Bryce gave a snickering laugh as he glanced toward the crowd gathering near the side of the building. “Yeah, I saw the line.”
“You, and your friend, too, of course”—Christo nodded toward Abe—“do not have to wait in line. I would be happy to escort you in myself.”
“Sweet!” Abe squealed as he bounced all over, looking like he was about to wet himself with excitement.
Bryce laughed, the little man’s exuberance sinking into him and making him almost forget that he was nursing a broken heart. “That would be cool, man. Thanks.”
“No, you have my thanks.” Christo gave a little bow of his head. “You and your brothers were more than helpful when we were attacked. Giving you entrance into the club is the least I can do for the lives you helped save.”
Bryce grabbed Abe by the arm to keep him from bouncing off into the atmosphere and followed Christo toward the entrance of the club. The same vampire who always guarded the door was there again. Bryce nodded to him as he walked in. Harley nodded back.
Bryce could feel his hips start to move to the beat of the music the second he stepped into the place. He suddenly felt almost rejuvenated, like all of his worries were sliding away as he entered the club.
Maybe this was what he needed, after all.
Bryce steered Abe toward the bar and ordered them both a drink. While he waited for the bartender to get their order, he turned and leaned back against the bar and scanned the crowd. There were scantily dressed people everywhere, both men and women. And damned if they didn’t look hot, every damn last one of them. Maybe not as hot as Ahm looked, but pretty damn close. And tonight, Bryce wasn’t going to be choosy.
Bryce downed the shot that the bartender set on the scarred countertop in one swallow then slammed the glass back on the counter. “Come on, Abe,” he said as he spied a particularly tasty-looking man dancing in the middle of the dance floor. “Let’s party.”
Chapter Two
Ahm rubbed the bridge of his nose when he heard someone knock on his office door. When would he ever get a moment of peace? It seemed like every time he turned around, someone wanted him for something. Usually it was to settle some sort of dispute or rescue someone that had gotten their ass in a sling.
Ahm was tired. He couldn’t remember the last time he had gotten more than a few hours of sleep. It didn’t help that every damn time he closed his eyes, Bryce came into his head. It was like the man had the power to dominate Ahm’s every thought or something.
And people wondered why he had lost his blue skin? Ahm didn’t think they would believe he was unable to claim his mate. Not that that was the reason, but it was the problem that seemed to be at the top of Ahm’s thoughts most days. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought he was under some sort of ancient curse or something.
It was the only way to explain how his mate ended up being a bear shifter. His mate was supposed to be a Shadow elf just like he was, not a bear. No matter how much he wished it was different, Bryce would never be accepted by Ahm’s people.
And that meant that Ahm couldn’t claim the man.
Even if it made his heart break every time he thought about it.
Ahm always knew that being the leader of his tribe would be trying. He just never thought it would be what took his mate from him. He had always dreamed of having his mate rule by his side and not in his dreams.
But that was where Bryce had to stay because anything else couldn’t even be contemplated. The Shadow elves, while being a peaceful people for the most part, were not often tolerant of other species. Ahm was trying to bring them into the current century but he was being thwarted at every turn—and by people that should have been supporting him.
“Ahm, we need to talk.”
Speak of the devil.
“Come in, Nara,” Ahm said because he knew telling his cousin to stay out wouldn’t work. The woman did what she wanted, when she wanted to do it. She didn’t listen to anyone, not even him, and Ahm was the leader of the Shadow elves.
“You missed your luncheon with Darla.” Nara crossed the room to stand in front of Ahm’s desk, crossing her slim arms over her chest as she glared down at him. “Do you know how long it took me to set up that meeting with her father?”
“Nara, I told you, I am not mating with Darla.”
“You have to.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Her family is one of the most prestigious in the elf world. With her bloodline combined with ours, we could rule the throne for centuries to come.”
Ahm leaned back in his chair and folded his fingers together to keep from reaching for his cousin’s throat and strangling her. They had this argument almost every single day. He was getting damn tired of it.