Oh boy. This should be fun.
“Camila,” I said. “You said you wanted to stay here and be safe. He’s right. It’s dangerous, and you need to be careful.”
“I don’t want to sit around a hotel room for my entire Amulet Tour,” she said. “I came to get the amulets. If tonight is the night you’re getting it, then I should at least be there.”
“That is extremely unwise,” Gabor gritted out.
“We can’t take ten guards,” Lord Balam said. “It’ll scare him away.”
“Then just one,” Camila said.
“Him,” I said, pointing to Gabor. “There’s no one more loyal. He’d put his life on the line for you without a second’s thought.”
Gabor’s eyes flickered to me, and I swear I saw surprise there…and gratitude. But I hadn’t done it to flatter him. I said it because it was true. If I could have brought the entire squad to protect my sister, I would have. In lieu of that, I’d choose the very best one.
“Your Grace,” he said, working his jaw as he inclined his head to Camila. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with here.”
“Am I not a shifter?” she asked. “Am I not the future queen? And need I remind you that you, Gabor, are a guard. A servant. You are entitled to your opinion, but in this case, I would appreciate it if you kept it to yourself. I have already spoken. I want to be there, and as the future ruler of our clan and nation, that is my decision to make. Not yours.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” he said without a trace of humiliation at her cutting words.
Dude was tough. I’d have snapped back at her after a rebuke like that, or at the very least stormed off.
“You will escort me as my personal guard,” Camila said to him. “Lord Balam, you can act as Itzel’s guard if she needs one. The rest of you are dismissed for the evening.”
Twenty-Three
An hour later, we turned into an alley, following a large arrow painted along the side of the brick building that pointed to the entrance to Gideon’s Bar. An orange-hued light at the top of the wall lit the alley and reflected off the wet cobblestones that echoed under our sky-high heels. Apparently, the floods hadn’t deterred customers. I could already see a line in front of the building.
“Act natural,” I hissed to Camila, who tottered along in the heels I’d loaned her, tugging at the hem of her skirt.
“How am I supposed to act natural dressed in this ridiculous costume? It’s the furthest thing from what a queen should wear.”
“That’s kinda the point,” I said, rolling my eyes even as a swell of affection rose inside me. I hooked my arm through hers. “And that ‘costume’ is what I regularly wear out dancing, I’ll have you know.”
“I don’t know how you walk in these things,” she grumbled.
“Now you know how I feel every time you stuff me in a pantsuit and drape pearls around my neck,” I said as we stepped out of the alley.
Gabor stepped in front of us, his hand hovering close to the gun he’d hidden under a sports coat.
“The act natural thing goes for you, too,” I said, spinning in front of him and throwing an arm around his neck when I was facing him. His face registered his shock for a second, and then his arm wrapped around my lower back. I grinned up at him. “That’s better. But Camila’s your girlfriend tonight, remember?”
“Yes, Your—.” He broke off, looking extremely uncomfortable at the realization that he couldn’t call us by our royal titles without blowing our cover.
“Itzel,” I said. “Just Itzel. Or Itzie, if you want. Itz?”
He nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he scanned the line in front of us like he thought someone was about to jump out and rip us to shreds. To be fair, most of them probably could.
“Relax,” I said, laughing. “We’re here to dance.”
“I don’t dance,” Gabor said.
“Then you can just stand there, and I’ll dance around you,” I said, pressing my palm against his chest. His heart was pounding at least twice as fast as it should have been.
Our eyes met, and a flicker of uncertainty passed between us. Gabor released me quickly, like he’d just realized he was holding a hot coal, and I stepped away just as quickly. Had I done that to him? Or was it just nervousness at the situation?
I slipped back to where Lord Balam stood, a slight frown creasing his brow as he watched us. A flash of guilt went through me, which I had absolutely no reason for. Lord Balam and I had a relationship that was purely physical, even if I had started to know him and respect him as more than that. Even if I’d asked him not to fuck anyone else. It didn’t mean our relationship was more than that. Did it?
“What?” I asked, nudging Camila forward to stand at Gabor’s side. His tall, regal silhouette was a perfect match for her pale poise. No matter what she said, Gabor was a gentleman, and she looked right at home on his arm. I was all chaos and darkness, the kind of woman who needed a rough man like Lord Balam to keep me in line. The kind of woman who wouldn’t look at home on anyone’s arm.
“You and the guard,” Lord Balam murmured. “Yes?”
“No,” I said, linking my arm into his. “Now, let’s dance and have a good time.”
We reached the door, which was flanked by two bouncers. The one on our side was a white guy with a mane of wavy blond hair, a black T-shirt stretched across an impressive build, and jeans that hugged his hips in a way that made me stare a second too long.
“Step right up, ma’am,” he said, his voice a slow southern drawl that was surprisingly hot. “I don’t bite—except by special request.”
“Admission for four,” Gabor said, his emotionless tone the exact opposite of the bouncer’s flirtatious one. He pushed a bill and his ID at the bouncer.
The bouncer took a slow, deep breath, his nostrils flaring, his eyes moving over our group. “What do we have here?” he asked, his eyes stopping on me.
“What do you mean?” Camila asked, twisting her hands together.
“Three shifters and…what are you?”
“I’m a scantily clad human,” I said with a grin.
“Yes, you are,” he said, his accent making the words sound so appreciative they were almost dirty.
“Is that a problem?”
“I’m afraid so,” he said, sounding genuinely sorry as he pointed to a sign on the door. “Supes only. Club rules.”
“I can’t dance here with my shifter boyfriend?”
“’Fraid not, darling. There’s a place just down the way where y’all will fit right in. Mostly humans. No one will even know if you’re not.”
“We’re hoping to run into an old friend,” Balam said. “A panther shifter. Real young eccentric guy, Native American, hair about to here.” He gestured to the length of the panther’s hair.
“You mean Shadow?”
“He’s the one,” I said, my heart hammering with excitement. “I can’t believe you know him.”
“He never comes down except when the swamp floods,” the bouncer said with an easy grin. “He just came in an hour ago. But I’m afraid you still can’t go in.”
“Not even to say hi?” I asked with a pout.
“If your guy wants to go in and get him, he can bring him out to say hi,” the bouncer said.
“This is ridiculous,” Gabor growled. “Itzel is just as good as anyone in this place, if not better.”
“Yes,” Camila said, drawing up in her imperious stance. I was pretty sure she was about to blurt that she was the heir to the Ocelot throne and I was a princess, and that everyone should bow down to her and let us pass.
“It’s fine,” I said before she could ruin our disguise. “Just go in and get him. We’ll all go to the club down the street that’s not so full of itself.”
I was used to being excluded from shifter parties, so I hadn’t really expected to get in. It had been worth a shot, though.
“Okay,” Camila said, taking a deep breath. It was on her now.
“One of us should stay out he
re with Itzel,” Gabor said.
“Shut up and go find Shadow,” I said. “I’ve been going out alone since I was thirteen. And besides, I’m not alone. I have this cute bouncer to talk to.” I threw an arm over the blond’s shoulder, and he grinned down at me.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on her while you find your friend,” he said. “He’s probably in the booth in the back corner by himself. Good luck.”
Gabor frowned fiercely at me, then pushed his phone into my hand. “Call Lord Balam if you need us.”
“Don’t mix up the drinks,” I said with a wink. I wiggled my fingers in a wave, laughing at the look of complete horror on Gabor’s face.
We’d hatched the plan when I’d told Balam that Camila had never closed the amulet. We could open it, get a little bit of the stuff inside, and give it to the Keeper at the bar. I was going to do that if I could get in. Then he’d get all horny, and I’d lure him outside with the promise of going home with him. The guys would ambush him, and we’d steal the amulet.
With me sidelined, the flirting fell to Camila. Normally, that would have spelled disaster, but in this case, I didn’t think it mattered. If they put the stuff in his drink, and it worked anything like it had on me, he’d be dying to fuck anyone and everyone, flirting skills notwithstanding. I felt a little bad about drugging someone, but it was better than being eaten by a savage shifter in a swamp somewhere.
“So, what are you?” I asked turning back to the bouncer. “Lion?”
“I’m a bouncer,” he said, beckoning the next people in line. “It gets crazy in here when the waters rise. We’ll have half the Panther Clan camped out here overnight.”
I was glad he was busy, so I didn’t have to keep flirting and pretending I was totally relaxed. The sky started spitting rain again a minute later, and I huddled behind the bouncer as he motioned for pretty much everyone to go in, not even checking ID.
At last, the door burst open from within. The man we’d seen in the swamp strode out, and my heart leapt with a mixture of terror and victory. His body was lithe and ropey, hardened from work, and though he walked on two feet now, his gait was as smooth as the panther’s. His long hair, brown skin, and bright green eyes made for a striking picture. If he hadn’t scared the shit out of us in the swamp, I might have found him attractive, but I couldn’t forget the calculating look in his eyes when he’d watched us sinking into his trap.
“Leaving already, Shadow?” the bouncer asked. “Come back and see us if you need a place to crash.”
Camila looked like she was about to faint, leaning on Gabor as they followed Shadow. Lord Balam looked alert and ready, though, keeping close to Shadow. Now we just had to get him back to the parking lot, or at least into the alley where the bouncer couldn’t see us attack a patron.
“Well, hello there,” I said, sashaying over to Shadow. His head jerked around, like he was startled to see me. His eyes widened, and his nostrils flared. I linked my arm through his and led him toward the alley. “I know exactly what you need right now, and I’m about to give it to you.”
He leaned in, snuffling at my hair like a dog, and I remembered their description of a feral shifter. Apparently one trip to the bar had not restored his human habits.
He drew back, narrowing his eyes. He hissed two words at me, then wrenched his arm from mine and leapt halfway down the alley in one bound. Lord Balam cursed, taking off after him. Shadow was out of the alley in another bound, then across the parking lot in two more. He disappeared into the jungle just as Lord Balam stopped at the end of the alley and peeled off his shirt.
“What are you doing?” I asked, running to his side.
Lord Balam dropped his pants and kicked them off with his boots. “I’m going after him.”
“He’s dangerous,” I said, grabbing his arm. Fur was already rippling along his skin.
“I’m dangerous,” he said. He grabbed my face with both hands, his eyes glowing with a strange heat, as if he weren’t sure whether to bite me or kiss me. Deadly claws already extended from his fingers, and the dangerous sensation of them against my cheeks made my heart race and my thighs quiver at once. He leaned in and kissed me hard on the mouth. His eyes were blazing golden when he pulled away.
“You better come back,” I said. “Half the reason I wore this dress was so you could take it off.”
“Take the women back to the hotel,” Lord Balam growled to Gabor. “And take care of Itzel for me.”
“I will,” Gabor said, his intense gaze locked on Lord Balam.
The jaguar shaman paused, then gave a quick nod and dropped down to the pavement, his hands morphing the rest of the way into paws before he hit the ground. He bounded off into the jungle, leaving the three of us standing in the rain.
I wrapped my arms around myself. So much for our plan. Not only did we not have the amulet, we didn’t have Lord Balam, either.
“I can’t believe you mated with him,” Camila whispered, her nails digging into my arm as we climbed into the back seat of the SUV. “He’s so…” She broke off with a cringe.
I turned my face to the window, shivering in my wet dress. I didn’t expect Camila to understand. Hell, a month ago I would have giggled with her about seeing him naked, all swarthy and hulking and tattooed from his hairline to his toes. I would have shared her opinion of him. I wanted to explain it to her, but I didn’t know how. The gulf between us was growing wider every day.
She was right. Lord Balam was changing me. I didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad one. All I knew was that right now, Lord Balam was somewhere out there in the dark swamp with a madman, risking his life for a woman who shuddered at the thought of being his mate. But instead of running at his side like a true mate should, I was stuck here with her in the safety and comfort of an expensive car.
I’d never felt more alone.
Twenty-Four
I woke in the night to the soft scrape of the door opening. I bolted upright, grasping for the knife Gabor had given me when I’d begun sharing a room with Camila.
“Who is it?” Camila asked.
“It’s me,” Lord Balam whispered, crouching beside my bed.
I grabbed his cold hand and pressed it against the warm skin over my heart, sinking back in relief. “You’re okay.”
“Did you get it?” Camila asked from her side of the room.
He shook his head. “I lost him.”
“Damn it,” I said, squeezing his hand tighter. In that moment, I cared about him more than the amulet. And that was not good. The amulet would save an entire nation. I didn’t even know if Lord Balam could save me.
“Did Gabor let you in our room?” Camila asked.
“I’m going,” I said, throwing off my blanket.
“Stay,” Camila said. “I’m awake now. We can talk.”
Irritation pressed at my nerves, but I sighed and sank back on my bed. “Balam?”
“It’s not appropriate for a man to be in my chambers at night,” Camila said. “I’ll speak with Gabor about it tomorrow.”
“I’ll go,” Lord Balam said to me, leaning down to give me a quick kiss. “Sorry I didn’t get to fuck you in that hot little dress.”
“Next time,” I said as he slipped out the door. I knew he’d said those words partly for Camila’s benefit, and I had to admire his nerve. She was still the heir to our throne, and he was just a diplomat. She could dismiss him from her tour, but he was letting her know he wasn’t afraid of her. She could keep us apart tonight, but she couldn’t keep him from being who he was. And though I would have blushed at his words just weeks ago, though I would have worried what she thought of me for caring about a man like that, I felt no shame now. Instead, I found my chest filling with pride at his ability to stand up to her and not care what she thought.
*
The next night found us standing in the alley outside Gideon’s. We probably looked like total creepers lurking there. A couple passed us, the guy pulling the girl close and casting suspicious gla
res at us as they stepped around the corner of the building.
Okay, we definitely looked like creepers.
Lord Balam insisted that the tincture inside the amulet would work on Shadow, that he would have no choice but to find someone to fuck.
“What if he jerks off?” I asked, leaning against the brick wall beside my lover. After the night before, though, I knew that he was more. If he was just a fuck buddy, I wouldn’t have lain awake for hours, sick with worry.
“It doesn’t work that way,” Lord Balam said, smirking down at me. “It ensures that you are sealed to your mate, not your hand.”
Camila looked like she might faint.
“What if he finds some swamp lady?” I asked.
“The swamp is flooded,” Balam said. “I doubt there’s another person crazy enough to stay there. That’s why we’re here.”
Lord Balam had gone in and asked around, and a few people had actually answered. Since Gideon’s was the only place anyone had seen Shadow besides the swamp, it seemed a safe bet that he’d return.
Or so we thought.
By the time the bar closed, we’d seen no sign of him. Tired and frustrated, we all piled back in the SUV and headed for the hotel.
“When you went up to Shadow,” Lord Balam said, adjusting the rearview mirror so it pointed at me. “He recognized you, didn’t he? That’s why he ran. He realized we were hunting him.”
“I think so,” I admitted. I didn’t know how I was more recognizable than a man with a tattooed face who walked around with a jaguar skin on his back, but then, Shadow had probably been a lot more focused on the women around him right then. I knew what that drug was like. I just didn’t know how someone could go twenty-four hours without having sex afterwards. I’d thought I’d explode if I had to wait five minutes.
“What did he say to you?” Gabor asked, sliding the car to a stop at a red light.
“What?”
“Before he ran,” Gabor said, staring straight ahead. “He said something to you.”
“He called me a witch,” I admitted, shooting a look at Camila. I still felt weird after Lord Balam had said I was more than human. That wasn’t possible, and I knew it, but I still felt strange about it.
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