She gave me a solemn look and then just shook her head. “Hun, you know I love you more than my parties.”
“You do not.”
“This is true, I don’t, but I love you almost as much as my parties.” We both grinned. “My advice? Dump the dead weight and find someone else to play with.”
I gave her a little shrug. “We’re just hanging, nothing to worry about. Besides, we’ve been buds for how long?”
But Váli wasn’t looking at me, he was glaring at Quetta. Undeterred, she glared right back.
Yeah, okay.
“One drink, and I’ll drag him out of here,” I offered as a concession. Not much of one because I wouldn’t keep him out.
“Fine,” she grunted. “And you lost your bet. We’re past ten minutes, and she’s got him half down her throat back there. They aren’t leaving anytime soon.”
As one, Váli and I glanced at Hattie and Sunny. She was, indeed, on her knees with most of Sunny’s dick down her throat. Well, fuck. Fine. I shrugged.
My boon or his, they’d both be fun.
Váli grinned at me, all predator and sharp. “The vengeance of my choice,” he reminded me.
“I know, I never welch on a bet.”
Beyond him, Bish met my gaze, and the cold smile on his face did something few other things had ever managed.
It made me shiver.
Little cold droplets of water splashed my arm as Quetta slung the A.M.F. at Váli. I guessed that was one way to give him a drink. Turning all my attention to Váli, I pretended like Bish didn’t wish he could use his death powers on innocent Keepers. Because really, c’mon. He was all wrong for Dahlia. It never would have worked out.
“Thanks,” Váli sneered as he grabbed a few napkins from behind the bar, dabbing at his silky shirt and slacks. For a Nordic Keeper with Viking vibes, he really had a fabulous sense of style.
Quetta humphed as she swayed down to the other end of the bar, where a human couple congregated.
I didn’t want to ask. I really didn’t. It wasn’t any of my damn business. But I was a nosy bitch and there were very few things that made Quetta that peeved. And I’d have an easier time getting information out of this tall drink of water than my feisty as hell best friend.
“Fess up. What’s the deal with you and Quetta?” I caught the straw with my tongue, sliding the tip around the edges before closing my mouth around it.
Váli’s black gaze tracked the entire movement, his body crowding closer seemingly without his realization. “Váli?”
“Yes, skatten min?” Tipping his head down, light bled through his light blond hair until he blocked out the overhead light all together.
“Why does Quetta look at you as if you killed her favorite party?” I lowered my voice, running a finger down his chest, just for giggles. But wow, Váli had a nice chest.
As if my words finally penetrated his single-minded focus, he plopped back down on the stool and grunted. “That’s a story for another time.”
Rolling my eyes, I took another sip. Fine. Whatever, it wasn’t that big of a deal, and I promised Quetta I’d get Váli out of here anyway. “Drink up, V. Then let’s get this revenge show on the road. I’m in the mood for a little more fun before I head home.”
He dropped his chin, looking much too smug for my piece of mind. Then he tossed his drink back, draining the entire A.M.F. in a few gulps. The way his throat muscles contracted was much more attractive than I’d ever given the movement credit for.
“Drink done. I wanted to wait until I had the perfect mark in mind, but I think there’s something else we can do that would be just as fun, hmm?” He stood, stretching his corded arms over his head, his light gray wings briefly appearing and extending to their full width. The black feathers covering the curve seemed to swallow the light. He usually kept his wings tucked away, so anytime they were out, I was fascinated with the way the black faded to the light gray of his primaries. In a purely platonic way, of course.
And that was exactly why I didn’t notice the two Keepers who sidled up on either side of Váli.
Steam came from my ears as I glared at Cipher standing in all of his dark and sinful glory. He was every woman’s fantasy, with midnight hair and a scruffy five o’clock shadow. But it was his eyes that always drew me in. His were dark blue bottomless pits, as if I were staring into the ocean under the light of the full moon. Eyes that right now, were smirking at me, even though his face was completely blasé. Oh, this Keeper knew exactly how to push my buttons.
Bish made a noise in the back of his throat, pulling my attention to him. Ah, the Keeper of Death, with his red burnished skin and golden-brown eyes that spoke of sun-kissed days in the Sahara Desert. He cut his gaze at Váli as he swiped a big hand down the man’s chest.
Váli just gave Bish a droll stare but didn’t try to remove his hand.
“Yes, Bish?” A hint of an accent came out as Váli looked between the two Keepers holding him hostage. “Cipher?”
“Oh, it looked like you were having so much fun with my old friend here, I had to join you.” Cipher roped an arm around Váli’s neck. He’d been in Sinner’s every night, but outside of the first time, he hadn’t actually approached me.
Narrowing my eyes, I refused to give him a rise. Fucker.
“I would actually prefer you didn’t. You and Bish were having your own fun over there. In the corner.” Váli jerked his head toward their end of the bar. “So why don’t you go back. Over there.” Now he removed Bish’s hand, the one still caressing his delectable chest, then stepped away from Cipher.
“We were having fun, but I feel a little Zhan coming over me.” Bish shrugged and sent another cold smile my way as he placed one hand on Cipher and one on Váli, then the three of them disappeared.
Huh.
A little Zhan coming over him.
Asshole.
They kidnapped Váli to what? Try and seduce him on the beach? Maybe introduce him to Bish’s dogs? I snorted. If they thought they were going to get him in bed, I wished them much good luck with that. Váli didn’t go for dick. Not even sinful, delicious dick like Cipher.
Fuck.
I shoved the thought of him out of my head. If they wanted to play this game with me, fine. Didn’t mean I had to give chase. I drained my drink and cast a look to where Sunny was currently all boneless in the chair with Hattie curled in his lap. The stench of sex and happiness hung like a cloying perfume and seeped out into the rest of the bar. More than one patron was getting busy.
The human couple at the bar were already heading for one of the bathrooms for a quick and dirty, semi-public fuck. Keepers weren’t altogether unaffected either. Kindle stood trapped in the doorway for a moment, her eyes wide and her face flushed. We locked gazes, and I swore I could almost hear her little ‘eep’ before she blinked out.
Quetta let out a laugh behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder to find her wiping down a glass with her towel and shaking her head. “Clueless idiots.”
Sure. Why not? I shrugged. “I think I’ll call it a night.”
“Probably a good plan,” Quetta began, then hesitated. Her brows gathered together to form a firm crinkle between them. “You don’t usually take advice.”