Page 29 of Feral

“Right. I remember.” Trust me. I can’t forget it. “Are most of the patrons vampires?”

“Yes, though in the past two years, we’ve seen an increase in other species. As far as the eastern United States is concerned, we’d like to be the place where supernatural beings come for fun. We’re getting there. Every now and then an unsanctioned club will pop up, usually ending with the Orpheus boys forcibly shutting it down when trouble arises, and it always does.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“Unprovoked violence in the surrounding areas. The point of Lair is to give the supernatural community a place to be themselves safely. The mortals who come here do so of their own accord in most cases, and therefore it stops random hunting and violence toward unsuspecting citizens.”

“Is violence part of being supernatural?”

Hale glances away for a moment before returning his intense gaze to me. “Remember when I told you that society’s moral compass doesn’t really apply to supes?”

“Yes.”

“So, to society it would look like violence, but to a demon, fae, vampire, or even some shifters, it’s just life. It’s survival. It’s… their inherent nature.”

“I understand. But here at Lair, they won’t hurt someone for no reason?”

“Correct. If they get out of line, they’re dealt with.”

I blow out a breath, releasing the tension in my chest. “Cool.”

“Come. Let me show you the rope room.”

We exit the torture palace—yep, that’s what I’m calling it—and head down another short hallway. This place is much bigger than it seems from the outside. We pass through burgundy velvet curtains to a room I feel myself relaxing in immediately.

On the walls are colorful silk ropes and scarves. There are lots of pillows, a bed, and a huge metal apparatus that looks like an incomplete swing set.

“What is that thing?”

“It’s used for suspension,” Hale explains. “I’m not well versed in all the terminology, but it’s a beautiful art form to watch. While ropes are also a type of bondage, they attract a different audience, so we separate them from the Leather Room. We do have exhibitions here a few times a year though. Gorgeous.”

I walk over to the wall and delicately touch a purple silk rope. “It seems nicer than the leather and whips.”

Hale chuckles. “It is. If you’d like to see some of it, search Shibari on the internet.”

“I’ll do that.”

“One last room.” He takes my hand, and the contact between us makes my stomach flip. “I meant to ask you, would you like me to point out what everyone is?”

“Huh?”

“Demon, vampire, etcetera?”

“Oh.” I let that question bounce around my head for a moment before landing firmly on my answer. “No. I think it’ll be easier for me if I don’t know. Maybe I’ll change my mind, but right now I kind of want to act like everyone is normal. I mean, mortal.”

Hale pauses, not turning to me, but then he continues. “Very well.”

“Is that the wrong answer?”

“There isn’t one. Whatever you feel comfortable with is fine.”

We enter the main part of the club again, crossing the space and going down a hall on the other side of the bar where Tiago is restocking glasses. He winks at me but continues his work. What is he? Mortal or not? There must be a lot of mortals working here too.

“How did you come to work here?” I ask.

“I was offered the job by Yves Orpheus. The man I told you about.” He pauses in front of a solid wood door. “I was new to the city and needed an occupation. He thought I would do well here.”

“And you like it?”

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