As the tension eased, he realized how good it was to be away from the noise, bright lights and activity of the club. He loved his job, but night after night in such a high-energy spot did get a bit much sometimes. Suddenly, he did not resent handling a booking in this small sanctuary. If only the booking wasn’t for the bloody Association, an organization that hated their kind. He would have to be on his guard when the couple attended the meeting today.
He entered the magnificent arched entrance, and just inside it were security guards dressed in white, who opened the doors for him. The large reception area had marble flooring and walls, and a mosaic border lining the ceiling had been created using 24 karat gold. Large chandeliers hung above, set off by inconspicuous LED lighting that created a shimmering effect. No expense had been spared to ensure every inch of the venue was the epitome of luxury. Just look at the reception. That chaise set in an ornate frame was from the Victorian era, and the owners had spent a fortune getting it here. How could they even bear to place it in this area, where random people who didn’t know its value would sit on it?
“How may I help you, sir?”
The brunette who sat behind the reception’s marble counter was a human, as was her colleague. Both of them wore long flowing white dresses. Many of the frontline staff here were human, a deliberate move—supernaturals didn’t fear them, and mortals felt comfortable around them.
The brunette ran her eyes over him, lingering on his broad chest.
What was it with humans and their obsession with supernaturals? “I am Junaid. I am managing the booking for Ivy Smith and Michael Ryder.”
Her face flushed bright pink as she returned to her professional self. She glanced at her laptop. “Yes. We were informed you’d be here today, for the meeting with the couple…” The blond girl next to her gave a sly smile, obviously enjoying her discomfort. The brunette typed something into her laptop, and a lady pushed through the doors. Shereen, the sorceress.
Someone as beautiful as her could entrance beings even without the magic. Soft red hair flowed to her waist, contrasting with her blue eyes. “Good to see you again, Junaid.” Her voice tinkled. “Follow me.”
She glided ahead of him, pushing against the glass doors to enter the corridor. She could use her magic to open them and was even able to teleport, but she was a wise one, careful not to exhibit her powers before humans. When she glanced back, her smile was so endearing it could make a human’s heart stop. She really was beautiful, and yet, his thoughts returned to that woman whose green eyes and tears had haunted him since she begged him to be with her that night.
But she would be married by now…
Again, that ache flashed through him, one he had tried to subdue since that night. She was a dream…a beautiful dream that could not be recaptured. He needed to face up to reality and come to terms with never seeing her again…never touching her again…
The sorceress paused and turned, enquiry in her eyes. “Something troubles you?”
He swallowed. “Nothing that will affect my work here.”
She tilted her head before stretching out her arm to place a hand on his chest. Light emanated from it, and it was as if she reached inside him to touch that pain embedded in his chest, easing it a little. She pursed her pink lips. “It will take more than my touch to fix you, shifter.”
And then she turned and continued ahead. Did she know what was going on inside his head? The thought that she might guess at the strange obsession he’d developed was downright embarrassing. But these feelings that had troubled him since that night…they just wouldn’t go.
And there wasn’t just a need to see that human again…there was also concern for her. Why did he care so about a human whose name he didn’t even know? It was her decision to marry someone she didn’t love, yet the thought that someone as vibrant and alive as her was to spend the rest of her life in a cold marriage devoid of passion…
“You think too much, shifter,” came the sorceress’s voice. “Fretting achieves nothing but pain and premature wrinkles. Let things take their own course…” As always, she spoke in riddles, words he was not inclined to decipher. “Today may be a challenge for you,” she now mentioned, “You know you must be on your best behavior with the couple?”
“I understand.” Although the idea of baring his fangs and claws before the high profile Association couple was tempting. Nobody had opposed his kind more than those people. Like any religious organization, the Association was filthy rich. No one knew the extent of its wealth, but it had property spread around the globe. It had plenty of businesses in Manhattan once, too, before large numbers of supernaturals settled here. They brought money, power and political backing, more or less claiming the borough for their own. Despite pressure from powerful human groups, the government did nothing to stop the cultural and economic domination that the human media raged about, perhaps because it suited the state to have non-humans close to each other—easier to keep an eye on them that way. The large supernatural presence in Manhattan only gave the Association another reason to hate them.
Did the Association know that Phoenix belonged to Blade and Shaun? The demon and wolf had kept their involvement in the enterprise under wraps because, along with other owners of Eclipse, they weren’t on particularly good terms with any powerful human agencies these days. Blade and Shaun had both been buddies with high-up members of the mob for a while, and as those criminal organizations were involved with the Association, it had kept the situation as sweet as it could be. But since a group of supernaturals got together and infiltrated a mob stronghold recently to rescue Blade’s female, that relationship had ended. And last month, the vampire owner of Eclipse had turned a human gang leader Veronica to their kind, and she just happened to be the distance niece of the mob boss they’d taken down. Junaid wouldn’t be surprised if some organization was planning a hit on supernaturals right now. Come to think of it, he was downright surprised the Association wasn’t trashing this place instead of holding a wedding here.
Shereen’s eyes flashed and there was the effect of stars bursting from them. “You’ve already seen the banqueting hall where the main ceremony will take place?”
“Yes.” He’d popped by yesterday before his shift at Freefall. The massive hall was designed to accommodate various functions. A large white space that could hold thousands, it was easily transformed from an elegant banqueting hall to a club with designer lighting and pop up revolving stages for DJs and dancers.
Shereen opened the door to an office. “We’ve reserved this space for you over the next few weeks.”
The office was spacious and had everything he needed. She pointed at a little button set into a panel on the table. “If you need me, just press that and I’ll appear.”
“You’ll literally appear, won’t you?” She returned his smile. “Thank you for your help, Shereen. See you soon.”
“Good bye, and good luck with the couple. I hope it’s not as painful as I anticipate.”
There was a strange look on her face, but before he could ask her what that was about, she disappeared, leaving behind a white mist that lingered for a few seconds before dispersing.
He opened his briefcase and took out his laptop, placing it on the desk to go over the details again. The couple would have a daytime ceremony in the garden, where the priest and Association leader would bind the couple as per their tradition, and there would be an evening dinner in the banqueting hall. Special chefs had been booked who knew how to prepare and bless the food.
No LED lights or DJs for them. They wished for candles to be burned and required no additional decorations, in accordance with their puritanical lifestyles. As for the music, they had provided blessings set to a recording of live Association musicians and had requested the tracks be played throughout the dinner. Afterward, there would be dancing for one hour, again to music provided by the organization. Junaid had watched videos of Association dances as part of his research for the booking. Controlled movements that did no
t even venture into the territory of hips.
One hell of a fun event…not.
And then, before midnight, the bride and groom would be taken to the honeymoon suite for the bedding ceremony. Damn, in this day and age, the organization had rituals to enhance the bride’s fertility. Of course, there was a range of specific requirements for that, too. A certain incense, crystals and blessed bedding. Together, a priest and senior members would pray and bless the virgin bride in the suite before her new husband joined her in bed.
No wonder Association women were rumored to be cold.
As he opened his inbox, Junaid’s mind returned to that night when he’d met her. Now she was a woman who was not cold. And she’s married to someone else. All that healing work the sorceress had done went out of the window as an ache clenched his chest. Since being with her, she’d invaded his mind, and he’d even looked out for her in the club. After each shift, he spent hours lingering on the landing with his eyes on the dance floor, believing she would turn up to meet him.
Madness.
It had been a week since her bachelorette party, which meant she would be married now…he was only a one-night stand before she was bonded to another...
So why the hell couldn’t he get her out of his mind? What was it? The fact he was her first? No. He’d felt a connection with her before he knew that…had she also felt it?
No, she fucking didn’t.
He had been one night of fun before she was tied down, and the best thing he could do was forget about her.
BY THE TIME MICHAEL SENT her a message to let her know he was on the way to pick her up, Ivy was ready. She’d chosen a black skirt which covered her knees and a sleeveless white blouse which did not expose even a hint of cleavage.
Michael was going with her to the venue during his lunch break, and mother had prepared a tea party—cakes, sandwiches, scones…all of which she’d made by her own hands, not allowing Fareeda to touch them. It was a rare occasion when her future son-in-law made an appearance at her home, and the spread that sat on the table bore testament to that.
The entrance bell rang out, and Fareeda soon entered the dining hall, Michael behind her and as usual dressed in a two-piece and tie. Ivy had never seen him in anything else, even outside the office or at Association gatherings. He always dressed as if he needed to emphasize his power.
Mother stood before him, flushing, and Ivy thought she might even curtsy. But one look at Michael’s face as he glanced at the food, and Ivy knew mother’s efforts were wasted. “Sorry, Pearl. I won’t be able to stay. And I already grabbed a sandwich on the way here.”
Ivy could swear that mother’s eyes brimmed with tears, but she did not press the leader’s son. “As you wish. I understand you are very busy.”
“I am.” When he turned his attention to Ivy, she should have felt something as his gaze rested on her. But there was nothing. And there had been no anticipation at his arrival. He was attractive enough, with blue eyes, dark hair and above average height. But he’s not the shifter… “In fact, Ivy, after we see the venue, I’ll have to leave you to finalize the details and sort out the booking. I’ve an important meeting in the office this afternoon with potential investors.”
“About what?”
He softened his tone, as if talking to a child. “You don’t need to concern yourself with that.” But it’s my company. “It’s an important meeting, so I know you’ll understand me leaving you at the venue.”
Wasn’t this meeting important, too?
Mother glanced helplessly between Ivy and the table. Because she’d expected to eat with Michael, Ivy hadn’t eaten, so she would leave for the meeting hungry. She gave mother a reassuring smile before she followed him out. The company Porsche was parked outside her gate, and they both sat in it. As he drove, Michael turned on the music player, and Association blessings filled the car.
“How are you, Ivy?”
“Fine.”
“How have you been spending your time?”
“The usual. Helping out in the Association office when I’m not at home.”
“I heard you went out with your friends last week?”
Mother wouldn’t have mentioned it to John, so it meant a resident had opened their mouth.
“Yes. My friend Rehana arranged a small dinner, and she picked me up in a pink limo.” She had no doubt he knew about that little touch, too. “It was a treat.”
“Where did you go?”
Dear God, where should she mention? Any restaurant where the food might be blessed would have had other Association members there. It was a lie that could be exposed later, and although she didn’t imagine Michael snooping around for the truth, there was no point taking a risk. “We went to Rehana’s apartment. I cooked the meal myself, and it was properly blessed.”
He frowned. “And you needed a pink limo for that?”
“We only went for a short ride in it. It’s Rehana’s kind of thing.”
“I will be glad when we leave Manhattan, and you’re away from these unstable friends of yours. This is why father wanted you to go to an Association institute to study.”
After that, silence descended between them.
She was to endure this for the rest of her life? The feeling of never being good enough, being unwanted…the only time he would pay attention was when he came to her bed, and that thought brought bile to her throat.
But other Association women managed, so why should she be any different? And before she went to Eclipse—she didn’t even want to think about what she’d done with the shifter while she was next to Michael—she’d been fine with this. More than fine, in fact. Like mother, she’d seen the benefits…still did. That was it…she needed to keep reminding herself of the reasons she was doing this—she couldn’t jeopardize her future because of one mistake.
She was grateful when they stopped outside Phoenix’s gates. As they both got out, a liveried valet approached. “May I park your car?” Michael tossed him the keys and then took Ivy’s arm, walking her toward the gate.
There was a beautiful woman in a white gown waiting at the entrance. “I am Shereen, your hostess.” Her smile was breathtaking. “I will show you to the manager’s office. He will be in charge of all details related to your booking.”
Ivy didn’t miss how Michael’s gaze fixed to the woman. It was understandable…with that long red hair and blue eyes, anyone would pay attention to her. More surprising was that Ivy didn’t care one iota about her future husband admiring another female. As the woman turned, her walk was so graceful that it was as if she glided…she was too otherworldly to be human. Yes, she had to be a supernatural.
As they followed her up a long path, Ivy barely took in the landscaped gardens. In two months, this was where the ceremony would take place, and then it would be over.
They entered the building behind the hostess, and Ivy kept her gaze on the marble flooring as they followed her through the corridor. Eventually, she stopped and knocked at a door.
“Come in,” said a deep masculine voice. That voice…it sounded like…she shook her head. That shifter was still stuck inside her mind. She didn’t need to be thinking of him now…she needed to somehow get through this.
When Shereen opened the door, Ivy kept her eyes fixed on the carpet in the office, no interest in whoever was managing their booking. “Please sit,” said the hostess, directing them to two chairs in front of a desk. After Shereen left, Ivy kept her eyes on the table as documents were pushed toward them. She barely glanced at the papers, but Michael gave them his full attention, reading every detail as if expecting some fraud.
Suddenly, she experienced a strange sensation, as if a cold finger had trailed down her spine. Dread grabbed hold of her as she sensed who the man sat before her was.
No, it couldn’t be.
She lifted her gaze to meet his and then froze. The shifter…?
His narrowed eyes were fixed to her, and they flashed as she stared back. His mouth was tense as his gaze bo
red into her, shaking up that part of her he had reached that night in the club. Images flashed through her head, of them devouring each other’s lips, his demanding touch as he slid between her legs…
When she glanced at Michael, he seemed unaware of the emotions that raged through her, engrossed in a budget sheet of some sort. She glanced at the shifter again, and his jaw tightened as he looked between Michael and her.
Finally, Michael spoke. “Are we going to get on with this, then?”
The shifter cleared his throat. “I am Junaid. As Shereen will have told you, I’ll be dealing with your booking.”
No…how was it possible? He worked at that club, so what was he doing here? Going through this wedding would be difficult enough without dealing with him.
“You already know our names,” said Michael.
The shifter nodded, his eyes still on Ivy. “It is our great honor to host such a prestigious wedding.” She wished he wouldn’t stare at her with such intensity…surely it would cause Michael to suspect something.
“It is indeed,” said Michael. “You know about the ceremonies and how the hall needs to be blessed and purified beforehand?”
Junaid nodded. “For three days before, special incense will be lit and blessings recited.” And then he stared at Ivy again. When his eyes flashed, she tensed. Michael dealt with supernaturals regularly while he managed her business, but even so, he didn’t need visual reminders that they were dealing with one right now. Junaid’s eyes narrowed on her. “Everyone knows how particular the Association is about purity.”
Blood Moon Box Set Page 52
