When I got back to my room I was surprised that Carissa wasn’t there. It didn’t look as if her luggage had been touched either. It was easy to tell because she tended to throw everything around looking for the right thing. My white dress that I had ditched earlier was back sitting across my bed. Clean and dry. Ah, the magic of this hotel was amazing.

  For the festivities tonight, I chose a black, low-cut short number. My adornments consisted of leaving my hair down in long, heavy curls, fifty or so silver and gold bracelets up my right arm, and multiple silver earrings. Feet bare again, key still secure. I was ready to go.

  Stepping out of my room, I found Faith in the hall waiting for me. We linked arms; she was a few inches taller than me, dressed in a white sheath, long and Grecian in style.

  “Where’s Rissa?” She looked behind us, expecting my sister to follow me out.

  I chuckled. “Vampire hunting. Poor asshole has no idea what he’s signed up for.”

  Faith’s husky laughter echoed along the hall as we both set off. The stairs were common ground. We weren’t the only race who didn’t like elevators, which meant we were sharing space with a lot of energy.

  I could tell who most of the races were just by sending my siren out for a taste of their power, never taking much – I didn’t want to start a fight. Still, it was enough for me to feel my blood fizzing. There were witches to my right, bear shifters a floor below; a vampire was in the group – a ghoul too. The ghouls had the strangest energy; they were dead but still animated with magic, and I hated the unnatural touch of their aura.

  “Doesn’t look like anyone wants to miss the show,” Faith said, her rich tones echoing down the stairs. She hadn’t bothered to lower her voice, which meant we drew the eye of many around.

  Not that sirens ever had to work hard at getting attention. It was part of who we were, like our songs. Other beings were drawn to us. Something, like my mental bond with Carissa, that I considered a blessing and a curse.

  I must have muttered that last part out loud, because Faith turned curious eyes on me. “You think it’s a curse? I have never heard you say that before.”

  I shrugged, wishing the words hadn’t slipped out. “Maybe I’ve been spending too much time with humans, but … I just want to know that the men I’m with want me, not my power.”

  It was such a human sentiment, but I had seen a lot of love through my long life. I had seen humans sacrifice and fight and kill for love. Sometimes they were insane and erratic, but it was real. It was strong.

  I craved it.

  Faith didn’t say anything more, but she did continue to shoot a few prying glances in my direction, which I chose to ignore. I’d already bared too much of my soul to another siren. Who, yes, was my friend, but we were also gossip-loving bitches, and the last thing I needed was a bunch of supernatural creatures knowing my weirdness.

  Before she could ask me anything more, we stepped out into the lobby. Energy crashed into me from all sides and I locked down my own energy fast. I needed to keep my head in this sort of situation.

  I scanned the gigantic space searching for my sister, but her distinctive platinum hair was not in sight. I also couldn’t feel her essence, but that didn’t mean anything. We had to be in pretty close proximity for our mental connection to kick in, especially if she was shielding strongly. I would estimate there were a hundred or more preternatural creatures already mingling around. Kord was still checking in guests, never losing his cool. His tie was pink now, which I loved. It was like he had an hourly costume change, but just for that one piece of clothing.

  “I love coming back here,” Faith practically purred as we moved toward the long bar. It ran the entire length of the back corner of the lobby: wood grain bench-top, stools scattered along it – more than half of them filled.

  “I do too,” I said wistfully as we pulled up two stools and waited for our turn to be served. “It was so hard this past year. Felt like I was literally just existing until it was time to return.”

  I still had no explanation for that, but it had felt like forever waiting for October to arrive. A light wisp of energy brushed across my chest, and I sat a little straighter as Amon glided along behind the bar to stand before us.

  The fallen angel had not changed, his beauty still unsurpassed by any other I had ever seen.

  “Hello, sirens.” His deep voice should be outlawed – not to mention those intense blue eyes, dark locks of hair, and dimples. “What can I get you tonight?” His heavy arm muscles flexed as he rested both palms on the bar in front of us. I found my eyes trailing across his broad, bare shoulders, and down that perfect set of abs.

  Physically, there was not a flaw on him. I didn’t know much else about him, though. He was private, keeping to himself. Fallen angels were very rare, and no one knew how he’d ended up working at Hotel Paranormal.

  Faith had just picked up the menu, so I said, “Fae wine for me.” I wanted to start out slow. Arrival night was intense, and I didn’t want to miss it all.

  He turned and pulled a chilled bottle from the fridge behind him. As he uncorked it, a mint and lavender scent filled my senses and I let out a happy breath. Amon’s back muscles bunched as he poured for me. He never wore a shirt; his dark wings were enough adornment tucked in close to his back, flecks of white just visible at the tips.

  He was fascinating, but something told me off-limits. I had never tried anything with him, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t look. A full glass was placed before me, then he turned to Faith. Well, sort of. His body angled in her direction, but his eyes were still locked on mine. Almost as if he was reading my thoughts.

  Which he quite possibly could. I quickly blanked everything in my head, picking up my glass.

  I might be fascinated with the angel, but I definitely did not want him delving through my mind. No one touched my thoughts without permission. It was my one rule.

  A rule that not even chiseled abs, and lickable dimples could bend.

  3

  We’d just finished up our first drinks when a familiar voice called out to me: “Lettie! There you are.” Carissa hurried over, taking the seat we had been saving for her. “Sorry about being late, I got a little … tied up.”

  She meant that literally. I caught a glimpse of her mental images before she shut it down. Wow, vampire had some kink, which was the perfect fit for my twin. She wasn’t too extreme, but she definitely liked to walk on the wild side of life.

  “Did I miss anything?” she asked as she spun in her chair, searching down the bar for someone to get her a drink. “Johnnie – the vampire – had to run off because his leader was arriving. Apparently there’s some sort of blood feud between vampire and shifters. And both of their big leaders are arriving tonight.”

  I shook my head. “Well, clearly you’re over your annoyance that we aren’t in the Caribbean right now.”

  My twin gave me a sheepish smile. “Oh yeah. I really should apologize for that. My energy has been so out of whack lately, I haven’t felt like myself.”

  “Are you feeling better now?” I asked her, leaning forward to see her clearer. She was dressed in two strips of black, one covering her breasts, the other covering her other important assets. Her bare stomach was toned, her feet bare, like mine were. She looked fine, the pinnacle of siren health. Glowing energy swirled about her.

  “I feel heaps better, Mommm.” She dragged out the last word. We didn’t have parents in the same way as humans, we were a product of Poseidon – gods in our own rights, having appeared fully formed as a species. Before being discarded when the gods grew bored and annoyed by us.

  “Replenished myself with some vampire and I feel much more myself again,” Carissa finished.

  She was distracted then by another bartender, who got her a cocktail and refilled my wine, and Faith’s witches’ brew. All three of us turned our backs to the bar as we observed the happenings. The room was getting full now, and segregating off – vampires near the entrance to the left, wolf shifters to the right, witches and fae in small groups near the large bay windows. There were also some djinn nearby, and I felt a familiar pull to be closer to them. Our powers were similar in lots of ways, and I quite liked hanging out with that crazy, powerful group. The demons, on the other hand, not so much. They were more Carissa’s crew. She loved the dark side.

  My second glass was almost finished. I could feel Amon close to my back but I was fighting the urge to turn and stare at him. He was too tempting. But angel might be out of my energy grade, and I wasn’t sure it was a bright idea to find out.

  The noise in the large room started to die down, and I found myself shifting forward on my stool, back straight as I craned my head to see what was going on.

  “Vampire leader approaches,” Amon’s deep voice rumbled near my ear. My eyes briefly fluttered closed as I fought the pull of his energy.

  Fucking angel. He was doing it on purpose, I just knew it.

  I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction, so I didn’t turn around. I just continued to stare out into the crowd. Carissa let out a small huff, dropping her drink on the bar. She was up then, moving toward the entrance. I wanted a better view as well, so I followed her. Faith tagged along too.

  “I think I’m going to try demon tonight,” my old friend said, sounding intrigued as we passed by a group of them.

  I got it, I really did. Everything about the group of men, all standing well over six and a half feet, screamed dark and dangerous. They gave off the sort of vibe that meant you didn’t want to mess with them. Especially the blond in the center. He had a heavy brow, broad but chiseled features, and eyes dark enough that there was barely a sliver of difference between iris and pupil.

  “Dibs,” Faith murmured, just loud enough for Carissa and me to hear. Blondie’s head swung in her direction though, as if he’d heard her. He did a leisurely sweep of her body, taking in her long legs and ethereal beauty, and his expression hardened. I could get no read on him, but he didn’t look particularly happy about the siren in his midst.

  Some of Faith’s sexuality morphed into fire then, and I could see she was shooting him the same sharp stares. “Holy shit,” Carissa whispered in my ear. “Those two are going to break the hotel screwing.”

  I let out a low burst of laughter. “Yeah, that, or more likely they’re going to tear this place down trying to kill each other.” Because there was nothing amorous in that gaze. It was two predators sizing each other up, trying to determine who would win.

  Faith let out a small rumble, almost like a growl, before she flipped her hair and turned her back on the demon, effectively dismissing him. Which no doubt would piss off the powerful male.

  We stopped near the entrance, all of us finding a position that gave us walls at our back but a clear view of the double doors. I could see some of my race scattered around the place, mingling within the other groups. Sirens were probably the least “pack like.” We rarely stuck together, preferring to absorb the energy of others. We also fought like a bunch of sorority women all hoping to snag the quarterback. Competition, backstabbing, bitchiness, you name it, sirens did it.

  Cold energy drifted in through the closed door, strong enough to work its way inside, even without invitation. I braced myself for the pull of the vamp, thankful that I wasn’t really into fangs and blood. The door swung open and a small pod of vampires entered. At the center was an unassuming female, standing only at about five foot: long blond curls, huge gray eyes. She looked like a doll, cold and perfect.

  “The vampire leader...” Carissa sounded intrigued. “She must be packing some serious power under all of that porcelain skin.”

  She was. My hands clenched on a nearby railing, knuckles white as I stopped myself from reacting to her. Kord had left his post and was greeting the newcomers, handing out keys and the like. Vampire queen did not speak or acknowledge anyone. She gave Kord a cold smile, before making her way across the foyer to another gathered pod of vampires. There were at least fifty of them now, once the queen and her contingent joined.

  “Holy shit, I cannot wait for the alpha wolf to arrive.”

  My sister loved drama. I was ready for another drink.

  I had myself under control now, no lingering vampire essence tempting me, so I was able to remove my hands, and turned to head toward the bar. I didn’t make it more than two steps, though, before the front door slammed open. I hadn’t been in a position to notice with the vampires, but from here I could see the trees whipping outside, wind rattling the front porch. A storm was rolling in, something this magicked lobby did not reveal at all.

  A huge shadow stepped in through the open door. A lone wolf shifter. If I hadn’t already been frozen, I would have probably tripped over my own feet. It was Axel.

  Jesus. Like Amon, he had not changed at all. Topping out at almost seven foot, outside of the gods he was one of the largest males I had ever seen, very Viking-like in appearance: golden blond hair, a few inches in length all over except a few thin braids that hung to his shoulders; shoulders which were so broad they completely filled the doorway.

  No doubt I was gawking, but I had done nothing but think about this stupid shifter for twelve months. I had to take this moment to make sure he had been worth my wasted hours … my fantasies.

  Fuck. He was, and more. His dark fitted shirt showcased hard, ropey muscles and darkly tanned skin. He was an outdoors guy; physical labor was definitely part of his life. Amon was beautiful, but Axel was devastatingly handsome, not to mention masculine and strong. Everything about him was hard and real.

  Exactly how I remembered him.

  His eyes, which were a deep rich brown, locked on mine as I stared shamelessly.

  Kord broke the moment by hurrying across the foyer toward him. “Alpha Dracon, welcome. “

  He continued his greeting and everything inside of me went cold and hard. Axel was the alpha? He never said anything last time, and his energy had not been particularly strong. The only intriguing part had been the way he could resist my siren call … which made a lot of sense now.

  Lying bastard.

  Turning, I stormed off, letting my siren free from the restraints. When I reached the bar Amon was waiting for me. “Witches’ brew,” I said, a snap in my tone. “Strong.”

  He was silent, his eyes again doing that thing where they stared into me. He managed to make the drink, not spill a drop, and never take that piercing gaze from me.

  “Why do you look at me like that?” I finally asked, when I couldn’t take it any longer.

  A huge cup was placed in front of me, the shimmering pink reflecting lights close by. He leaned in, his forearms resting on the bar, his face mere inches from my own. I eyed his full lips and wondered if he was going to kiss me.

  I also wondered if I would let him.

  He stopped just before our mouths met. “You’re not like the other sirens. Just as I am not like the other angels. I understand you, Lettie of the sirens. I’d like to be your friend.”

  I scoffed. “Friends? Is that all you want?”

  His broad grin was blinding, and I sucked in deeply, drawing some of his angel energy into me. It was like the gods, only different. Hotter. Slower moving. But just as powerful.

  In a heartbeat he was gone, back to serving drinks, and I was busy blinking like an idiot, staring across the bar. A familiar scent hit me, wild and masculine and rich, and I knew exactly who it belonged to.

  “Hello, Alpha Dracon.” Some snarl entered my words, and I picked up the drink and took a long swallow to give myself something to do. Witches’ brew was a hell of a lot stronger than fae wine, so it hit me straight away, sending spirals of warmth through my chest and into my gut.

  Axel’s chest rumbled. I could feel it as he was standing very close behind me. As much as I tried to fight it, I couldn’t stop from turning and staring up into his face.

  “Dracon Axel Raiden,” he said, very deliberately. He had the slightest Scandinavian accent, which only added to the Viking appeal. “My friends call me Axel.”

  I was about to make a smartass reply, something along the lines of “I don’t give a shit,” or, “why are you telling me this?” Both of which were outright lies. I was pretty good at hiding lies from shifters, but Axel had proven more than once that he wasn’t a normal shifter. Before I could even bother trying to lie, though, he reached out and cupped my chin. His palm was hot, and my siren rose to the surface, the glow on my skin increasing to the point where it was actually throwing off light onto the nearby bar.

  Closing my eyes, I swallowed hard, and using every ounce of mental and emotional strength I had, I jerked my head out of his hand. “Whatever you want from me,” I said, slowly and with force, “you need to forget about it. I am not the siren for you. Find another.”

  I spun around, leaving my drink behind, searching desperately for my sister and friend.

  I had wanted to find Axel again. I had wanted another night with him. But this was not the random stranger from my dreams. This was the alpha wolf, one of the most powerful beings in the paranormal world. Wolves did not mate with sirens, and I could not let him take any more of me, because no matter what, he would be forced to leave me and find his own kind. It was pack law.

  And I couldn’t risk my heart any further. I had to walk away.

  4

  The rest of the night was pretty drama free. Vampires and wolves did not mingle. There was no fighting between their leaders, but it did seem as if the queen had quite the hatred hard-on for Axel. She fixed her cold gray eyes on him and barely took them off. Her fangs were on full display, power leaking all around the place.

  The alpha wolf ignored her. He ignored mostly everyone except a group of four men – all as tall and almost as handsome as he was – who stayed close to his side. There was a ring of females hovering around them, afraid to approach, but obviously waiting for their chance with this exceptional group of male specimens.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6