She grabbed a pair of black dress shoes—yet another gift from Naomi. The heels were way too high, but Sera couldn’t very well wear flats with an outfit that was essentially a bodysuit. That would have been ridiculous. So she slipped on her streetwalker shoes to go with her streetwalker costume. If a monster attacked her tonight, she’d just skewer it with her dagger heels.

She dropped her phone into her purse, which was just big enough to fit a small stash of throwing knives inside. Kai wouldn’t be happy, but what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. She was not running into a fight with magic as her only weapon.

As she fished her wallet out of the sports bag dangling from her chair, she noticed Naomi’s magazine poking out of the top. She was already late, but she couldn’t resist taking a quick peek. Kai stood with his hands cupped behind his head, giving the reader front row seats to his sculptured torso.

“So what if he’s hot,” Sera muttered. “And has raw power gushing out of his pores.”

She could almost feel his magic pounding against the page, trying to break free. The memory of his magic flooded her, pulsing through her veins.

“Ridiculous,” she said, forcing out a laugh. She tossed the magazine aside. “He’s one of them. He’s on the Magic Council.”

Her phone dinged again. If she didn’t leave now, she’d really be late. She grabbed her purse and hurried toward the door.

* * *

Shockingly, the bouncer at Trove let Sera in. And he wasn’t even rude about it. Kai must have talked to him. She hoped bribes or threats hadn’t been necessary to ensure the bouncer’s good behavior, but she wasn’t holding her breath on that one.

She wove her way through the crowd of overprivileged young mages, concentrating really hard on not tripping over any of them. She’d already stumbled once tonight on the hotel’s steps, much to the amusement of the other guests. She had no intention of repeating the experience here. As soon as the fight started, she was tossing off those stupid shoes. She should never have let Naomi buy them for her in the first place. A new knife would have been more useful—and less dangerous.

A forest of crystal branches dangled from the ceiling, sparkling in the purple-blue light. Mages danced to the heavy beat, their bodies thrashing and buzzing in time to the music. A number of couples were making out on the dance floor. One couple was doing a bit more than making out, but no one seemed to notice. They were all too drunk—drunk on magic and on those glowing drinks the bar was serving. So much for this being a classy establishment.

Oblivious as they seemed, a few of the mages did notice Sera as she passed by the dance floor. They stared out at her, their eyes alight with magic. She didn’t know if it was disdain or interest she saw in those eyes. Maybe it was just plain drunkenness. But whatever their thoughts were, the effect was the same: those staring eyes gave her goosebumps.

“What the hell am I even doing here?” Sera muttered to herself. She didn’t belong at Trove.

She bypassed the horde of dancing mages and headed for the bar. The magic wafting off those glowing drinks electrified the air, crackling against her skin. Maybe she wouldn’t feel so out of place after she’d had a glowy cocktail. She didn’t usually drink—and especially not while on the job—but if she didn’t settle her nerves, she wouldn’t be fighting anyone.

The bartender must have sensed her dire need to relax because before she even sat down at the bar, he had her drink ready.

“You’re with Kai Drachenburg,” he said, setting down a cocktail that glowed pink. A wisp of pale purple smoke floated along the glass’s rim.

“How did you know?”

“He called ahead to tell me he was meeting someone here. Said to watch for a pretty brunette who looked like she’d been forced into the club at gunpoint.”

“I do not look like that,” she protested, taking a sip of her drink. Magic fizzled across her tongue, tickling her tastebuds with ice and fire.

“Sure you do.” He gave her an easy smile. “How’s your drink?”

“Fantastic.”

“Good. Kai thought you might appreciate one of my elemental cocktails.”

Sera took another sip. This time, lightning sizzled against her tongue. “You seem to know him well. Are you two friends?”

“That man saved my life.” The bartender’s magic changed, his humor vanishing. It was displaced by a far more potent emotion: loyalty.

“Tell me about it?”

The humor returned to his eyes. “Next time you come here, maybe I will.” Then he gave her a wink and glided over to the group of male mages who had just sauntered up to the bar.

Sera took a few more sips from her drink, relishing in the elemental sensations, each time a different combination. She’d just started to relax when she saw something that threw her agitation back into overdrive. Cutler.

He was on the dance floor, gyrating with a woman wearing a minidress that made Sera’s outfit look like full-body armor. Cutler seemed to be enjoying her…um, company—so he obviously wasn’t too torn up about Sera turning him down this morning. Just in case, she turned away from him. He didn’t need to know she was here.

She was too late.

As the song ended, Cutler looked toward the bar. His eyes met hers with devilish delight, and she knew she was in trouble. He leaned down to whisper something to his date, then strode over to Sera, his smile widening with every step. By the time he was standing in front of her, his grin had gone supernova.