“Wait, also a container of gelatin. Please, don’t ask.”
He chuckled and briskly walked behind the bar. I could sense Gilly was a Mage because when I got up close, I could feel his energy. It raised the hair on the back of my neck.
When he returned, I leaned in so my voice wouldn’t carry. “Gilly, are you a Mage?”
He gave me a crooked smile and touched his mustache. “Where are you from?”
“Oklahoma.”
He laughed and it rumbled deep in his chest. “That sounds about right. The flannel gave it away. Don’t worry, we don’t bite.”
“What can you do? I mean, I’ve heard stories. Can you show me something?”
His eyes slid around and he gave a gentle shrug. Gilly lifted his hands and threads of blue light weaved between his fingertips like electric cobwebs. “I’m afraid I can’t show you anything else without giving you a shock. So, what do you think of my light show?”
I gasped. “It’s beautiful.”
Gilly laughed and the light dissipated. “You made my night. Do me a favor and stay away from some of the jokers in the bar. Curiosity killed the cat and all that. Take your snacks and let me know if you need anything else.”
“Thanks, Gilly.”
I tucked the box of peanuts under my left arm and held on to a small cup of Jell-O. The music pumped at a steady beat and I felt so out of place among these people. The women were dressed in provocative clothing, and the men leered at them with hungry eyes. The pungent smell of cigarettes soaked through my clothing and hair. Breed bars had no rules about smoking; we didn’t live under the umbrella of human law, and it’s not as if we’d get cancer. I wondered how people could do this on a regular basis. Was this the only way to find a mate? If so, I was doomed.
“Let me help you,” William offered, appearing from the crowd on my right. “What do you think?” he asked in a loud voice over the music.
“It’s very… modern.”
William took the box of nuts from me and gave them a twirl in his hands. “Indeed. Maybe you should mingle. There are a few wolves in here looking for a mate.”
“I’m not interested in finding a mate.”
He leaned in close over my right shoulder. “Could have fooled me. Say, what’s going on between you and Lorenzo?”
“Nothing.”
“That’s his favorite shirt, you know.” William tugged at my sleeve. “Just wondering if he’ll be adding another bitch to his collection.”
I fell back and let him walk a few paces ahead before I thumped him on the behind with my cane. He jumped and, with his feet glued to the floor, peered at me over his shoulder. His cheeks mottled in red patches and a few spectators cackled.
“She can spank me with that stick any day,” a man razzed from the bar.
A lanky man sitting beside him widened his legs on the barstool, gazing down at my body. “I’d rather have her slap me around with that mane of hers. Sexiest damn thing I’ve ever seen. Just look at that hair all braided up for me to grab on to.”
“Is this how they normally speak to women in places like this?” I asked William, catching up with him.
“The Shifter population is pretty even with men and women, but some of the other Breeds are predominantly male. It’s like throwing a juicy bone into a pit of hungry panthers.”
“And the women enjoy being spoken to that way?”
He glimpsed over his shoulder at me, his unkempt hair falling over his eyes. “Beauty always loves a beast.”
“I’m not sure I’d care to come here again.”
“Shame,” William said, picking up his stride. “It’s one of Lorenzo’s favorite places to unwind.”
“Slow down, William. I can’t keep up.”
His brown eyes peered over his shoulder again. “Indeed.”
“And what do you mean by that?”
He pivoted around. “Maybe it’s best you don’t set your sights so high. I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but I notice the way your eyes soften when someone speaks of Lorenzo. Women are taken with him because he’s a warrior—a born leader. It’s why so many men are in line for consideration to join his pack. I don’t know what he said to lead you on, but he’s incapable of love. Nothing personal. It’s just that Lorenzo always does what’s best for him and no one else. A man like that is tempted by many women. Many beautiful women. You seem like a sweetheart, and it would be a shame to see you get hurt. Don’t give your love to a man who would rather hold a sword in his hand than the heart of a woman.”
“Good to see you, William. My ears have been burning all night.” Lorenzo appeared and placed himself between us. His dark T-shirt looked painted on, and his long hair hung loose in the back, as it always did.
“Enzo. I didn’t know you were here,” William said. “It’s not your usual night.”
I placed my hand over my stomach, feeling a strange fluttering sensation from standing so near to Lorenzo.