Cassidy glanced at her brother to discover his hands fisted as he surveyed the room. His eyes lingered on a couple of women dancing together. It could be another year or more before Kyle fully matured, but she suspected her brother was on the verge, and because of that, he was having a tougher time controlling himself.
Her heart ached for her twin, but the only help she could give was to stand by and support him. Resting her hand against his arm, she gave it a tender squeeze. His head turned toward her, and he gave her a pained smile.
“Welcome to the party,” he said.
She could tell he was trying to sound carefree, but his voice came out flat and strained.
“We won’t be here long,” Dante said.
He didn’t know what was going on between the siblings, but being here was not making Kyle happy. When they moved further into the room, Dante shut the door behind them.
He surveyed the room for Preston or Zan, but it was Zan he spotted first as the tall man broke away from the crowd and glided toward them. The dim overhead lights reflected off the dark glasses shadowing his eyes.
“I didn’t know you were bringing company,” Zan said when he reached them. His head turned toward Kyle, and though Dante couldn’t see his eyes, he sensed his disapproval. “You shouldn’t have come here.”
“He’s my new brother-in-law,” Kyle said as he pointed his thumb at Dante. “I have to protect his back.”
Dante did a double take at his words; Cassidy was his mate, they’d established a bond, but he hadn’t expected her family to accept him so easily. Her family… his family. The realization sent a jolt of alarm through him. He’d already lost one family; he couldn’t stand to lose another.
He would not lose another. He didn’t care what he had to do to make sure that didn’t happen. He wouldn’t lose anyone else.
“Still, you knew the rules, and you broke them,” Zan said to Kyle.
“I’ll wait outside,” Kyle offered. “And I’ll never come back again… unless my family needs me.”
“There’s nothing to come back to,” Zan said. “Opal’s out of business after this.”
“I’m sorry to hear that; whether I’m welcome or not, Opal’s a good lady.”
“I know.”
“I broke your trust and hers,” Kyle said. “I never should have told my sister about any of it, but she’s family. I also didn’t expect her to go to Opal’s, but you know how women can be once they get an idea in their heads.”
Cassidy scowled at her brother but bit her tongue. He was making headway with Zan, and she didn’t want to separate from him.
Zan’s shoulders relaxed a little. “If Opal ever reopens, I don’t want to see you again. And none of you are to be here for any longer than necessary.”
“You’ll never see me again,” Kyle promised.
Zan stared at him before turning to Dante and pointing across the packed room. “Your boy’s at the bar.”
Dante couldn’t see the bar through the crowd, but he trusted it was there. “Thanks,” he said to Zan, who grunted in return.
Zan was more bark than bite, but Dante wouldn’t push his luck here. Right now, they weren’t friends, but they had mutual respect, and he meant to keep that. Zan was a lot better as an ally than an enemy.
A glance around the packed area revealed speakers high on the wall. He couldn’t see the electrical cords and figured that, after what happened last time, they’d figure out a better plan for those. There were also no candles this time, and all the light came from battery-powered lanterns hanging from hooks on the walls.
Plywood, with metal nailed over it, covered the numerous windows. At least a hundred people and vampires filled the room, and he suspected that, given the size of the building, there were more in places he couldn’t see.
“Are the lanterns new?” he asked Kyle.
Kyle frowned at them before looking to him. “How did you know?”
“Lucky guess.”
“The fire,” Cassidy said.
“The fire,” Dante agreed.
“At least they’re not stupid, and it’s safer here.” However, she wondered how much safer it was.
Kyle led the way through the party. As he walked, he returned the greetings he received with a wave and a smile. They were halfway through the crowd when a pretty vampire ran out and threw her arms around him.
“Where have you been?” the woman gushed. Her blonde hair swayed about her hips as she leaned back to beam at Kyle.
Cassidy sensed her brother’s discomfort as he pried himself from the woman’s embrace, but she didn’t intervene. This was Kyle’s world, and it was an entirely different one than the one they shared for years.
Holding onto the girl’s arms, Kyle studied her face. He doesn’t know who she is, Cassidy realized. She almost rolled her eyes, but the consternation on her brother’s face stopped her.
The woman stepped out of his hold and playfully hit him on the arm. “I’ve been looking all over for you!”
“I’m sorry, I’ve been busy,” Kyle said.
“That’s okay.” The woman looped her arm through his. “I’m glad you’re here now.”
She tried to tug him away, but Kyle planted his feet and carefully removed his arm from hers. “I’m sorry…” Kyle hesitated before shaking his head. “I’m sorry, but I’m not here to party tonight.”
She gave him a flirty pout as she planted her hands on her curvaceous hips. “Yeah, right.”
“I’m not. I’m here with my family, and we’re not staying.”
The woman turned toward Dante and Cassidy. Unsure of what else to do, Cassidy gave her a small wave while Dante shifted impatiently beside her. Confusion followed by anger flickered through the woman’s eyes.
“I have to go,” Kyle said.
He walked away before the woman could respond, and judging by the irritated look on her face, that wasn’t something she appreciated. Dante led Cassidy past the woman who turned to glare at Kyle’s back.
Usually, she
