“There are two entrances that lead to the storage areas in the lower level. One is stage left. The one we’ll have most success with is stage right near the dressing rooms.” Crane had found his way to their side in silence. “There will be more traffic, people and noise. A lot easier to blend in.” His eyes were calculating as he looked at Ana and Jaden. “My guess is the two of you will be our best bet to get close enough to the guards in order for us to take them out with minimum exposure.”
Jaden nodded and turned to the vampire. The petite woman held herself stiffly, as if she were afraid to touch the man beside her. It irritated her, how much the vampire acted as if the sorcerer were nothing more than an acquaintance, yet her need for him, her desire for him, was palpable.
It was bizarre since the worst-kept secret in PATU was the longing Declan O’Hara had for Ana.
For the first time, Jaden realized she knew nothing about the vampire. Not even her last name.
“Okay, you ladies ready?” Ethan smiled as an usher nudged him out of the way.
“Sir, you must take your seats. It’s dangerous in the aisles.”
“We’re on it,” he said good-naturedly, the smile fading fast as the usher went about his business.
“Finn, Nico, you’re with me, we’ll hang close to the women. You two”—he nodded to Julian and Declan—“keep to the shadows and watch our backs. We’ll give the ladies exactly two minutes, then we’ll go in.” Ethan’s tone was serious, his eyes hard as ice as he turned back to the girls. “You need to act fast. Cormac is an arrogant bastard, and he’ll not be expecting an attack here on his home turf. We’re heavily outnumbered, so surprise is our friend. Understood?”
Nervous excitement rushed through Jaden and she exhaled slowly in an effort to calm her nerves. She nodded and squared her shoulders.
“Be careful.” Julian’s breath was at her neck, and she stilled, hearing only the mad beating of her heart.
“You too,” she answered, but kept her eyes trained on the stage, afraid to look up into his eyes and not really sure why.
She turned and followed Ana into the waiting darkness, missing his hand as it froze in the air, inches from her back.
Julian’s eyes adjusted quickly to the dimly lit room as he followed Jaden’s progress. He had no issue with the dark; in fact, he relished it.
He stretched his fingers and slowly let his hand fall back to his side. She’d been so close. He’d just wanted one final touch. Instead, he was left grasping nothing but air.
Nico’s dark eyes regarded him for several seconds before he turned and followed Jaden.
His nostrils flared as her scent faded away, the sweetness of it stolen from him much too fast, and he felt empty. The darkness that lingered around the edges of his mind seeped through, and he clenched his teeth as it washed over him.
“Sucks, doesn’t it?”
He arched an eyebrow though he kept his gaze centered on Jaden and Ana as he observed their progress. They’d made it to the far side and were near stage right.
“What’s that?”
Crane moved out of earshot, and Declan lowered his voice. “That you’ve finally found a woman worth fighting for. After tonight, you’re either dead or on a goddamn road trip to bum fuck wherever with Bill the elf.”
Julian scowled. “Jaden and I would never have had a future together.”
“Yeah, the hot sex and superhero-babe thing she’s got going on is so not working.”
Julian turned to the sorcerer abruptly and nailed him with a dark look. “Bill the elf?”
Declan rotated his neck slowly. “Ya gotta admit, Castille, the fucker is under five feet and round as a bouncing ball. Dip the dude in green and red and toss him toward the North Pole.” He smiled wickedly. “You’d see. Santa would sign him up for sure.”
Julian ignored Declan and dragged his gaze back toward the stage. The music left much to be desired, but then he’d always been more of a blues man.
Jaden had disappeared, and his animal shifted beneath his skin. The scars that laced his flesh pulsated, and the burn was becoming more of an issue. If would surely drive a lesser man mad.
He just had to hold on a little bit longer, and he’d finally be freed from the constant darkness, the noise in his head, and the need that gnawed at him.
“Let’s do this,” he said abruptly. “You ready?”
“A walk in the park, my friend.” Declan’s voice was light but Julian glimpsed the torment that battered the sorcerer. He knew it well. He’d been eating it for breakfast, lunch, and supper for months.
He nodded. It was time to end this.