Maybe the Prince was wrong.
Maybe I wasn’t completely a façade.
I had no idea.
Climbing onto the stool as ladylike as humanly possible, I crossed one leg over the other and placed my clutch on the bar top.
A human bartender was behind the bar, but so was a fae. I wasn’t quite sure if the female actually worked here, but she was the one I always saw when I came here, ferrying Nightshade back and forth to the non-human clientele.
Right now, she was carrying an entire tray of glasses to one of the booths along the wall. My gaze skipped away. There were a handful of fae among the humans chatting and drinking. None of them recognizable.
And definitely none of the younglings.
So far.
“What can I get you?”
I turned back to the bartender and smiled. He was young and his gaze was clear. Focused. Obviously not under any trance or control, but he had to know that not everyone who was served here was human. There was no way he couldn’t, what with the Nightshade being served and what went on up on the second floor.
“A rum and Coke,” I said.
“Coming right up.” He picked up a glass and got to making the quick, easy drink. “Tab or pay now?”
“Cash.” I opened my clutch and slid the money over to him. “Thank you.”
The man smiled and then he was off, serving someone at the other end of the bar. Sipping my drink, I twisted around on the stool so I was facing the main bar floor, but was able to keep an eye on the back hallway, where the elevator serviced the second level. I pulled out my phone and pretended to be engrossed in it as I scanned the floor.
Within a few moments, two more fae entered the bar, their glamouring fading away to reveal their silvery, luminous skin. They made a beeline for the back hallway.
The second floor was a… different kind of service area, one that didn’t just cater to fae looking for their dinner, but also sex.
Lots of sex.
Only once had I gone up to the second floor, and that had been pure luck, sneaking in behind a group of humans who were being led by two fae. Once was enough.
The humans I’d tagged along with had not been entranced. Based on their giggling and whispered dares to one another, they knew at least one of the things that went on upstairs.
“Excuse me.”
Looking over my shoulder, I spied a man—a human man. He was older, maybe in his fifties? Tall with dark hair graying at the temples. Handsome, too, dressed in a very nice dark suit. A silver fox was what Ivy would’ve called him.
Pretty sure Tink would call him Daddy.
I immediately wanted to punch myself in the face after the image that conjured forth.
The man smiled, and wow he was handsome, and if I was anyone else, I would be extremely pleased with the attention. However, I wasn’t here to meet silver foxes.
“I’m waiting for someone,” I said apologetically.
Dipping his chin, he chuckled. “He said you might say something like that.”
My brows lifted in surprise. “He?”
“I am not here to buy you a drink or to make an advance,” he explained.
Oh.
Oh.
Well, this was awkward, and I sort of wanted to fling myself off the stool. “Sorry?”
He smiled tightly as his gaze drifted over my shoulder, to the bartender. He nodded. “My name is Everest. I am the owner of The Court and I’m here to escort you out.”
Dumbfounded, all I could do was stare for a moment. “Excuse me?”
Everest moved closer, his brown eyes not nearly as warm as his smile. “You, my dear, are not welcome here.”
A chill swept down my spine as I stared back at him. Only one possibility circled through my thoughts. Somehow, he knew I was a member of the Order and he facilitated what occurred here.
I played it cool, though, lifting my drink and taking a sip. “May I ask why?”
He didn’t answer. Just smiled at me blandly. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw a large man shift in our direction. Another human wearing another nice, expensive suit was moving our way. A bouncer.
And then it hit me. Everest had said…. My hand tightened on the damp glass as I leaned toward the owner. “He’s here, isn’t he?”
Everest continued to smile.
“The Prince,” I said, and I said this loud enough to cause the woman at the table near us to turn and look.
The smile slipped from Everest’s face and that was enough confirmation for me.
Son of a bitch.
I couldn’t believe it. He’d been at Flux and now he was here? And not only was he here, but he was in a position to order the owner of this establishment to kick me out? An establishment, by the way, that was yet again frequented by the Winter fae?
At least I had a good reason to be here— a slightly psychotic reason but a reason, and the Prince was not going to get in my way.
Oh, hell to the no.
Anger flared to life like a solar storm. He was not going to interfere with me finding justice. No way in hell. “You can tell his royal Dickness that this is a public establishment and he does not get to dictate where I go and what I do.”
The man’s eyes widened slightly. “However, as the owner, I do get to dictate who stays here and who goes.”
“True,” I said, taking another long, healthy sip of my drink. I was raised to be a fine, upstanding Southern lady, but I was pissed. “Did he tell you what I am?”
Everest lifted a hand, stopping the bouncer from coming any closer.
“I don’t know if he did, but I assure you that I can cause a lot of trouble for your fine establishment, and I mean a lot.” I smiled now, all sugary sweet. “So unless you want that to happen, you can tell the Prince to go fuck himself.”
Everest tilted his head slightly and a long heartbeat passed. Then he said, “You can tell him that yourself.”
Chapter 12
The tiny hairs along the nape of my neck rose. I drew in a shallow breath as Everest stepped back, clasping his hands. Slowly, I lowered my drink and looked over my shoulder.
Standing not even a foot behind me was the Prince.
I couldn’t help but notice immediately that he appeared different tonight. Hair pulled back from his face was a good look on him. A black silk shirt had replaced the thermal I’d seen him in, and that also was a good look.
But he was just about as angry as the last two times I’d seen him, so that hadn’t changed.
Actually, he seemed angrier. “I can assure you, I have no attention of fucking myself tonight, Sally.”
Steam practically shot from my ears at way he said my name—my fake name. “Good to know, but not my problem.”
“Oh, but it is now your problem.”
I drew back, eyes widening. “I have no idea how that is my problem.”
Lifting blue eyes to Everest, he nodded. I didn’t need to look to know the man had left.
Before I could say a word, he plucked the drink out of my hand and placed it on the bar. Then his hand wrapped around my empty one. I didn’t dig my heels in like I wanted to, knowing that we already had several eyes on us.
My gaze dropped to where he held my hand as he guided me off the stool.
“You are becoming a pain in my ass,” he said.
“I’m about to become a much bigger one. One you’re going to need to see a doctor to treat. You try to make me leave,” I said, lifting my gaze from his hand to his eyes, “I will make a scene in here so bad you’ll spend the next year glamouring memories.”
A muscle flexed along his jaw as his gaze searched my face. “You would, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes. Now, if you’d unhand me, I think I might want another drink.” In reality, my stakeout of The Court was ruined, but I would stay here half the night on principle alone. “And maybe some chicken wings.” I had no idea if they served chicken wings here. “Then dessert. I’m definitely in the mood for dessert and none of those things include
you.”
The Prince threaded his fingers through mine, stopping me from yanking my arm free. “We need to have a chat.”
“No, we don’t.”
“Oh, sunshine, we do.”
Sunshine? My face puckered up. “There is nothing we need to talk about—” I gasped as he moved in so quick, so close, right there at the bar, in front of fae and human alike. Still holding my hand, he cupped my cheek with his other, splaying his fingers as he tilted my head back and lowered his.
Was he going… was he going to kiss me? That seemed like a bizarre response, but he lined his mouth right up with mine, and there were only inches between our lips. My heart rate shot into cardiac territory. “What are you doing?”
His warm breath danced over my lips as he spoke. “You should have left when you had a chance. Now, you and I are going to have a discussion that is way past due, and you’re going to say yes and you’re going to behave.”
“Behave?” I sputtered.
He nodded as those thick lashes came down, shielding his eyes. “Don’t test me.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Is that a threat?”
“It’s an advisory,” he corrected.
“Same thing. Like totally the same thing.”
His lips twitched as if he wanted to smile. “If you want a scene, I’ll give you one. I’ll throw you right over my shoulder, and with that dress?” Leaning back, I felt his gaze like a hot caress. “I don’t think you’ll want that.”
I didn’t.
I so didn’t.
Seeming to sense that, he pulled me against the side of his body. The contact was jarring. Not because he did it roughly, because he didn’t, but because feeling his body against mine stunned me.
Letting go of my hand, he then draped an arm over my shoulders like we were friends or even lovers as he steered me away from the bar. People were staring, human and fae alike, but the fae had more than just a reaction born of curiosity. As we walked near them, they backed away, giving us—giving the Prince—a wide berth. There was no mistaking the distrust and fear that pinched their striking features. They knew who the Prince was.
So, what was he doing here?
I held onto my clutch as we walked down the narrow hall, passing the restrooms and then the elevator. He walked me to a swinging door marked EMPLOYEES ONLY. With his free hand, he pushed open the door and we entered a small kitchen, staffed by cooks—human cooks. They only lifted their brows as he led me past them, narrowly dodging a waiter carrying a tray stacked with chicken wings.
So, they did have wings… and they looked yummy too.
My stomach grumbled, loud enough for the Prince to dip his head and look at me questioningly.
“Hungry?”
“No,” I lied.
One side of his lips kicked up as we reached another door. That one opened to reveal another hallway and a narrow set of stairs.
“Should I be worried about where you’re leading me?”
“You should always be worried.” He dropped his arm. “Up the stairs.”
“That’s not reassuring,” I told him, eyeing the dark staircase. “I’m getting stranger danger vibes right now.”
“Is that all the vibes you’re getting?” he asked.
I wrinkled my nose. “I don’t know what you mean and I don’t want to.”
He smirked. “Up the stairs, Brighton.”
The use of my real name startled me, even though we were alone. My gaze traveled from him to the staircase as I exhaled slowly. As crazy as it was, instinct told me that I was safe with the Prince. My instinct could be completely off base, but I also knew that if I made a run for it, I wasn’t going to make it.
So I started up the stairs.
He said nothing as he walked behind me. We reached the next floor and entered a dark hallway where I could hear the steady thump of music coming from what sounded like the other side of the staircase. The hall also smelled like… fresh beignets. Part of me wanted to question that, but then the Prince brushed past me, the warmth of his body causing me to bite down on my lip. As he opened a door, I peeked around him. The room was circular, featuring a long, cushioned bench against the wall and a set dining table in the middle. There was a short rack glass on the table. Bright purple liquid filled half the glass. Nightshade.
“What kind of room is this?” I asked, folding my arms across my midsection.
“A private dining or party area. There are five of them on this floor. Nice hair, by the way.” He stalked past me.
“Shut up,” I muttered.
Smirking, he picked up his glass of Nightshade. “Still prefer the blond.”
“I still don’t care.” I watched him walk to the wide cushioned bench against the wall and sit. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing, but I already know.”
I ignored that. “This place is frequented by Winter fae and you’re the Summer Prince. I don’t understand how you can be here, hanging out and drinking with them.”
He eyed me as he sipped from his drink. “I help Everest out here. Make sure none of the fae get out of hand.”
Interesting. “And the Winter fae have no problem with you being here?”
“They usually don’t see me until it’s too late. Tonight is different because someone decided to refuse to leave.”
“Perhaps you should’ve just left me be,” I shot back as I started to pace. “So, what is this place, really? A front for fae to hang out and feed?”
“Everest is a… unique businessman who caters to all.” He lowered the glass to his knee. “And he does so with the utmost discretion while providing a… safe place for both species.”
“Safe place?”
“The fae can come here and see to their needs without harming humans in the process.”
My lips parted. “I’ve seen what goes on up here.”
He tilted his head. “And how, pray tell, did you find yourself on this floor? Didn’t know the… activities up here were your kind of thing.”
“They’re not,” I snapped, flushing. I turned from him, pacing away. “I got up here once, very carefully.”
The Prince didn’t respond to that immediately. “And when you got up that one time, did the humans look like they were here against their will?”
“Oh, so they’re volunteers?” I faced him. “Want me to go grab you one of them?”
“I already had Everest do that for me.”
My eyes narrowed on his faint smile.
“Sometimes, when Everest is expecting a certain… clientele, he will reach out to me to make sure there are additional resources here just in case.”
I mulled that over. “How do the humans here keep this a secret if they aren’t glamoured?”
“Who would believe them?”
“They could obtain evidence.”
“They don’t,” he said, and then he took another drink. “You know, you won’t be allowed back here now.”
I smirked at that as I started pacing in front of him. “I’m not worried. I can get back in here if I want to.”
“He’ll be looking out for you.”
“He won’t recognize me.”
“But I always will.”
I shivered, unnerved by that. “Do you live here? Are you always here?”
The Prince didn’t answer that.
“What do you think will happen if the Order ever discovers this place exists? They’re not going to allow it to continue to operate.”
“Who says those who need to know don’t already?”
I stopped and stared at him. “Are you suggesting that Miles is aware of this place and hasn’t shut it down?”
“I’m not suggesting anything. You filled in the blanks.”
I snapped my mouth shut. My first reaction was not to believe him, but the Order had… It had lied about a lot of things and kept a lot of secrets. I knew that. So certain members knowing about this venue could be true.
“I knew it was you Saturda
y night, from the moment I saw you in that room.”
“That much I figured,” I said, but my stomach still dropped. “Why didn’t you call me out, if you knew it was me?”
He was quiet for a moment. “I wanted to see how far you would let it go.”
Heat blasted my cheeks. “Not very far.”
The Prince lifted a brow. “My hand was right above your—”
“I know where your hand was,” I snapped, cutting him off as that heat in my face hit my veins. “Trust me. It’s something I won’t forget.”
“No doubt,” he murmured, his lips curling into a faint smile.
My eyes narrowed. “As in not in a good way.”
“I’m curious,” he replied, watching me through hooded eyes. “If it wasn’t in a good way, why did you allow it?”
I inhaled sharply. “I was pretending to be entranced.”
“Hmm.”
“I was!”
“If that’s what you need to tell yourself.”
I caught his meaning and I was this close to throwing my clutch at him. The dude was insufferable and mainly because he was so freaking right, and I sort of hated him for that. “I have no idea how you knew that was me.”
“I… I just knew,” he said like that was an acceptable answer.
Irritation flared to life and I decided right then and there I could also ask demanding, annoying questions as I dropped my clutch on the table. “So why were you at Flux? A club frequented by your enemy?”
He was dragging his thumb along the rim of his glass. “I was there looking for Tobias, but you already know that.”
“Why were you looking for him?”
“Do you always ask so many questions?”
“You wanted to have this chat,” I reminded him, crossing my arms again. “Why were you looking for him?”
“He knows how to find someone I need to speak with.” His gaze dipped and there was a flash of straight, white teeth as he dragged them along his lower lip. I looked away as he said, “Alas, whatever information he had, he took that back to the Otherworld with him.”
“Can’t say I’m too torn about that.”
“Of course not,” he replied wryly.
“What information do you think he had?” I asked.
The Summer King Bundle: 3 Stories by Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 9
