Page 68 of Foxes of Legend

A large arm wrapped around my waist, the bouncer laughing. “I’ll give you credit for trying.” He easily carried me back outside, plopping me back on the sidewalk. “But I won’t find it as funny the second time.”

“Get your hands off of her,” a voice said darkly.

The bouncer retreated immediately, turning and bowing his head at the one who had spoken. “Sorry, sir.”

“Remember her, because if you touch her again. I’ll kill you.” The man spoke in an unusually calm voice, something familiar. The bouncer nodded, backing up slightly as the man came into sight.

His blond hair was styled, his black suit custom tailored to his body. The sleek shine of his leather shoes screamed ‘genuine leather, made in Italy.’

“Damon,” I said, giving a slight bow in greeting.

“Dove.” His head inclined. “Why are you running? Someone else after you?”

“No,” I said as my breathing slowly returned to normal, pointing into the bar. “My Fated.”

He raised his eyebrows, watching me for another long moment. An amused smile crossed his face. “Your Fated? And why would you run from your Fated? A game you like to play? Being chased?” he asked, still bemused as he spoke. His eyes sparkled mischievously.

He smiled warmly, gesturing me into the bar. Now with VIP access, both bouncers bowed their heads as I passed. The one who had grabbed me mumbled, “Please forgive me, miss, it won’t happen again.”

“It’s good to see you again. How have you been?” Damon asked as we walked through the bar, then several floors down in a glass elevator. We passed several more big guards and a thick red rope that guarded the VIP section.

“Good. Let me guess, you own this place too?” I said as I scanned the room for the guys. I didn’t find them by the time Damon gestured for me to sit on a plush mauve velvet booth.

“I’ll get you a drink. The same as last time, or do you still not trust me?”

He hadn’t poisoned or drugged me last time and he had saved me twice now…I nodded and he disappeared through the crowd of VIP guests.

The fall chill leaked in through the stone walls.

“We told you to wait in the car,” Seven’s voice said darkly behind me. Enko and Kairos took the seats on either side of me.“Do you know how dangerous it is for you to be here? The Lord of Nightmares is supposed to meet us at any second.”

“How did you even get in?” Enko asked, his eyes scanning the room as his muscles tensed, standing behind the chair to block me from view of the rest of the bar.

Seven attempted to grab my hand and drag me out, but I pulled out of his grip and stood up. Kairos ordered Enko to carry me out—and he was hedging on doing it—just as Damon crossed the bar with the pink drink.

“Too late now,” Kairos whispered. As Damon reached us he held out the drink and Kairos’ hand gripped my wrist gently. “Don’t drink that. You can’t trust him.”

“I wouldn’t hurt Dove,” Damon said with a wink.

“It’s fine. This is Damon. I met him a few weeks ago.”

Kairos’ jaw dropped. “You’re calling the Lord of Nightmares by his first name?”

“And when exactly were you planning on telling us that you met him?” Enko demanded.

Seven grabbed my arm, “That’s it, we’re fucking out of hererightnow.”

“Oh, boys, no need to be rude. Now, perhaps we should take this somewhere a little more private?” Damon gestured to a door behind us. But the six security guards behind him made it clear that we had no choice but to oblige him.

When we entered the room, Kairos’ eyes narrowed on Damon. “Keep out of our minds. Hers especially.”

“As much as possible, I assure you. But Dove practically screams her thoughts. That’s how I learned her name and your whereabouts. You really should have taught her some shielding techniques.” He eyed me with pity. “So much torment within, but her spirit glimmers like starlight.”

“Don’t look at her.” Enko’s chest vibrated with a silent growl against my back.

Damon’s lip quirked upward as his attention moved on to Enko, grinning as wide as a demon before a meal. His tongue glided over his teeth. “Hello, Beast.”

Enko snarled, “Don’t call me that. I’m not your pawn anymore.”

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