Page 39

ISADORA

The curtains were crooked.

Not disastrously so, but just enough that I could feel my left eye twitching every time I looked at them.

“I swear, if you touch those curtains again, I’m staging a walkout,” Thorne said from her spot behind the bar.

She looked as cool as a cucumber, whereas I had already changed shirts twice, ruined one manicure, and was currently debating whether or not to fake a small plumbing emergency to delay our grand opening by a few hours.

“They’re uneven,” I muttered.

“They’re charming,” she corrected. “Rustic. Authentic. Like us.”

“I am many things, Thorne, but rustic is not one of them.”

She snorted. “Relax. The bar looks incredible, the drinks are ready, the lighting is sensual without being slutty, and we survived a stalker, an attempted murder, multiple supernatural council hearings, a haunted toilet, and a djinn who charged us three times his original quote. This”—she gestured around the gleaming new interior—“will be perfect.”

And damn her, she was right.

The bar was beautiful. Modern bones dressed up with antique glamour.

The restored chandelier cast a soft amber glow across our newly acquired velvet booths and glossy dark wooden floor.

The ghosts had added a few personal touches—including Bernard, who had folded all the cocktail napkins in the shape of swans—but the rest was us.

Me and Thorne. And all the people who’d shown up when we needed them most.

I smoothed my blouse, took a breath, and walked to the front doors.

Outside, a line had formed—supernaturals of all kinds. At the center of it all stood Lucien, dressed in sinful black, watching me like I was the only thing worth seeing.

“Ready?” Thorne asked, sidling up beside me and slipping her arm through mine.

“Not even remotely.”

She grinned. “Perfect. Then let’s open these doors before that future husband of yours eye-humps you into distraction.”

She threw open the doors, and the crowd surged in like a tide.

The energy was electric. Music thrummed low from the speakers, conversation swelled with excitement, and within seconds, people filled every seat at the bar.

They ordered drinks, chatted with their friends, and some even shrieked in delight over the wallpaper in the bathroom.

I still wasn’t sure who had snuck in to hang glitter-framed portraits of famous vampire mugshots, but Thorne swore it wasn’t her—so naturally, I assumed it was.

Behind the bar, Thorne dove into action with the grace of someone born to serve chaos in a coupe glass.

Cassian was on door duty, arms crossed, radiating menace in a way that screamed “no brawling unless I’m invited.

” Felix leaned against the far wall, offering flirtatious commentary to anyone who got close enough.

Ricky, of course, was already dancing with someone’s date.

And then there was Bernard.

The ghost hovered beside Thorne with a tray of drinks, gliding effortlessly through the crowd.

He’d taken to barbacking with such silent determination that I suspected he’d actually been a waiter in life instead of an accountant.

He still refused to speak, but he bowed solemnly when someone thanked him and even offered a crisp salute when a vampire in a three-piece suit complimented the blood-orange margarita.

Lucien moved to standing in the entrance. He watched me with a lazy hunger that promised very unholy things. My skin flushed under his gaze, and when I caught his eye, he gave me the smallest, most devastating smile.

“Lucien,” I said through my teeth, still smiling like a gracious hostess. “I promised Thorne I wouldn’t let you distract me tonight.”

He pointed at his chest as though to say, “Who me?” Then he grinned, stepped into the bar amongst the many other patrons, and kissed me. After a moment, a round of hooting applause broke out from the bar, and Lucien and I stepped apart, my cheeks burning.

“Go on, now,” Lucien said. “Go be the hostess. I’ll have you all to myself later tonight.”

I grinned, then jumped when he swatted my backside.

“Lucien,” I hissed.

He gave me an infuriating wink and sought out his siblings, who’d also decided to celebrate the grand opening with us.

His parents had decided against it, but I’d met them both.

His mother remained cold, but his father had shown interest in me and even kissed my cheek when we said goodbye.

Hopefully one day Seraphina would welcome me, but honestly, I didn’t care.

I had Lucien, and that was all that mattered.

I took a breath, smoothed my skirt, and turned back to the room.

The bar was glowing now, abuzz with energy, and filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and the occasional flare of magic as someone tried to impress a date.

Somehow, the ghosts kept up with the pace.

Even Bernard seemed to be having the time of his afterlife, hovering near his chandelier and theatrically tossing rose petals onto the patrons below.

I stepped back, just for a moment, and let myself take it all in.

This place was everything I’d dreamed of. Sophisticated but not sterile. Glamorous but not untouchable. It had bite. It had soul. It had survived the worst of what the world threw at it and come out stronger.

Just like me.

Which was why Thorne and I had decided to name the bar Love Bites . Thorne insisted it was both marketing genius and karmic poetry, and for once, I couldn’t argue with her. Not after everything.

I stood near the bar’s entrance, watching as Thorne raised a glass and shouted something obscene that made her brothers groan and a cluster of witches cackle. I watched as Lucien leaned against the far wall, his eyes never leaving me. And I watched as my bar— our bar—came alive around us.

This was my home.

It was exactly where I wanted to be. Where I was meant to be.

I let out a slow breath, savoring my happily-ever-after, until Thorne’s raised voice suddenly cut through the merriment.

“Oh, you have got to be kidding me,” she shouted. “What the hell are you doing here?”

What? Who?

Every head snapped toward Thorne, mine included, only to find her glaring at someone in the crowd. The bar’s chatter dissolved into hushed whispers, and even the ghosts paused mid-celebration.

Thorne stalked across the room, one perfectly manicured finger outstretched like she was about to personally smite someone. I’d never seen her so angry before.

“You aren’t welcome here,” she snarled.

I blinked and glanced at Cassian, who looked oddly delighted. His eyebrows shot up, then he broke into a grin so wide it looked almost feral.

He didn’t even glance at me when I hissed, “What’s going on?”

Cassian merely nodded toward the same man Thorne currently approached.

I followed his gaze to find him watching a stranger who stood near the stage. The man stood taller than everyone around him by a few inches, one hand tucked casually into the pocket of his dark denim jeans, the other wrapped around a beer.

My mouth parted before I could stop it. I loved Lucien with everything I had and truly believed he was the most handsome man in the world. But this guy was easily a close second.

His artfully tousled dark hair framed a square-shaped face and sharp green eyes that tracked Thorne’s approach.

His mouth lifted at the corners, not quite a smile, but close enough.

Almost as though he was enjoying a private joke.

He wore a charcoal Henley under a worn leather jacket that had certainly seen better days, and his jeans looked more fitted than tailored.

His hiking boots, scuffed and creased, looked like they’d seen a mountain or two.

All in all, he gave off more of an explorer feel than businessman.

“Hello, Theodora,” he drawled.

I swear, the entire bar took a collective breath. No one called Thorne that.

She didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, she stopped in front of him, chin tilted high, and appraised him with narrowed eyes.

“What’s going on?” I whispered, inching closer to Cassian. “Who is that guy?”

Cassian didn’t take his eyes off the unfolding scene, not even as his twin handed her drink to the person next to her, and?—

—smacked the ever-loving shit out of him.

“Holy crap!” I gasped.

Cassian burst out laughing. “Izzy-Pop, meet Calder. Thorne’s estranged husband.”

I stared at him, certain I’d misheard. “I’m sorry, her what?”

“Mm-hmm.” He grinned wider, like this was the best form of entertainment he’d seen in a long time. “He’s been missing for five years. Oh, this is gonna be good .”

I turned back to find Calder rubbing his jaw. Thorne looked tiny in front of him, but that meant nothing when dealing with a werewolf. The red imprint of her palm stood out starkly against his cheek, telling me he’d felt that slap.

And then, without warning, he scooped Thorne into his arms and kissed her.

I choked on my breath, expecting her to shove him away, maybe deck him again. Instead, she fisted a hand in his hair and pulled him closer. The bar erupted into cheers, half the patrons clapping, the other half scrambling for a better view.

“Don’t let that kiss fool you,” Cassian informed me. “She hates him. Those two are like oil and vinegar.”

“Oil and water, you mean?” I asked.

“Nah,” Cassian said, chuckling. “I definitely mean oil and vinegar. She’s kissing him now, but trust me, that doesn’t mean anything with these two. Ever heard of a love-hate relationship?” He nodded at his twin. “That’s them.”

I faced Thorne and Calder. They still clung to each other, and the heat they were putting off made the patrons laugh.

Yup, Love Bites was absolutely the perfect name for our bar. Because love certainly did bite. But as I watched Thorne kissing her estranged husband back as though she’d been waiting five years for this chance, I started to think love could also save you, if you let it.

My eyes found Lucien across the bar. He was watching me, and when we smiled at each other, it felt like the whole world narrowed to just us.

Love had definitely saved us.

Maybe now it was Thorne’s turn.

* * *

Did you enjoy Isadora and Lucien? Continue reading for a sneak peek into Thorne and Calder’s love story, Bite Me Like You Mean It !

THEODORA

My name is Thorne, do not call me Theodora, and I’ve officially sworn off men.

So when my estranged husband strolls back into town after abandoning me without so much as a goodbye, I’m ready to throw the whole man away.

Unfortunately, Calder Rook is too damn charming for my own good.

I tell myself I’m not falling for him again, that I’m only entertaining his apologies because I do love to watch a man grovel.

But just as I start to believe his beautiful lies, trouble comes knocking, and his enemies have no problem hurting me to get to him.

I’ve already survived one monster who tried to break me, I won’t let it happen again.

CALDER

I’ve made plenty of mistakes in life. Leaving Thorne was the worst. I told myself it was the only way to keep her safe, that she deserves better than a man who makes his living pissing off the wrong people.

But I’m home now, and determined to sweep my clever Wolfe off her feet.

Just when I start to think this might work, my past shows up and dropkicks me in the face.

And this time, it’s not only my life at risk—it’s hers.

Because I led my enemies straight to the only woman I’ve ever loved.

They can come for me, but if they touch her, they’ll learn exactly how dangerous a desperate man can be.

Keep reading for a sneak peek of Bite Me Like You Mean It …