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He and Ollie took their time reading through the drink options. Harper wanted to try them all and might have if they weren’t here under such serious circumstances.

Ollie ordered a pina colada because why not. The bartender made a show of mixing their drinks, chatting with Nico about something Ollie didn’t bother trying to interpret.

“Oh shit, that’s good. What’s in this?” Ollie groaned after his first sip.

The bartender, Leo, grinned, showing what was surely a bit of fang. “Nothing more than what it says on the menu.”

“I’m guessing you haven’t heard of witch-brewed rum?” Nico pulled a bottle from behind the bar, showing it to Ollie. “Gives it a special kick.”

Ollie froze, halfway to taking another sip. “Like a magic kick? Is a spell going to get me?”

Leo laughed, the sound melodic. “There’s no spell on what you’re drinking. Magic used during the distilling and aging processes enhances flavor. That’s all.”

“We’d never serve it to you otherwise,” Nico added. “At least without telling you what the magic would do to you first.”

Harper nudged him. “Believe me, no potion would taste this good.”

“That’s a relief,” Ollie muttered before taking another sip.

When he turned around, a third of Harper’s drink was already gone. Harper’s cheeks flushed red. “This martini is dangerous. I already want another. Unless I can get my hands on a piece of chocolate cake.”

Ollie and Nico laughed.

Leo passed Nico a pile of chips. “Go show your boys some fun. They’re too lively to darken my bar like you always do.”

Nico swiped the chips with an eye roll and pushed off the bar. “You’re lucky to have me.”

A wave of surprise hit Ollie out of nowhere. He clutched his glass. What had Dante seen? Harper’s brow furrowed like he’d sensed something too. He grabbed Ollie by the hand and pulled him after Nico.

Surprise wasn’t necessarily bad. No fear followed, so at least there was that.

Nico divided the chips between Ollie and Harper. “You can thank Rowan for these.”

“He’s very generous. Leo too.” Harper gestured to an unoccupied roulette wheel with his drink, his eyes lighting. “Let’s try this one!”

“He’s like a kid in a candy shop,” Nico muttered to Ollie.

“Totally.” He loved how much joy Harper got out of everything. His life with the Nightingale Coven had been so dark, and now that he was getting to have so many firsts, he seemed to hold nothing back.

Once Ollie and Nico explained how to play, Harper placed his bet. He was adorably dejected when he lost but immediately placed another, and his excitement flooded back.

The wheel spun, the ball circling. It bounced into a black pocket.

“Oh Satan! I won!” Harper turned to Ollie, grabbing him by the shoulders.

“Nice one, but did you say Satan ?”

“Sorry.” Harper pulled a face. “Old habit. You don’t tend to swear to god when you grew up like I did.”

“No, I suppose not.”

Next time, Ollie placed a bet too. Another few people joined them, and Harper happened to win a few more times. Fuck, he was lucky.

Harper played until he’d lost almost all the money he’d won. He didn’t seem to care, probably because they’d gotten the chips for free, but Harper wasn’t ready to lose every chip he had.

He gathered the little he had left. “Let’s try something else.”

Nico had been pulled into a conversation with a woman at the next table, so they left him to it, though Ollie swore he felt Nico watching as they crossed the casino floor.

Shock flared down the bond, followed by a blinding anger. Ollie stopped in his tracks, rubbing his chest. Had Dante found Lucifer? Was this it? Dante’s feelings became muddled and hard to follow.

What did that mean? Ollie closed his eyes, all his focus on Dante.

Harper put a hand on Ollie’s shoulder. “Maybe we should sit down for a minute.”

“Good call.” The casino seemed to rear back to life around him, and Harper led him toward the bar.

They settled on stools away from Leo, who was chatting with other customers. The bond went quiet. Did that mean whatever upset Dante was finished? Ollie could still feel Dante like a solid presence in his chest, but not more than that .

“Maybe we should go back to the office.” Suddenly, being in a crowded room didn’t seem like such a good idea.

Harper discarded his empty glass. “Yeah, I’m feeling a lot less like screwing around. We can come back some other time when we can enjoy it. I’ll go get Nico.”

“Ollie?” a soft voice called from behind him.

He spun in his seat and came face-to-face with Pamala. “Oh hey.”

“Funny seeing you here of all places.” She set a glass of wine on the bar. “My hair still looks amazing, so thank you.” She turned her head from side to side.

She was right, hardly a strand had come out of place. “You’re welcome. Was your event here? Sorry, this is my friend Harper. Harper, this is one of my clients, Pamala.”

Harper said a quick hello before disappearing to fetch Nico.

Pamala gave a cute little shrug. “The fundraiser wasn’t here, but what’s a night out without an after-party, right?”

“Right,” Ollie agreed as a sharp stab of rage came down the bond. He pushed it away, needing to focus on the conversation until he could get away. At least an after-party explained why Pamala wasn’t wearing the floor-length dress she’d shown Ollie on her phone.

“Can I get you a drink?” Pamala asked.

“Oh, thank you, but no. I was about to head out.” Ollie pointed after Harper.

“Maybe some other time. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again.” She dropped her voice. “Especially if things go well with your sweet coworker. Oh!” She clapped her hands together. “Before you go, can I introduce you to one person? My friend absolutely loved what you did with my hair.”

Ollie wasn’t sure how to say no politely. “Sure.” He stood, spotting Harper and Nico, who were still talking to that same woman by the roulette wheels .

“Perfect.” Pamala linked her arm with Ollie’s and pulled him along.

Fuck she was tall. Ollie hadn’t noticed until now that she wasn’t even wearing heels. Her grip wasn’t tight, but something about it drew Ollie’s attention, and it dawned on him that if Pamala was in the casino, she must know about magic.

“Oh damn. I think she’s gone to the restroom.” Pamala led Ollie toward an open doorway with a restroom sign.

Ollie slowed. “We can wait out here until she gets back.”

It was like Pamala hadn’t heard. She urged him into the hall, and Ollie stopped in front of the first restroom, extracting his arm from Pamala’s.

“Hey, wait.”

Pamala turned to face him. She was very close. Her eyes glowed, immaculately done lips stretching in a wide smile. “Come with me,” she purred.

Ollie fell back into step with her. He had to go. Certainty burned within him. This was important. He couldn’t leave Pamala’s side, no matter what.

Pamala opened a door at the end of the hall and Ollie followed her into the service stairwell.

Everything went black.