Page 115 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

She spins around and pulls bottles from the glass-backed shelf, and mixes them into a large, metal cocktail shaker. She slides two martini glasses onto the bar and fills them with a fluorescent, blue liquid that promises I won’t be able to say my own name after a few sips.

“I’m okay with just a coke,” I try again.

Emi grabs one glass, takes a sip, her eyes rolling in the back of her head.

“If it’s that good I’m curious,” I mumble. They all freaking laugh. “That’s right, pick on the cursed, curious creature,” I mutter, taking a sip.

An explosion of sunshine and happiness bursts in my mouth. “Holy shit.”

Emi grins. “Like an orgasm on your tongue, right?”

Zee grabs the drink and takes a hearty swig, his eyes popping open.

“Is that your sex face?” I ask.

“Oh my god, forget sex, I just need those in my life,” he mutters.

“And they won’t judge your choice of underwear,” I chuckle.

He cocks an eyebrow. “What underwear?”

“You’re incorrigible,” I mumble, taking my drink back.

Kalli grins. “I’ve reserved the VIP area for you. The show will start in ten minutes. Will you be joining in?”

“Yes!” Emi cries as she struts across the polished wooden floor towards a set of red-carpeted stairs. I shrug and we follow her. Upstairs is a large balcony with an excellent view of the room. Plush emerald sofas surround a large, round glass table. A waiter heads over and places some snacks on the table.

“Now this I can get on board with,” I say, flopping in the middle of one sofa and snagging a tiny square of toast loaded with salami and mozzarella. I pop the salami in my mouth and groan.

“Give her some food and she’s happy,” Zee rumbles next to me as he plops down on my right.

Jed mimics him on the left and grabs a cheese stick. “I don’t know, time with Archan seems to bring a glow out in her.”

I roll my eyes. “Food is a necessity, sexy time with Archan isn’t.”

“You should get to have both,” Jed mutters.

Emi, Aaden, and Duncan sit on the sofa opposite us. “Let’s stick with happier thoughts right now.”

“So a muse owns this place?” Duncan checks, taking a large gulp of his beer.

Emi nods. Duncan is in danger of reaching his new shit tolerance level. I understand, but what choice do we have other than to roll with the punches? If we cave to the need to run and hide from crazy shit, we might never come out of the bat cave.

The lights go out; I sense Jed and Zee stiffen next to me. I put my drink on the table and dig deep for the well of power inside.

“Oh, it’s starting,” Emi whispers.

An angelic voice begins to sing in a foreign language, her voice skimming over me like a caress. The lilting words touch something deep in my soul. The music kicks in as the voice rises and spot lights appear across the floor, acrobats slide down the curtains, tangling themselves in the gold fabric and performing in perfect time to the song. Fire erupts in the center of the wooden floor, Kalli stands with a microphone, her mesmerizing words transfixing the audience. Orange flames blaze towards the ceiling as three fire breathing artists surround Kalli. The show caught somewhere between a concert and a circus takes my breath away. It’s a riot on the senses. The final words of the song play, and in the silence I know I witnessed something spectacular. My need to dance makes me fidget.

“So that’s what a muse does?” Duncan whispers.

Seductive music floods the room and spinning poles deliver beautiful men and women to the floor as they begin a slow dance. For the second consecutive night, it’s as if I’ve walked into a weird strip/sex club.

Zee leans forward. “Did you bring us to a strip club?”

Emi shakes her head. “No, seductive entertainment with a slice of heavenly sin. That’s what you’ll experience here.” She points at the dancers. “There are no sexual dealings here. Unless of course you hook up with someone, but it’s not for sale.” A girl with chestnut wavy hair slithers her way off the pole and sways through the crowded dance floor.

“You boys should go for a dance,” Emi says, sipping her cocktail.

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