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The fact he didn’t deny it had her snapping, “Fine, because I don’t care for you either.” His eyes whipped back. “Mind explaining to me what I’ve done to offend you?”

While his expression revealed little, his irritation scraped her nerve endings. “Liam has enough trouble walking a straight line on his own. He doesn’t need someone like you leading him astray.”

“Like me?” Her voice rose, and she struggled to check her temper. “You don’t even know me. What Liam doesn’t need is someone like you criticizing his choices. Sure, he may step on a few laws from time to time, but he’s a good man.”

“Watch yourself, Chosen. You’ve no right to defend the male to me,” he said, his voice a low purr of warning. “If I find out you’ve been manipulating him, you won’t like the repercussions.”

Because clearly, the only way Liam could love someone—like her—was if she’d brainwashed him? Jericho may have his suspicions, but he didn’tknowanything. Even if he did, turning her in to the Council would get Liam in trouble. Surely, that was something neither of them wanted.

Rather than beat her head against Jericho’s wall of judgment, she gave him a venomous smile. “Likewise. Fuck with my Liam, and you’ll deal with me.” And her vengeance would be epic. Though she had noclue what that vengeance would entail. Eh, she’d figure it out.

She spun on her heel, saying over her shoulder, “Oh, and by the way, I spat in your whiskey.”

So much for that truce. She tried; she failed. Time to cut her losses and move on. She hustled to the bar, shrugging sheepishly at the frown on Gavin’s face. “Yeah, yeah, bad Alex. I broke the rules.”

“You know better than to wait tables without Liam watching over you. Do you want him to beat me to a bloody pulp? ’Cause that’s what will happen if he discovers you mingling with the customers while I’m in charge.”

She fought a grin. Gavin was kind of cute when he thought he wasin charge.“Sorry. I was only out there for a minute.”

“Save your excuses for Liam. Now you’re here, you can take this order back.”

When they were shorthanded, Liam didn’t mind her serving the poker tables while he was still in the game. Though he did make her swear to keep her sticky fingers to herself.

She rubbed the kinks in her shoulders while Gavin loaded her tray. She’d like to blame Jericho for the knots in her muscles, but they’d started before he arrived. Every time she’d walked into the poker room tonight, her stomach churned. Something felt off. There was always a buzzing of stress and tension during the game that she struggled to block, but tonight there was something new, something sinister.

“Okay, it’s all yours.” Gavin put the tray into her outstretched hands but didn’t let go. He gave her a severe look. “No more field trips to the front room, or you’ll land us both in trouble. I don’t care if it’s Jericho or the Queen of England out there. Got it?”

“Yes, my lord.” She scrunched up her nose and bobbed a curtsy. Gavin snorted a laugh.

Five

Alex balancedthe tray of sloshing drinks and paused near the doorway. The low rumble of voices and clinking poker chips hit her ears.See? Nothing out of the ordinary.Her ability was just getting harder to rein in these days, that’s all. She pushed her shoulders back and strode into the room.

Sharp breaths spiked her chest, and the glasses wobbled on her tray. Energy scratched her nerve endings. The nagging sense of danger crawled beneath her skin. Threatening.Hostile.

This time there was no denying it. Something was definitely wrong. She darted a cautious glance at the players. All six of the felt-covered tables were full tonight. Emotional static buzzed through her system, indistinct. To find the source, she’d need to open herself to the entire room. An act guaranteed to bring her to her knees.

Gotta warn Liam. But warn him of what? She had no idea what it meant or where the oily emotion was coming from. Still, she had to try. It shouldn’t be too difficult to pull him away from the game for a minute, even with fifty grand on the line.

She hustled through the crowded room, dropping off drinks while avoiding contact with the table’s occupants. Not an easy task, but one she’d grown accustomed to over the years. Once her tray was empty, she skirted the wood-paneled walls and cut a path to Liam’s side. She laid a hand on his broad shoulder, using the connection to calm her ragged nerves.

Aware the other players watched her every move, she lowered her mouth to his ear. “The cash register is jammed. Think you could come take a look at it?”

Though Liam showed no reaction, his concern hummed against her fingertips. He knew something was up.

“Isn’t that sweet,” sneered the vampire sitting across from him. “Seems a bit shady, though, letting your Chosen whisper sweet nothings in your ear. After all, she did just walk around the table, looking at all our cards.”

Alex clenched Liam’s shoulder. What was this guy’s deal? Was he the one she’d sensed?

The room grew quiet, and several players eyed the door, planning their escape should the idiot decide to pick a fight.

Liam tensed, his powerful frame turning to stone. “Careful, friend. If I were you, I’d choose my next words wisely,” his deep voice rumbled with warning. “The last man who called me a cheat didn’t fare so well.”

The vampire’s hawk-like features hardened, and Alex held her breath. Her nerve endings lit up like a live wire, and icy fingers scraped along herglyph. Liam was in danger. They needed to get out of there, now.

“Liam—”

“Alex, honey.” He squeezed the hand she placed on his shoulder. “Why don’t you go wait—”