“The…magic words?” I turned from the door and saw him smirking. “Oh you’re fucking hilarious.” I gave the door one last look, and for the hell of it added, “Abracadabra.” As far as magic words went, it was as good as it got.
Chapter Forty
How many supernatural creatures does it take to get a girl to her bachelorette party?
Two vampires, one sister of a werewolf and one New York City Police Department detective. Okay, so the last one might not be supernatural, but she was carrying a gun.
When Holden guided Brigit and me through the doors of New York’s newest new hot club, a place called Friction, I was glad I’d let the sentry pick my ensemble for the night. I was also glad to have accepted Sig’s offer to send some wardens to the club in advance. Just in case.
Once upon a time I would have shot the idea down before it was done being offered. Things changed. I couldn’t be so frivolous about my personal safety anymore. Not with the pack and the Tribunal depending on me.
Who would have thought I’d be instrumental to so many people’s well-being all a
t once?
I’d lived for myself and by myself for so long it was a big adjustment to make, not only to have people depend on me, but to let myself depend on others.
The club was packed full of girls wearing barely there dresses and men trying to get those girls out of said dresses. None of the men so much as cast me a second glance thanks to Brigit’s efforts in cleaning out the bridesmaid paraphernalia at the local gag shop. I was wearing a tiara that was festooned with fake diamonds, and had on a silver-and-pink sash that read BRIDE.
Brigit was wearing a blinking pink button proclaiming her a Bridesmaid!, but hers seemed more subtle somehow. I’d allowed the sash, tiara and a pink feather boa, but I drew the line at a penis cup. My dignity could handle a lot of low blows. Drinking cosmos out of a phallus-shaped sippy cup wasn’t one of them.
We met Mercedes and Kellen at a booth in the very back corner of the club, where I was finally able to relax. The black leather couches were crammed up against a solid brick wall, with a low ceiling overhead, which was the floor of the stairs to the second level, and our position provided us a great view of the whole dance floor as well as part of the upstairs bar area.
I let out a breath. This was the only place an assassin might feel comfortable in a jam-packed club. That is, if I ignored the stripper pole in the middle of the couch circle.
Kellen and Mercedes were both wearing blinking Bridesmaid! buttons, and each looked a little too happy about seeing me wrapped in pink feathers. It wasn’t until I flopped next to Kellen on the sofa that I realized there was someone else in our party.
Eugenia was sitting alone, wearing a dress that was a size too large and a few inches too short. She must have borrowed it from Kellen because the design screamed look at me, while the girl in it appeared to be hoping for quite the opposite.
“You never told me you had a sister,” Kellen shouted over the throbbing bass of the music.
“No one told me either until last week.” I gave Eugenia a quizzical look, and she smiled meekly.
“Callum sent me. He said it was important for family to be present at your wedding. I’m staying with Kellen.”
“Just you?”
“No, Ben too.”
“Who’s Ben?” Kellen asked, bubbling with excitement.
“My brother,” Eugenia and I said in unison. Eugenia continued, explaining, “He’s with Lucas at the penthouse.”
“You have a brother too?” Kellen gaped at me. Mercedes looked intrigued as well but must have thought better of asking questions in the middle of a packed nightclub.
“We’re twins.” Eugenia sipped the drink in front of her.
“How did you get in?” I pointed at the club. “And what’s in that?”
“I have a little pull,” Mercedes offered.
“And it’s 7UP,” Eugenia finished.
“For someone who’s only been a big sister for a week, you’ve already got the overprotective thing down pat.” Kellen laughed.
“I’m not even going to ask what’s in yours.”
“I’m over twenty-one,” she reminded me. “And gin.”