Charmed Vengeance

wrapped around each other. Some danced on platforms both on stage and around the hall, wearing longer ruffled skirts they held up and swished around revealing even more leg and garters. He looked away, uninterested.

James ordered drinks from an exotic-looking girl in a blue dress. She had a blue flower in her hair and blew James a kiss as she left. The girl looked Noli’s age.

“You are such a fussy old bodger,” James teased.

“So what if I am?” Sure, in the Otherworld women wore less and acted freer than their mortal counterparts, but it wasn’t quite like … all this. At least not in his experience.

“This is a perfectly legitimate gentleman’s club,” James replied. “They pay taxes and follow all the rules. The girls—mortal and not—are here of their own free will and are compensated.”

“Well, that’s a plus.” Even in this day and age, girls sometimes were stolen or lured from their homes then forced to work in bawdy houses or places such as this.

A fluffy black head peeked out of the top of James’ coat. He gently tucked the kitten back underneath. “You get back in there.”

With a sigh, Steven shook his head in resignation.

The girl in blue returned, setting two drinks on the table, winking again at James and waggling her bottom at him before she flounced off to the next table.

Absently, Steven took a sip of amber liquid. He nearly spit it out as it burned his mouth and throat. “What is this?”

“Whiskey.” James’ eyes twinkled. The kitten worked his way up to the top of his coat again.

Steven’s forehead furrowed. “How exactly are we going to pay for whiskey?”

He shrugged, tucking the kitten back into the coat, and taking a drink. “You know what your problem is? You worry too much.”

James’ problem was that he didn’t often care at all.

The music, provided by a live band of scantily clad women, changed. The colorful bird girls wandered among the rows of tables, taking men by the hand and escorting them onto the floor to dance with them. Hopefully Mathias would come soon.

A girl with blonde hair, wearing a yellow outfit that made her look like an elegant, busty canary, headed toward him. Suddenly, his cup became very interesting.

“Dance with me.” She grabbed Steven’s hand and pulled him up.

Startled by her forwardness, he stood. The only girls he’d ever been around who’d demand to be danced with were Noli, his little sister, and sprites.

This girl was no sprite. She was mortal, but plenty of Fae lurked in this place.

“Come on.” She smiled at him, her hips swaying to the music, making the feathers on her bottom shake.

“I … ” He got a good look at exactly how little she wore. Yes, she was probably Noli’s age, if that. “I don’t know how to dance.”

“Balderdash,” James snorted. “My brother is an accomplished dancer.”

“Not that kind,” he sputtered. If James didn’t watch out …

She tugged on his hand again. “It’s easy.”

James laughed. “Have fun.”

Not wanting to be rude, Steven allowed the girl to lead him to the floor. She put his hands on her and talked him through the most scandalous version of the waltz he’d ever seen. His insides squirmed as her hands kept … roving and he saw quite enough of her garters, milky white thighs, and yellow drawers.

When she pressed him to her in a highly inappropriate way he jumped back as if burned.

“What’s wrong?” she laughed, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder. It wasn’t nearly as pretty as Noli’s hair.

“I … I should return to my brother.” He couldn’t even look at her. It didn’t feel … right.

She got very close to him, her decolletage practically in his face. “Aww, stay with me,” her lower lip jutted out in a fake-pout. “We could go someplace more … private if you wish.”

James’ mention of personal visits came back to him. Steven retreated hastily, bumping right into another couple. “Sorry,” he muttered. “I … appreciate the dance, miss, but I need to go.” He turned and hurried away.

When he arrived at their table he found James chatting with an elegant man. He had blond hair nearly as pale as Quinn’s and piercing blue eyes the color of the sky after a rain. James said something and the two of them laughed. The man held the kitten in his arms.

Steven gritted his teeth. Of course James thought this was all fun and games—it wasn’t his quest. He could return to Los Angeles any time he wished.

“Did you enjoy yourself?” James smirked.

Without a reply, Steven sank into his chair, seething.

“Mathias, this is my brother, Stiofan.” James seemed oblivious to Steven’s anger. “V, this is Mathias, he owns the place. He helped me a lot, and he’s a friend of Quinn’s.”

Steven had trouble believing this elegant man in the expensive suit, who was affiliated with an establishment full of mostly-naked girls, would be friends with the studious Quinn.

“Stiofan, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Not only has Seamus spoken highly of you, but Quinn has as well.” Mathias smile reached all the way to his eyes. His rings gleamed in the light of the crystal chandeliers, making little rainbows dance across the table.

If Quinn truly has told this man about him, how could he be rude? Steven pushed back his anger and returned the smile. “The pleasure is mine. This establishment is yours?”

The music changed again. Girls with longer skirts danced around the main floor like mad tops, kicking and spinning, showing off their legs, garters, and drawers.

If only the music weren’t so loud.

“Yes, this place is mine. Are you hungry?” Mathias signaled the girl in blue.

Steven eyed the kitten. “Do I want to know what happens to the cat?”

There were some denizens of the Otherworld who’d eat such a thing.

Mathias grinned. “It’s a snack for my hound.”

The only hounds Steven knew of that would snack on a cat where the huge hunting beats favored by the wild hunt and many royals.

“Wait, I thought those sorts of hounds weren’t allowed here.” How bitter he sounded. But his father had made him leave his at the palace when they’d left. He’d only been a pup.

He leaned in toward him and lowered his voice, eyes twinkling. “They’re not.”

The cat purred and stretched out on Mathias’ lap, unaware of her fate. If that was even it. For all he knew Mathias fabricated the entire thing.

“Seamus tells me it’s your turn to go questing. It’s my pleasure to assist, and I don’t mean that in any sort of devious way. I promise.” His fisted hand went to his heart.

Steven raised his eyebrows at his brother. He’d heard little of his brother’s escapades between leaving Findlay House and returning to the Otherworld, most of which involved Charlotte. Exactly what sort of adventures had James had? And calling it a quest? It hadn’t been a true quest, but he wasn’t going to call his brother out, even if he was vexed with him.

Mathias’ promise did make Steven’s belly unknot a little. But only a little.

The exotic serving girl in the blue dress took their order. James requested grouse. Steven hesitated as he scanned the menu with its multi-course meals featuring dishes like pigeon pie, scalloped chicken, and veal. They couldn’t pay these prices e and one paid their checks at establishments owned by the Fae.

“Get what you’d like,” Mathias whispered, petting the kitten’s head as she purred.

Steven ordered, the girl hustled away, and he realized that Mathias still waited for his answer regarding how he could help with the quest.

“Tell him,” James urged. “He’s safe. He’ll help—really help, not like those air pirates.”

Steven clutched his glass as if he could gain strength from it, but didn’t drink. “We’re trying to get to Raleigh, but some air pirates decided to help us in Chicago by relieving us of our clothes and belongings and leaving us on top of a building here in New York City.”