Page 37 of Rising Reign (The Wolves of Crescent Creek #3)

WREN

“I have a bruise on my ass, you know,” Rhys grumped. “Sitting on this stool is painful.”

I poured him some whiskey from behind the bar at Arcane and rolled my eyes. “Do vampires even bruise?”

Rhys huffed out a breath. “No. But if we did, I’d have one. That was completely uncalled for.”

“Oh, it was completely called for,” Clara argued.

“Damn straight,” Puck said, lifting a glass to his sister.

Clara clinked her shot glass to his and tipped it back.

“Three against one,” I singsonged to Rhys.

“Rude,” he mumbled, taking a long drink of whiskey.

I leaned against the back bar. “So, you like human food and drinks?”

“Human food tastes like cardboard, but I love alcohol.” The adoring way Rhys looked at his glass said exactly that.

“Why do you eat, then?” I pressed .

Rhys straightened, tension weaving its way through his shoulders. “Long story.”

“A no-go zone,” Clara surmised.

Puck studied the vampire for a long moment. “You know, it seems quite unfair that you seem to know all our secrets, and we know none of yours.”

Rhys grinned, the charmer mask back in place. “Exactly how I like it.”

But I’d gotten a glimpse beneath the mask, and there was a bone-deep sadness there. Loneliness.

“Come on,” Rhys said, sliding off his stool. “It’s time to head to the gym.”

I glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that it was five past the end of my and Puck’s shift. “Dina, do you need us to stay?” I called.

She waved us off. “I’m good until the dinner shift gets here. I’ve got my trusty bat if anyone causes trouble.”

Clara beamed. “I love her.”

“That’s because you have fabulous taste,” I said, setting my order pad on one of the shelves behind the bar.

The moment the four of us headed for the door, Clara’s guards silently surrounded her.

“Doesn’t that get old?” Rhys asked.

“Not when I’m partial to breathing,” Clara shot back.

The remark had Puck’s brow furrowing, and I understood why. I couldn’t help wondering what sorts of threats Clara had faced to be so partial to a security detail.

She quickly changed the subject as we walked across the parking lot to Crescent Kingdom. “I like seeing this side of the human world. Our pack lands are so removed from the humans that we don’t get the same slice of life. Pucker, your bar is charming.”

Puck let out a snort. “Brace yourself for the human contingent we’re about to meet. ”

I rolled my lips over my teeth, trying to keep from laughing. “I can’t wait to watch you kick their asses.”

Clara let out a low laugh. “It is fun to put men in their place, isn’t it, Wren?”

Rhys rubbed his backside. “My ass is still complaining about the last show of force from you two. Simmer down.”

I didn’t hold in my laugh this time.

Henry stepped forward, holding the door for the rest of us, but it was Mei and Eliza who took the lead, scanning the space for any intruders. The moment all of us stepped inside, the sparring and heavy bag work slowed or stopped altogether as everyone stared.

“Now, this place I love ,” Clara said almost reverently.

“Thanks,” Kingston said with a twitch of his lips as he walked up. “Welcome to Crescent Kingdom. It’s an MMA gym, but we get some who tend more toward boxing.”

Clara scanned the room. “It’s a great space.”

Juan moved toward us from where he’d been working out on a heavy bag. “Who is this absolute goddess, and why have we never met?”

He took Clara’s hand and lifted it to his lips. In turn, she let out an honest-to-goodness giggle.

“Oh, hell no,” Puck muttered. “Stay the fuck away from my sister. Everyone.”

Juan’s eyes widened, but he didn’t let go of Clara. “Wait,” he whispered. “Do you go wolfy, too?”

She spun on Puck. “You told the humans?”

He winced. “We didn’t really have a choice.”

“We thought they were aliens for a while,” Juan explained without worry.

“Gods,” Clara swore.

I squeezed her shoulder. “They’re trustworthy.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Can I show you around?” Juan offered to Clara .

“No, you fucking can’t,” Puck clipped.

It was the wrong thing to say because Clara simply slid her arm through Juan’s and batted her eyelashes at him. “I’d love that.”

Brix sauntered up and clapped Puck on the shoulder. “Rookie move.”

“Oh, piss off,” Puck shot back and strode toward the treadmills, glaring at Juan the whole way.

Brix burst out laughing but moved into my space and brushed his lips against mine. “Missed you.”

“I missed you, too. Want to spar after I warm up?” I asked.

“Hell, yeah, I do. We’ll have to make do with one of the fight mats, though. Clyde’s using the ring for a lesson.”

I looked over to see Clyde working with a man who was vaguely familiar as Franco and Ender looked on from opposite sides of the ring. “No problem.”

King dropped a kiss on my temple. “Make sure your muscles are nice and loose. You’ve had a lot of training these past few days.”

“Sir, yes, sir.” My lips twitched as I saluted him.

“Little Warrior, I like the sound of that a little too much.”

My belly heated. “Don’t distract me.”

King grinned. “I’d never.”

I made a pssh sound but headed for the jump ropes. Before long, I was warmed up and circling Brix in a fighting ring. We wore mouthguards and fight gloves, but I knew neither of us would take it too far.

We traded punches and kicks without any serious heat, but when I saw an opening, I struck out with a sweep, taking Brix to the mat. He landed with a thud as our onlookers let out a series of cheers. I straddled him and pinned his arms, but Brix let me.

I shook my head. “You could’ve tried a little harder.”

“Maybe I wanted to be pinned by you,” he growled low.

I kissed him quickly and leapt to my feet. I offered him a hand up, but a roar of fury had me spinning around. A figure charged toward me. Someone I knew. But also…not.

There were only two things I saw as Franco ran at me. His eyes had gone completely black, and he had one of the largest daggers I’d ever seen.