Page 28 of Half Dead

The vampire tilted up her chin and locked lips with the blue-haired bandmate, Grace.

“Yes, I can see that,” Kane said, not sounding nearly as amused as I felt.

My gaze snagged on Dantalion. The demon was trying tobreak up a fight between two robust men. One of their fists was the size of a roasted turkey leg.

A nail-biting screech drew my attention to the other side of the lounge where a woman was twirling so fast, she’d formed a human tornado. Debris flew across the room, pelting patrons.

“I’ll take care of her,” I offered.

“Allow me.” Kane sprinted toward her before I could argue. He slowed as he approached her, resisting the strength of the wind. His arm sliced through the whirling dervish and landed on her shoulder. The wind ceased abruptly. Tossing her head back, the woman laughed uproariously.

Alessandro appeared beside me. “It’s got to be drugs, rights? Nobody acts this crazy if they’re not high on ecstasy.”

I spotted trouble brewing between two vampires. They circled each other, each waiting for the other to strike first. “Be right back.”

I bolted toward them. Despite their laser focus on each other, their eyes were glazed. Maybe drugswerethe culprit.

“I need to ask you to leave the premises,” I said, moving to stand between them.

Neither one reacted to my request. Their gazes remained locked on each other, solely focused on each other’s movements. One of them howled, prompting the other one to yip in response.

“This is ridiculous,” I yelled. “You’re not even werewolves!”

They paid me no heed. The taller one shoved me aside, and the vampires collided. I darted forward, ready to break up the fight, except they were no longer ready to tear each other’s throats out.

They were kissing each other’s throats.

Alrighty then.

I spun around to see where else I might be needed. Mygaze landed on Kane in the middle of the dance floor. With his suit still in pristine condition, he held back a minotaur with one hand and a muscular horned demon with another. Blood streaked down the horned demon’s face, and I realized one of his horns was broken and currently in the minotaur’s possession. Kane issued a command I couldn’t hear, and the minotaur chucked the horn at its owner. Desire sparked in me. Kane looked like a god among men, standing in the midst of all that chaos and brutality, unaffected. In charge.

His whisky-colored eyes locked on mine and the spark ignited.

Sunny zipped through the tangle of legs and appeared beside me. I held up a finger. “Absolutely not. Do not involve yourself in this. We can handle it.”

The chimera lowered her head, seemingly disappointed.

There was an abrupt change in music, and Vivaldi’s ’Spring’ pumped through the speakers, which seemed to have a calming effect on the crowd.

Kane stormed over to Alessandro and me. “What in the devil happened?” he demanded.

Alessandro shrugged. “Got me. The band finished playing. Everybody seemed happy, and then all hell broke loose. I assumed Josie would do crowd control, but next thing I knew, she was hanging from the rafters like a circus performer.”

Kane pivoted to locate his head of security. The vampire sat in a nearby chair, rubbing her head. She looked up at us, her eyebrows drawn together. “Did I crowd surf?”

Alessandro laughed. “You were awesome. I’ve never seen you go nuts like that.”

She scowled in response. “I need painkillers. My head feels like it’s in a vise.”

Alessandro retrieved a travel-sized bottle from his pocket and tossed it to her. “My emergency supply.”

She caught it in midair. “Thanks.”

Dantalion joined our huddle. “I apologize for not getting things under control. It happened so fast.”

“Magic?” Kane asked.

“If it was, I didn’t feel it.” The great duke rubbed the nape of his neck. “Not everyone was affected. I saw people leave when the first fight started.”

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