it, he acted like he’d just given her a diamond ring or something. Not only that, but he had the audacity to all but come right out and tell her that he was going to steal her crowd-attracting DJ. She’d even caught him up there talking to Justine right before he and his pack left for the night. Why on earth would he think she’d find that even remotely amusing?

  Because he’s an arrogant alpha werewolf, that’s why.

  Annoyed and lost in her thoughts, it took a minute for Sadie to realize that Justine was calling her from the DJ platform.

  “Boss,” she shouted for what was probably the fifth time. “Yo, Sadie.”

  “What?” Sadie whipped her head over her shoulder and forced herself to smile. The look on Justine’s face instantly made her feel shitty. She’d barked at the poor girl. “Sorry.” Sadie laughed and shook her head. Placing the calculator on the bar with the receipts, she shifted her position on the bar stool. “I guess I was concentrating too ha
rd on these numbers.”

  “Yeah, right,” Trixie said with a snort of laughter. Drying glasses behind the bar, she shot a knowing look at Sadie. “You were concentrating, but it sure as hell wasn’t on those receipts. I’d bet my money on a six-foot hunky wolf.”

  “What’s up, Justine?” Sadie cast a narrow-eyed look at Trixie.

  “There’s somethin’ I should tell ya ’bout,” she said with her thick cockney accent. Justine flew down from the DJ platform and landed quietly on the center of the empty dance floor. Smoothing the spikes of her colorful, long hair in a nervous gesture, she strolled over to the bar before pulling up a stool and sitting next to Sadie. “It’s ’bout our furry friends.”

  “Okay,” Sadie said slowly, a nagging sense of dread creeping up her back. “What about them?”

  “Let me guess.” Trixie tossed the dishrag over her shoulder and leaned on the bar. “That big blond one has the hots for you.”

  “Trixie,” Sadie said warningly as Justine shifted nervously on the stool. “Why don’t you go get Damien? Have him help you replenish the stock behind the bar.”

  Sadie had barely finished her sentence when Damien, the club’s bouncer and one of the newest coven members, came in through the front doors of the club. He threw the bolts on the inside of the massive wooden doors and cast his big pearly white grin in their direction.

  “Did someone mention my name?” he called in his typically playful baritone and strolled into the club. He placed the velvet rope and brass stand by the wall and waved to them. Dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans that covered his tall, sturdy frame, the guy reminded Sadie of a big teddy bear.

  “Justine, man, you rocked the freaking house tonight. I tell you, sister, I can’t remember the club ever being this packed. Seriously. We’ve had a waiting list almost every night for the past two weeks. You are a lucky charm, my friend.”