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Krys folded his arms. “Because the leftover ribs in the fridge have my name on them. I hid them in the back for later.”

Before leaving their table, Lucian peered out the curtain to make sure Eden wasn’t up and about. He wondered if Deacon had spotted him, but the beta wolf wasn’t paying attention to anyone but the beautiful woman across from him. He was zeroed in on Eden like a homing device.

As Lucian scooted out of his plush bench seat, he noticed Marcus Seaborn standing by the door on the right. The same asshole who set fire to Eden’s property.

His gums throbbed as his fangs wanted to punch out, and he fought his inner animal to avoid flipping his switch. After collecting himself, he stalked full speed toward Marcus.

“Hey, wait up!” Krys complained.

Marcus was staring directly at Eden, and Lucian’s pulse jumped. He flashed at Chitah speed, gripped the man’s throat, and propelled him through the open door and into the red room.

Dance music boomed as red lights created silhouettes in dark corners. They crashed into a table, and Lucian slammed him against it. Marcus was a stout man, so it took every ounce of muscle to knock him down.

He pinned the Mage’s wrists to the table and bared his fangs. “If you come near her again, I will kill you!” he roared. “Do you understand me?”

Krys hauled him off. “What the fuck’s going on?”

Marcus rolled off the table, his jaw still whiskery, as if he was incapable of using a razor.

“Do you know this asshole?” Krys growled, his arms still hooked around Lucian.

Marcus rocked with malevolent laughter.

Lucian seethed. “I will fucking end you!” He lunged two feet forward before Krys hauled him back again.

Onlookers watched with rapt interest.

Marcus brushed off his blue T-shirt. “A man can’t even have a beer without being attacked by a mentally unstable Chitah. That’s the second time you’ve threatened my life.”

Local business owners had been put on alert, so Marcus shouldn’t have gotten past the entrance.

“How did you get in here?”

“Like everyone else.” Marcus drew closer and glowered. “Don’t you ever threaten me again, Chitah .”

Before he walked off, Lucian kicked him in the ribs. “You’re dead!”

Marcus spun around with lightning speed and punched Lucian so hard that he crumpled from the blow.

Krys let go and stalked toward Marcus. “You wanna play? Let’s play.”

But when someone opened the door, Marcus flashed into the gold room.

Lucian scrambled to his feet, afraid Marcus was going after Eden. When he reached the doorway, he caught the blur of Marcus flying into the stairwell and out of the club.

Krys cradled Lucian’s neck and gave him a pointed look. “You okay?”

Words didn’t come, so he nodded instead.

“Who the fuck was that?” Krys let go and grimaced. “You better put ice on that eye before it swells up as big as a lemon.”

“I’m fine.”

“Oh really?” Krys glared down at him. “How long are you gonna keep those fangs out?”

Lucian’s canines immediately retracted. “He attacked the Councilwoman. Why didn’t you let me at him?”

“Maybe I don’t feel like prying you off a dead body.” Krys looked over his shoulder at Eden’s table. Then he gave Lucian a withering look. “I didn’t even see Deacon over there. This night just gets better and better.”

“Let’s go before she sees us.” When Lucian started to move, Krys pushed him back in place.

“Wait a second.” He narrowed his eyes. “You like her, don’t you?”

Lucian’s heart hammered against his chest.

Krys gave a cursory glance over his shoulder. “That explains all the surreptitious behavior. So? Why don’t you go for it?”

“Because she’s with him .”

“Fuck Deacon. If you want her, fuck everyone.”

“I’m not what she’s looking for.”

Krys jerked his head back. “So? He doesn’t own her. She can sleep with whoever she wants.”

Lucian felt a flush of blood in his cheeks.

Krys’s shoulders sagged. “Oh shit. You’ve already done it, haven’t you?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he said, trying to escape.

But Krys pinned him against the wall. “That ship has sailed. Look, if you’ve already done the deed, consider that a lottery win. I’ve heard people talk, and no one around here has gotten that far. So why the hell are you stalking her? Because of Deacon?”

“I’m not stalking her.” Lucian cleared his throat when his words disintegrated. There was no way to explain what he was feeling. He had personally witnessed Deacon’s dark side, and that made him feel protective of Eden. Without knowing if Deacon’s intentions were true, Lucian couldn’t rest.

Krys clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m not the love doctor, so I don’t have any advice. But she is the Councilwoman, so don’t fuck that up with our pack.”

“Montana already gave me the lecture.”

Krys laughed. “Come on, Casanova. Let’s get the hell out of here.” With an arm around Lucian’s neck, Krys blocked him from Eden’s view as they headed to the main doors. “You’re like a sleeper cell spy. All chill, and then suddenly… Boom! You’re lucky you didn’t kill anyone.”

“I didn’t plan on it.”

Krys snorted. “No one ever plans a murder.”

“That’s not true. I saw a documentary the other night?—”

Krys clamped his mouth shut. “Next time you decide to drag me along for one of your murder mystery tours, fill me in.”

Lucian moved his hand away. “I didn’t want to get you in trouble.”

“Trouble and I go way back. We’re practically mated.”

“Deacon, I really don’t want another glass,” I insisted when he tried filling my wineglass again.

“Can’t let a good year go to waste.”

Deacon had spent a fortune on our date. He ordered lobster tail and filet mignon with Kobe beef, and I chose a white-truffle pasta and side salad that looked more like art. I would’ve gone for meat, but Deacon wanted me to try something I’d never had before and assured me that money was no issue.

Then he ordered ridiculously expensive wine and gourmet cheeses, and we spent more time getting to know each other.

I told him about my past, and he talked about his.

I always felt like the best way to get to know someone was to find out what kind of childhood they had.

Deacon revealed his original pack was wiped out by a family of Chitahs who had seized their land.

His parents and all four brothers were killed, and that’s why he took his job as beta seriously.

Few immortals got through life unscathed by tragedy, and it was fascinating to see how it shaped us all. Some became leaders, while others wound up in jail or dead.

Upon our arrival at the club, Atticus had personally seated us, which he rarely did for anyone.

Deacon had made reservations, but I didn’t like the spot he requested in the corner.

I was tired of hiding myself, especially after my last date that had gone awry, so I asked for a table in the middle of the room.

“This was really nice,” I told him after touching up my lip gloss. “Can I ask you something?”

He rested his arms on the table, the tattoos hidden beneath his blue sport coat. “Sure.”

“What did you and my father talk about?”

He gave a tight-lipped smile. “That’s between us.”

When Deacon had picked me up for our date, he insisted on meeting my father before we left. I escorted him downstairs, and then he asked for privacy so they could have a man-to-man talk.

Whatever that meant.

“You know I’ll find out when I ask him,” I said.

He shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

My phone vibrated again, and I checked it.

“Can’t you turn that off?” he complained. “That’s the second time.”

“Not in my line of work. I have to be available for emergencies.” I read the incoming message and sighed before putting the device back in my purse.

“Emergency?”

“No. I went out with a guy recently, and he calls and texts me every night, trying to get a second date. He’s really persistent.”

“It’s a wolf thing.”

“He’s not a wolf.”

Deacon tipped his head forward. “Who is it?”

“Henry Hightower.”

His eyebrows popped up. “Looks like I’ve got stiff competition.” There was no insincerity in his tone, only confidence. “Are you ready to bust out of here?”

“I think so.”

Before I could scoot my chair back, Deacon was on his feet and helping me up.

A server rushed over. “Is there anything else we can do for you?”

“No,” Deacon replied. “Put everything on Hamish Macgregor’s tab. I’m his second-in-command.”

The woman bowed. “Of course. Good evening, Mr. Shaw. Miss Thompson.”

“Councilwoman Thompson,” Deacon said, correcting her.

“Yes, my apologies. Councilwoman Thompson.”

“Miss is fine,” I said, hiding my embarrassment. “Thank you for a lovely dinner. Everything was delicious. Please let the chef know.”

“We hope to see you again soon.” She began clearing the table as we left.

Heads turned as Deacon held my arm and paraded me through the middle of the room as if we were on a red carpet. He nodded at people randomly, and I wondered if he knew them. I suddenly felt like bursting out laughing, but I kept my cool and strutted up those illuminated steps in my six-inch heels.

My feet were killing me, but it was worth it. These heels were my absolute favorite. One of the perks of being a Shifter was not having to worry about blisters or bunions since I could heal myself.

When we reached the car, Deacon appraised me and had to tilt his head up a smidge. I guessed him to be around six foot without his heavy boots, which gave him an extra inch of height.

“You look sexy tonight, but have you ever thought about shorter heels? I bet they hurt.”

“They feel fine.”

He twisted his mouth to the side and opened my door.