I realize Grace has walked away from me and I rush to catch up with her. I pass a table where a group of girls who look no older than eight years old are downing shots. They laugh and join hands around the table, and then they begin to chant, and before my eyes, they start to age until they all look to be in their mid-thirties.
Grace winds her way through the crowd, saying the odd hello here and there. One of the vampires sidles over to us. He holds out his hand to me, and not knowing what else to do, I shake it.
“It is a pleasure to meet such a beautiful creature,” he says, his voice low and husky. “What brings a lovely girl like you to a place like this?”
He’s hot in a dark and brooding sort of way and I feel myself blushing as he describes me as beautiful. Before I can respond, Grace good-naturedly pushes him away.
“Get out of here, Ethan. She’s off-limits.”
He holds his hands up and smiles, his eyes fixed on mine even as he backs away.
“Just saying hello,” he says.
Grace reaches the bar and asks for two beers. I’m certain the bartender will just laugh at her. I mean, we’re clearly nothing like twenty-one, but he just nods and gives her two bottles. She hands over some cash and takes my hand again. She pulls me to a table to the side of the bar. It’s quieter here. We sit down across from each other at the small table.
“Seriously, Grace. What is this place?” I ask again.
“Welcome to the Outsider. Prague’s most famous unknown bar,” she says.
I blink at her in confusion.
“We’re in Prague?”
She nods.
“Yup. This place is for supernatural creatures of all types,” she says. “Hence the famous but unknown thing. It’s not visible to mortals unless they’re with an immortal creature. And the only way in is through a portal or an enchantment.”
“It’s cool,” I say, looking around again.
I take a sip of the beer and frown.
“It doesn’t taste like beer,” I say. “It tastes like strawberries and vanilla.”
“It tastes like whatever taste you most want in the moment.” Grace grins. “I once had a bottle that tasted like bacon. It shouldn’t have worked, but it kind of did.”
“So, I hate to break up the party and all, but won’t half of these creatures want to kill me?” I ask.
Grace shakes her head.
“No. There are some supernatural creatures that want nothing more than the end of humanity. But there are a lot that don’t. For some, it’s in their own interests to protect humanity. The vampires for example: no humans, no food source for them. For others, like the fairy folk, it’s in their nature to protect those who need it.”
She nods at the couple with the horns and the forked tongue. I feel myself blush.
“I thought they were demons,” I admit.
She laughs.
“An easy mistake to make. Fae come in lots of different guises. Anyway, we didn’t come here for a history of the supernatural lesson. That’s Sunday’s realm. Just know that not everyone different is the enemy. The folks who hang out here are most definitely on our side. In fact, it was here that I got the lead on the abandoned bus shelter.”
“So, they’re your friends?” I ask.
“Some are.” Grace shrugs. “Listen, Sailor, it’s as safe here as anywhere in Whisper. Maybe safer. But Rye wouldn’t see it that way. He’d kill me if he knew I brought you here, so do me a favor and keep this between us, okay?”
“Sure,” I say. “But I really don’t think Rye would care one way or the other.”
Graces throws her head back and laughs.
“You really don’t get that he’s into you, do you?” she says, shaking her head.
Why is everyone so sure of that?
I smile, suddenly remembering something.
“You know, when I first met you guys, I thought you and Rye were a thing,” I say.
“You did?” Grace laughs. “God no. Don’t get me wrong, I love Rye, but he’s like an older brother to me. What made you think that?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Just the way he said your name I guess.”
“Nothing like the way he says yours,” Grace says. “I know it’s hard, but try to cut him a bit of slack. You think he’s not into you, but trust me when I tell you he’s so into you it’s kind of funny to watch.”
I give her a look and then I shake my head.
“He’s out with another girl, Grace. What am I supposed to think?”
“He’s out with Felicity Lake. She’s been into him for years and he’s never given her the time of day. This is his way of showing the world that there’s nothing between you. In his own twisted way, he’s trying to protect you, Sails.”
Felicity Lake. The name rings a bell and I wrack my brain until it comes to me. She’s that prom queen mean girl from school. Great.
“I’d much rather he just be honest with me,” I sigh. “I don’t know which way is up when I’m with him, and he blows hot and cold like a broken fridge.”
“I like that one.” Grace laughs. She gets serious. “Look, guys are assholes. Even the good ones screw up.”
“You sound like you’re speaking from experience,” I say.
I take a long drink of my beer.
“Oh believe me, I am. A long time ago, I was dating a warlock. I was absolutely smitten with him, and for a time, he felt the same way about me. Then he got into a war with another warlock. The next thing I knew,
