This Time Tomorrow (Phenomenal Fate 2)

“Damn. I’m so sorry about that,” Tucker boomed, slapping a hand to the center of his chest. “They keep telling me vampires are supposed to be cool and sophisticated, but I’m about as smooth as a speed bump, you feel me?”

Cosette grumbled on her way to the bar, but returned in a jiffy with a replacement shot.

With an affable smile, he drained it and passed the glass back to Cosette.

“Hold on a second,” Tucker said, feigning shock. “My greatest desire is to be able to eat sandwiches again? Can that be right?”

“It takes a while to start working,” Cosette snapped, adding something in French that was clearly not a glowing review of the cigar-smoking vampire.

Roksana scanned the table carefully, trying to determine if anyone had seen Elias down her shot, but no one appeared the wiser. She didn’t know whether to be relieved or suspicious of his motives, considering his surprise appearance tonight. Why had he done it?

There was no way to ask him without letting on they knew each other.

Although, Roksana was starting to wonder if she knew Elias at all.

An envelope floated down to the center of the table, dropped there by the man of the house. “There she is. Tonight’s grand prize.” He rubbed his hands together. “I will be your dealer this evening. Please remain seated and keep your hands inside the ride at all times. It could get bumpy.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Around the fifth hand, the air started to change.

To Roksana’s right, Elias shifted in his seat and a prickle rode up her arm.

Across from her, Tucker had fallen uncharacteristically silent, his cigar stubbed out in the ashtray. Rob was paying more attention to the players than the cards, which would have been a valid strategy, except with his jaw clenched, sweat beading at his hairline, his stress was obvious—and she didn’t like it. A desperate energy was slowly winding everyone in its grip and the more pronounced it became, the more grateful she was to be concoction-free.

Whatever Elias’s motivation had been in drinking her shot, he’d given her the advantage of a clear head and she wasn’t going to waste it.

She was in the big blind position, so after checking her cards—ace, nine—she waited for everyone at the table to make their play, whether it was a call or a raise. Fae Twin Number One folded with a growled curse, Tucker called, Rob raised to quadruple the amount of the big blind.

The second fae twin went all in.

Wiping away his sweat with an agitated hand, Rob shoved all of his chips into the pot. “Call. I’m all in.”

On the fifth hand of the night?

Cosette giggled from her perch on a stool at the bar, stirring a peach-colored drink. “I guess it doesn’t take too long to kick in after all. The greed is already showing, darling.”

“Yes, it is,” purred the man of the house. “The option is to you, Elias.”

“Fold,” he rasped, sliding his cards to the dealer.

Roksana folded, too, more than happy to lose her small ante in favor of watching one of the other players risk their spot at the table and ultimately get knocked out.

Rob turned over his hand. A pair of twos.

Fae Twin Number Two hooted, whipping off his baseball cap to reveal enormous features, much like Cosette. He hopped to his feet and turned over a pair of tens.

“Tens have the advantage. Still. Anything could happen.” The man of the house laid down the flop. 7, J, 4. The turn was a queen.

The dealer savored the anticipation of turning over the final card, everyone including Roksana leaning in to see what it would be.

A two of diamonds.

“No!” Fae Twin Number Two bellowed, the force of it pushing against Roksana’s shoulders. “No, fuck that. Burned on the river? I had the better hand.” He turned and paced away, came ripping back. “You got lucky, you son of a bitch.”

“Accept it. You’re out.” Rob raked in his chips. “Take your shit and go.”

“That’s for me to say,” the man of the house said smoothly. He tilted his head at the fae. “Take your shit and go.”

A ripple of light crossed through the fae’s bulging eyes.

Was it Roksana’s imagination or did Elias slide his chair closer to hers?

With her backpack upstairs, her fingers itched to have a stake at the ready. Neither of the men posturing at each other across the poker table was a vampire, but it was her weapon of choice nonetheless.

A full ten seconds had passed in the basement without sound or movement, until Cosette laughed merrily at the bar—and the fae lunged for the envelope in the center of the table. Rob snarled and leapt onto the green felt, catching the fae by his forearm and—biting down like a dog with a bone.

Beneath the table, Elias laid a protective hand on her thigh. As if to say, I’ve got you.