Once they arrived in the Council’s Foyer, Talon turned her into him, and rested his hands on her shoulders. “This blood connection between you and Lazarus puts you at too great a risk to leave the Otherworld. Kyden would want you safe. I’ll honor his wishes by ordering you to stay behind.”
Nexi nodded, having nothing to say. He had a valid point. She sympathized with why he gave that order, because it made him feel like he did right by his son. However, what Kyden wanted had long past. Her decision held strong. “Is that all?”
“Return to your residence.” Dropping his hand, he strode toward the Council’s Hall. “I’ll come to you with any news.”
Nexi focused on each step he took, held her breath, and waited for an opening so she could make her escape. Talon should’ve known by now, she did not intend to stay behind, and he seemed to forget she had a habit of not listening to orders.
Hadn’t she already proven that, a few times over?
The second after Talon vanished into the Council’s Hall door, Nexi darted toward the portal. She’d wrapped her fingers around the wrought-iron handle when Drake’s voice echoed around her. “Stop right there, Nexi Jones.”
Chapter Eighteen
Nexi cursed, facing stern hazel eyes and a harsh frown. Her mind raced to think up a good excuse—fast—for why she had her hand on the portal’s door. “I…” She had nothing and simply shut her mouth.
Drake’s eyebrows rose, his head tilted. “You didn’t think I would allow you to go alone, did you?”
Of all the things she had expected him to say, that wasn’t it, and her shut mouth fell open. “You’re not trying to stop me?”
He shook his head, closing the distance between them. “I had a feeling that you’d probably run off.” Settling in front of her, he sighed. “We all know that’s a habit of yours.” He studied her, then his features softened, as did his voice. “Do you care for Kyden, Nexi?”
Her throat tightened. “I do.”
Drake’s eyes saddened before he gathered her into his arms. She rested her head against his chest, accepting the warmth from the embrace. She didn’t have a fatherly-type relationship with Drake, but they were close, and getting even closer all the time. For only meeting him a couple months ago, things between them were good—solid.
In his arms, a safety net wrapped around her. Part of her wanted to stay there forever. The other part wanted to leave right now. Drake squeezed his arms and whispered into her ear, “We cannot both lose those closest to us. Life wouldn’t be that cruel. Trust in that.”
Did she believe him?
Life hadn’t been overly kind to her so far, taking not only her birth mother, but both her adoptive parents away from her, too. Now Kyden was in grave danger because of some malicious vampire wanting magic that she didn’t have to give to him. Life seemed cruel and unfair. She’d never let that stop her before.
Drake finally shifted away to look down at her, but he didn’t let go. “Word has come to us that a Texas pack member is at a club in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Let’s start there and we’ll see where it takes us.”
The strength that poured off him comforted her. However, a problem rose. “Talon told me to stay here. I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
He snorted a laugh. “Where do you think you get your lack of discipline and fiery attitude? Talon will understand.” He lowered his arms, taking her hand. “Come on. Let’s go and bring Kyden home.”
Nexi smiled, relieved to her bones. Alone, she doubted she’d get through this. With Drake along, success seemed reachable. She reached for the door handle of the portal, but she froze when a deep voice said, “We’ll join you.”.
Glancing over her shoulder, Nexi discovered Valor and Briggs approaching, and she blinked in surprise. “You’re coming with us?”
Briggs grinned. “I think coming along with you will prove to be an adventure.” He winked. “Wolves enjoy a good fight.”
Valor shook his head at Briggs, then said to Nexi, “We’ll be able to assist you to do things that you wouldn’t be able to on your own.”
She wasn’t sure what that meant. How hard was it to beat the snot out of someone to gather information? But she kept her thoughts to herself as Valor added, “I believe that if we don’t find Lazarus, he’ll find you. Talon might be inclined to protect you, but you are the key to finding Kyden.”
“Thank you for helping me,” she whispered.
“You can thank us once Kyden’s safe.” Valor gestured to the portal’s door. “Let’s go.”
She didn’t waste a second, and opened the door. Stepping into the bright light, with the men right on heels, she kept her mind blank, and let Drake’s thoughts carry them to the location he’d been assigned.
Once her feet hit solid ground, and city smells filled her nose, she glanced up at the neon sign glowing in front of her. Flashdancers. This didn’t look good at all. She turned to Drake next to her. “Please tell me we’re not going where I think we’re going.”
Drake groaned as he eyed the stucco building. “Let’s just get in, find what we need to, and get out.”
He strode forward and Nexi followed him around the side of the building. Behind her, Briggs and Valor chuckled, which she suspected came from her colorful, endless curses. Sure, she’d do anything to find out the location of Kyden, but honestly, visiting a strip club? Werewolves weren’t only dangerous; they were officially perverts, too.
At the front door of the club, a mortal bouncer held the door open, and masculine hoots and hollers came from inside. The bouncer studied Drake first, then looked at Nexi. She had to wonder what type of clothing he saw on her, and she questioned if the glamour hiding her guardian gear put her in what he wanted to see on her. She speculated it was best she didn’t know, or she might gouge out his eyeballs.
The bouncer gave Briggs and Valor a once-over, then he finally shrugged. “Whatever tickles your fancy, I suppose.”
Nexi rolled her eyes. By all appearances, she attended a strip club with three incredibly handsome thirty-year-olds. Even if she suspected Valor was centuries old, and Briggs was closer to Kyden’s age of twenty-eight.
Not caring what the bouncer thought of her, she brushed passed him and entered the club. The dark room, only lit by twinkling lights along the stage, reeked of alcohol, sweat and sex, nearly making her gag.
On the stage, men were lying down in line, while a gorgeous Asian woman straddled their faces and took money from their mouths in a completely absurd manner. “What in the world?” Nexi exclaimed.
Drake’s lips curved. “That’s…interesting.”
“Have you ever seen such nonsense?” Valor growled at Briggs behind her, and when Nexi turned to him, his features were twisted. “Who would allow their women to expose themselves like this?”
Briggs grinned. “Well, as long as they do it, might as well enjoy it.”
Valor frowned at him, folding his arms. “Mortals need a lesson to respect the gloriousness a woman provides. The beauty their bodies offer. These are the beings that bear their children, and they put them on display like animals.”
Nexi couldn’t have agreed with him more, and she couldn’t for the life of her figure out why men would enjoy this. They couldn’t even touch the woman for heaven’s sakes, where was the thrill in that?
“I don’t see any wolves,” Drake stated, clearly ready to move along.
Valor lifted his nose, sniffed the air, then he gestured toward the V.I.P. area. “There’s one through there. Texas pack.”
“Having you around is handy,” Nexi muttered.
If anything, Valor would save them time and at this point that was necessary.
She approached the roped off area, pushed the velvet curtain aside, then her steps faltered. “Jesus.” Now this made sense. Apparently, the hands-off rule didn’t apply in this room because these women were groped, feverously.
Briggs had clearly stepped in close to get a good view, since his voice sounded amused close behind her. “And I thought out there was good.”
“Disgusting,” Valor muttered before he pushed Briggs aside and pointed to his right. “There.”
Nexi followed his direction, discovering a woman dancing on top of a man whose face was buried in her br**sts. Not hesitating, Nexi charged forward, pushed the woman off him, and grabbed him right between his legs.
“What the…” The man looked up, blinked, then his features filled with terror.
He grimaced from her tight grip as she squeezed his junk as hard as she could and drawled, “You’ve been a very bad doggy.”
Briggs chuckled. “That’s one way to do it.”
Nexi became all too aware that the crowd in the room had gone quiet as everyone focused on her. This couldn’t happen in here. He’d been the only wolf in the room and she had no wish to draw additional trouble their way.
Releasing her hand from his goods, she took his arm, then proceeded to drag him from the club. “You’re coming with me.”