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Jon’s eyes shifted to the stage.

Framed by dark red curtains, covered in deep black tile, it was lit by green and purple gels. A single, old-fashioned, dead-metal microphone stood in front on a chrome stand. What looked like a stripper pole stood a few yards behind it.

Jon glanced at the bar next, where bottles of every shape and color filled the glass shelves. Platters of olives, cheese, and sliced meats stood on rotating display cases. Stools with the same fuzzy upholstery stood around the bar’s mirrored edge.

The place looked and felt totally deserted.

“Well?” Maygar shoved him lightly with a hand.

“Will you stop doing that?” Jon said, scowling. “Jesus. You’re like a kid, pushing at me all the time. Aren’t you getting enough affection from ‘Dad,’ Maygar?”

The brown-eyed seer frowned in a way that made Jon regret his words.

He was about to apologize…

When a glass fell to the floor and shattered, making both of them jump.

Their heads and Maygar’s rifle jerked toward the far end of the room.

As he turned, Jon saw a long, blood-red curtain twitch.

Realizing the curtain didn’t cover a wall, but partitioned off another room, Jon gave Maygar a look, then motioned towards it with his head. Seeing a similar understanding in those dark brown eyes, Jon started to walk towards the opening.

Maygar followed, covering them both with the rifle.

A few yards from the curtained doorway, Jon paused, letting his light snake out ahead.

Humans. At least two.

Of course, that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be seers back there.

“Do we need back-up?” Jon muttered. “Balidor didn’t want us taking any chances.”

Getting only a dismissive shrug from the other male, Jon exhaled, fighting irritation at the unreadable expression on Maygar’s face. He resumed his slow steps forward, still moving quietly, although he knew it would make little difference at this point.

Whoever was back there knew they were here.

Jon continued to scan behind the partition, looking for any hints of an ambush. He tried not to think about Wreg, or how pissed off his mate would likely be if he saw him right now.

Truthfully, Jon’s main concern wasn’t his own skin.

He couldn’t even imagine what Revik would say to him, if Jon let his son get kidnapped by these dicks. Hesitating at the thought, he glanced at Maygar.

He was about to tell him to hang back?

When something burst out of an opening in the red cloth.

Jon saw a flash of metal… right as the person slammed into him. He felt a sharp pain in his side, just below where his armored vest ended. Letting out a gasp, he fought to pull back, to evade, but whoever had him gripped the front of his clothes, refusing to let go.

The pain in Jon’s side worsened.

Gripping his assailant’s arms, Jon let out an involuntary cry.

Maygar appeared beside him.

Jon saw the butt of the seer’s rifle draw back. He had a momentary flash that Maygar was about to hit him in the face?

?when Maygar slammed the gun into the skull of the person holding him.