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Danny rubbed the back of his neck, exhausted from a long day of teaching clumsy newbies how to stand on skis.

He plopped down on the small sofa in his apartment, yanking off his boots.

Normally, he would’ve changed in the locker room where he worked, but his desire to escape his hideous day had overridden any other considerations.

Actual skiing was impossible with this crowd.

The group of awkward, activity-fearing office workers was at the lodge as part of a team-building exercise.

Only their supervisor had skiing experience, and he lorded it over them as if he‘d just returned from accepting gold at the Olympics.

Seniority shmeniority.

Not only was he treated like something management had scraped off the bottom of their shoes, but he was the newest hire.

In other words, he got stuck with all the dorks and vertically challenged tourists who could barely stand up without wearing skis, let alone with them on.

They wouldn’t even assign him to teach the kids. At least that would be fun. He loved kids.

Too bad my parents don’t.

That probably wasn’t fair.

They liked kids who met their expectations.

His perfect, fashion-influencer sister had once been a kid, and she could do no wrong.

Spoiled. Bratty. Mean. But had definitely once been child-sized.

Danny continued to peel off layers of clothing as he moved around his studio apartment, the pre-furnished abode part of his contract for the season.

Employee housing at its most vanilla.

The place had no personality whatsoever.

Beige walls, beige carpet, beige furniture. Every time he stumbled in after work, it was like entering a sensory deprivation chamber—except his senses were deprived of anything remotely interesting.

“Beige, beige, beige,”

he muttered, hanging his ski jacket on the wall hook by the front door. “Heaven forbid we have a splash of color to remind us we’re alive.”

He padded to the kitchenette in his socks and boxers, grabbing a beer from the fridge.

The cold bottle felt good against his palm as he twisted off the cap and took a long swig.

He leaned against the counter, staring out the window at the twinkling lights of Aspen. So beautiful, so boujee, so not where he’d imagined himself living at twenty-three.

New York would’ve been more his vibe, but his parents were within driving distance. He shuddered. Too bad Greenwich, Connecticut, wasn’t a million miles away. He took another slug of his beer.

If only.

His phone buzzed on the counter. Danny glanced at it, grimacing when he saw his mother's name on the screen.

Speak of one of the devils.

With a groaning sigh, Danny picked up the phone.

His thumb hovered over the screen for a moment before he swiped to decline.

Not tonight. He couldn't handle another lecture about his ‘lifestyle choices’ or subtle hints about the ‘nice girls’ from their country club.

“Sorry, Mother Dearest. Danny can’t come to the phone right now. He’s busy being a disappointment.”

He raised his beer in a mock toast.

The phone immediately buzzed again. He rolled his eyes and set it face down on the counter. Whatever family crisis had erupted could wait until tomorrow. Or never. Never sounded sublime.

The beer bottle was empty before he realized it.

Danny tossed it into the recycling bin with a clang and stretched his arms above his head, feeling the pleasant burn in his lean muscles.

Despite the annoying clients, at least skiing kept him in shape. However, he needed to get out of his beige prison before the walls closed in on him.

“Time to wash away childhood triggers.”

He headed toward the bathroom.

The shower was hot, steamy, and precisely what he needed. He stood under the spray longer than necessary, letting the water pound against his shoulders. It was relaxing, yet something felt off tonight.

A weird tingling sensation had been crawling up his spine all day, like he was being watched.

He’d attributed it to the pervy supervisor who kept staring at his ass during the lessons, but now, alone in his apartment, the feeling persisted.

Maybe he was finally coming unraveled.

The opportunity to escape his family when his primary college hookup told him about the ski instructor job had seemed like a good idea at the time.

An impulsive move, but had achieved his goal of distance and self-sufficiency.

He didn’t want their money to continue having a hold on him, didn’t give two shits about being a business major and figured he’d meet a lot of hot guys in the luxury resort town.

On the one hand, he’d been correct.

On the other hand, he hadn’t planned on how lonely and empty he’d feel after a year of isolated existence.

He didn’t miss his family.

He just missed having real friends. Any positive relationships he’d formed over the years were gone once they’d all become adults and chosen different life paths.

After drying off, Danny pulled on a pair of tight as fuck jeans and a blue sweater that his sister had once said made his eyes pop.

Not that he gave a shit what she thought, but the compliment had been rare enough to stick with him.

A quick ruffle of his shoulder-length blond hair and a spritz of cologne later, he was out the door, headed for the Silver Fox.

The trendy club was Aspen's most popular gay bar, nestled between high-end boutiques and art galleries that he could no longer afford to browse, let alone shop in.

He rubbed his palms together after shrugging on his down jacket.

“Time for some overpriced drinks and a meaningless hookup.”

As he made his way through the snow, the club being only a few blocks from his building, the night air bit at his cheeks, and he pulled his jacket tighter.

The streets of Aspen were still bustling with the après-ski crowd, all designer clothing and perfect hair.

He weaved through the jovial groups of people, feeling both part of and separate from the privileged world he’d once inhabited.

The Silver Fox’s neon sign cast a purple glow across the snow-covered sidewalk as he approached.

The thump of bass grew louder with each step, promising the oblivion he craved.

He nodded to the bouncer, a burly guy named Rex who’d turned him down twice yet still remembered his name, and slipped inside.

“Danny-boy!”

The bartender, Zack, called out as he entered.

“The usual?”

“Make it a double.”

Danny slid onto a barstool and shrugged off his jacket. “Been that kind of day.”

“Tourist lessons again?”

Zack chuckled, already pouring vodka with a splash of cranberry.

“The worst. One woman kept shrieking with terror every time she moved an inch. I swear I've got permanent hearing damage.”

He accepted the drink with a grateful smile, taking a generous sip. The alcohol burned pleasantly down his throat, dulling the edges of his fatigue.

The club was filling up, the usual mix of wealthy vacationers and the service industry locals who kept Aspen running. Danny scanned the room, noting a few familiar faces and several new ones. A tall, dark-haired man caught his eye from across the bar and raised his glass in greeting.

“Fresh meat at three o’clock,”

Zack murmured, wiping down the counter. “Tourist, judging by the watch that probably costs more than my car. Also, two diamond rings. Definitely real.”

Danny snorted. “Damn, Mr. Cartier. You’ve got some laser vision there.”

Zack smirked. “Funny. He’s been up here twice already, and excuse me if I have a Master’s degree in luxury. I’ve been trained well working in the town.”

Danny laughed. “Fair enough. Well then, time to move in for the kill.”

Zack grinned. “That's the spirit. Use that charm offensive I know you've got.”

Danny downed the rest of his drink, then slid the empty glass toward Zack. “Another for courage, then I'm going in.”

Two drinks and forty minutes later, Danny was pressed against the wall near the dance floor, the dark-haired man—Simon, visiting from San Francisco—whispering something in his ear that was probably meant to be seductive but came off as desperate. He smiled anyway, nodding as if whatever Simon was saying was the most fascinating thing he’d ever heard.

“Want to get out of here?”

Simon's breath was hot against his neck, smelling of expensive bourbon and mint.

Danny hesitated. Simon was attractive enough with his perfectly styled hair, jawline that could cut glass, and designer attire, but something felt off. That same tingling sensation from earlier crawled up his spine, stronger now. He glanced around the crowded club, half-expecting to see someone staring daggers at him, but everyone seemed absorbed in their own revelry.

“Actually,”

Danny said, gently placing a hand on Simon’s chest to create some space between them, “I think I need some air first. Want to join me outside for a minute?”

Simon’s perfect smile faltered slightly. “It's freezing out there.”

“Just for a minute.”

Danny gave Simon his most captivating smile, already slipping away from the wall. “It’s so stuffy in here.”

The man sighed dramatically but followed him toward the exit. As they pushed through the crowd, Danny caught a glimpse of something odd—a shadow that seemed to move against the flow of the club’s lighting. He blinked, and it was gone.

Maybe he’d had more to drink than he thought.

Outside, the frigid air hit him like a slap, clearing some of the alcohol fog from his brain. Simon immediately wrapped an arm around Danny’s shoulders, pulling him close.

“Fuck. Better hurry with that air. I’m not dressed for an Arctic expedition.”

Simon’s teeth chattered, and he made a sound like a decrepit old car’s engine being started. Simon’s hotness factor had just dropped several notches.

Unease still clawed in Danny’s gut, and he realized there was no way he was going home alone. Irrational or not, he couldn’t escape the feeling of dread that had taken hold of him. Even though Simon’s appeal had diminished, he was taller and stronger than Danny was. At the moment, that was the exact quality he wanted in a man.

“What the…?”

Simon let go of Danny as he staggered backward, his gaze fixed on something behind Danny. His face contorted in a mixture of confusion and fear.

"Did you see that?" Simon pointed toward the alley next to the Silver Fox. “Something just moved in there. Something… Big.”

He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, then took a step back. “I thought it was a weird dude, but…”

Simon shook his head. “I don’t know what the fuck that was.”

Danny turned, squinting into the darkness. The alley was a narrow gap between the bar and an upscale boutique, barely visible in the dim glow of distant streetlights. For a moment, he saw nothing. Then a shadow shifted—blacker than the surrounding darkness, with an angular shape that seemed to unfold from itself.

“Probably just someone taking out the trash.”

Danny laughed nervously, trying to convince himself more than Simon. But the prickling sensation along his spine intensified, as if tiny electric shocks were dancing up and down his vertebrae.

Simon took another step back, shaking his head more frantically. “I’m not into this weird shit. Look, I'm calling an Uber.”

Simon pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling slightly as he swiped at the screen. “Whatever's going on with you, I don’t want any part of it.”

“Wait, what?”

Danny reached for Simon’s arm, but the man jerked away. “There’s nothing going on with me. It’s probably only—"

“Only what? Some kind of practical joke?”

Simon's voice cracked. “You know, having your friends lurk in alleys wearing whatever the fuck that was, isn't my idea of foreplay.”

“I don't have friends here,”

Danny blurted, immediately regretting how pathetic it sounded. “I mean, I don’t know anyone who would do something like that.”

“My ride’s three minutes away.”

Simon turned, picking up a light jog. He peered over his shoulder as he increased his pace. “Don’t follow me.”

Danny crossed his arms angrily. “Don’t worry. You’re not that interesting!”

Even as the words left his mouth, he realized they were more than an insult. They were the truth. Which meant he’d been ready to go fuck yet another stranger he didn’t think was all that great. Getting laid so he didn’t have to be alone. Once in a while, okay. But almost every night? If only there were someone he actually gave a shit about. Even better would be someone who gave a shit about him, too.

An ominous, rumbling growl sounded behind him, and he whirled around with a gasp. That’s enough introspection for one night. He needed to get back inside, where there were plenty of people. Figuring out how to get home could be handled in the safety of the bar.

“Are you all right?”

Danny yelped, whipping back around at the sound of a man’s deep voice. The tone was what he’d usually consider soothing, yet somehow it was making him squeamish. He regarded the brawny, pale-skinned man who towered over him. Here was another devastatingly handsome guy, another potential hookup that in truth did nothing for him. Maybe his dick was broken.

“Uh, yeah.”

Danny cleared his throat. “I’m fine, I just…”

He glanced over his shoulder, almost certain that he heard something like a stick, or large claws, scraping against concrete. He chuckled shakily, muttering to himself, “That’s ridiculous.”

“What was that?”

The strange man moved closer, and Danny stepped back without thinking. “Did you say something?”

Danny put his hand to his forehead. So odd. His thoughts seemed muddled, as if he’d downed two shots of tequila in a row. It didn’t make any sense.

“You know, I think I should go back inside,”

he said, the words like marbles he’d struggled to push out.

The man placed a gentle hand on his elbow. “You’d better come with me. You don’t look very well, and there are dangerous people inside the bar. They’re trying to hurt you.”

Danny’s stomach clenched. “Huh? That doesn’t make any sense.”

He shook his head, trying to clear the fog that had settled over his mind. He yanked his arm away from the stranger’s grip, though it felt like trying to move through molasses. “Who the hell are you?”

“A friend,”

the man said, his voice silky smooth, almost hypnotic. “I’ve been watching you, Danny. Keeping you safe.”

Danny’s addled brain managed to register the red flag. “Fortunately, that’s not creepy.”

He tried to move away from the stranger, but his legs weren't cooperating. “What’s happening to me?”

The man smiled, revealing too-perfect teeth, the incisors unusually pointy. “A little something to help you relax.”

A cold sweat broke out across Danny’s forehead. This was bad. Epically bad. The man’s face seemed to shift slightly in the dim light, features becoming sharper, more predatory.

“You drugged me?”

Danny managed to gasp, his vision beginning to blur around the edges. The man’s features appeared wavy, like a mirage in desert heat, occasionally revealing something that couldn’t possibly be human underneath.

“Such a crude term,”

the stranger replied, wrapping an arm around Danny’s shoulders as his legs threatened to give out. “I prefer to think of it as…easing the transition.”

Danny tried to scream, but his voice emerged as little more than a whimper. The few pedestrians passing by didn’t even glance their way, as if they couldn't see what was happening right in front of them.

“No one will notice us,”

the man said, reading Danny's thoughts with disturbing accuracy. “A simple glamour. They see only what I want them to see—two friends, one helping the other home after too many drinks.”

Danny’s legs gave way beneath him, and the stranger caught him with surprising strength, lifting him as if he weighed nothing. Through his rapidly tunneling vision, he caught glimpses of monstrous silhouettes against the alley walls, twisted, hunched forms with what looked like wings folded against their backs. The creatures moved with a strange, stilted grace, their eyes gleaming with an unnatural ruby fire in the darkness.

“Look, Danny.”

The man laughed, a hideous, booming sound. “Meet your adoring fans.”

As the man’s laughter echoed in Danny’s fading consciousness, he managed to croak out, “What are you?”

“Something ancient,”

the man whispered, his breath icy cold against Danny’s ear. “Something that’s been waiting for you for a very long time.”

Danny's vision blacked out completely as he felt himself being carried into the alley. The last thing he registered was an inhuman noise, as if someone had beaten a huge wasps’ nest with a bat and they were swarming, stinging, hurting…

Destroying.