The club was loud.
Too loud.
Music blasted from the speakers, the bass so heavy you could feel it in your chest. People were everywhere—dancing, drinking, shouting over the noise. The lights flashed in different colors, cutting through the dim space and making everything feel chaotic and alive.
It smelled like sweat, alcohol, and too many perfumes mixed together.
Nobody paid attention to the man sitting alone in the dark corner.
Kaiel.
He sat slouched in his chair, looking bored. His black hair hung past his shoulders, straight and shiny, catching the light every time the strobes hit him. His face was the kind that made people look twice. Sharp features. Full lips. The kind of handsome that didn't feel safe.
Right now, he wasn't paying attention to anyone around him.
His eyes were fixed on the stage.
A woman was dancing there, moving around the pole like she'd done it a thousand times. The crowd was into it—cheering, throwing bills.
Kaiel watched her dance.
The way she moved. The curve of her neck. The dip of her waist. The flex of her legs.
Hunger flickered in his eyes.
It had been a while since he'd scratched that particular itch, and this one would work just fine.
Someone walked up to his table.
He didn't bother to look.
The man stopped next to him, standing there like he was waiting.
Raven.
He was lean, sharp-faced, with short dark hair and an expression that gave away nothing. He didn't look threatening, but something about him made people uneasy.
"We have something we need to take care of, Kaiel," Raven said.
Kaiel didn't respond. His eyes stayed on the dancer.
Raven didn't bother repeating himself. He just stepped forward and blocked Kaiel's view.
The air got colder.
It was subtle, but it was there.
The music kept pounding. People kept dancing. Nobody noticed.
But across the room, two guys sitting at a table went rigid.
Dante and Felix.
Both grade-one vampires. Powerful enough that most creatures would think twice before messing with them.
Right now, they looked terrified.
"Shit," Dante muttered, gripping his drink. "He's pissed."
"If they fight here—" Felix's voice was tight. "If they fight here, we're screwed."
"I know."
They both knew how hot-tempered Kaiel was. Bothering him was like begging for a death wish.
If those two went at it in here, the whole place would go up in flames.
"What do we do?" Felix whispered.
Another man appeared beside their table.
"Relax," the man said smoothly, his voice calm. "Kaiel's not stupid to fight here."
Viktor.
Tall, well-dressed, with silver hair. He looked like old money. His expression was cool, unbothered.
Dante let out a shaky breath. "You sure about that?"
"Yes," Viktor said, glancing toward Kaiel's table. "He doesn't care what Raven's saying. But Raven will keep him in check."
Felix frowned. "How do you know?"
Viktor's mouth curved slightly. "Because he always does."
"He's the only one that can make that hot-tempered ancient do anything," Dante muttered.
Back at the table, Kaiel finally looked up.
Slowly. Like he had all the time in the world.
His eyes met Raven's, and his expression was flat.
"Let the boys handle it," Kaiel said, leaning back in his chair. "Why bother me?"
Raven didn't flinch. "This one's different. It's a witch's experiment. Killed four grade-two vampires two days ago."
Something shifted in Kaiel's eyes.
His lips twitched. Almost a smile.
"So?" he asked.
"We might need hellfire," Raven said. "If it comes to that."
Kaiel's smile widened.
"Hmm. You might need fire, huh?"
He paused.
Raven's voice was flat. "The rogue is in Blackthorn."
Something flickered in Kaiel's eyes.
Rage.
Quick. Sharp. Gone in an instant.
But it had been there.
Raven didn't react. "After this one, you'll get what you want."
Kaiel sat there for a moment. The boredom on his face faded, replaced by something sharper.
Then he stood up.
Raven stepped aside.
But Kaiel didn't head for the exit.
He walked toward the stage.
Toward the dancer.
Raven watched him go, his face giving nothing away.
Viktor stepped up beside him. "Will he do it?"
"Yeah," Raven said.
Viktor's gaze followed Kaiel as he moved through the crowd like he owned the place.
The dancer saw him coming. Her eyes widened—the man smiling at her was unearthly handsome. He looked like the devil coming to tempt her with a delicious treat.
She had an uneasy feeling. Like some part of her recognized danger even if she didn't understand it.
Kaiel held out his hand.
And she took it, following him toward the back door.