“We are,” my eyes narrowed. “I’m not wearing pasties.”
With a swipe of her hand, a breeze pushed me out of the room and Aveline followed. “Go shower and put on your makeup. Which I will be adjusting if I don’t approve. Lots of eyeliner. Dark lipstick. Think witch of the night.”
“Like Morticia Addams?” I asked helpfully, already going to the bathroom down the hall.
“Less undead, more sexy,” Aveline corrected as I closed the door behind me.
Euphoric, as it turned out, catered to the preternatural community over the human one. Not that humans weren’t welcome, Aveline assured me. It was common for them to come see what all the fuss was about and get a dose of kinky-preternatural-reality while they were at the club.
But it was definitely more of a popular place for the light preternatural kink scene of New Orleans.
The entrance was tucked away slightly, and looked more like the shaded entry of a nice restaurant instead of a night club. Past the blacked out doors, Aveline led the way down an enclosed hallway decorated with sconces and benches. A few people dressed much like us sat out here, but my cousin didn’t pause.
The man at the second set of doors nodded to her and smiled. “Didn’t think you were working tonight, Ave.” The man flashed a grin in her direction.
Aveline’s lips quirked up at the corners mischievously as she answered. “I’m not. Wanted to bring my cousin here since she’s new in town. George, this is River,” she gestured to him and he nodded.
“Good to meet you, George.” He didn’t question my name; I liked him already. “You aren’t the only fresh blood here tonight. Some pretty important VIPs are on the second floor.”
“Oh?” Aveline’s brows raised. “With anyone or entertaining themselves?”
“Themselves mostly. Though I think Ravenna has got their attention. They’re not new to the scene, unless I’m mistaken.”
“We’ll have to check it out.” Aveline beckoned me forward and River opened the door. “Take care, River.”
“You two as well. Hope you enjoy Euphoric, George.”
“Thank you.” I met his smile with one of my own and we stepped into the club as he let the doors close behind us.
Music hit me first. Loud and sensual; it wasn’t what I’d been expecting.
From where we stood at the entryway, I was only slightly surprised to see a man and woman so openly flaunting their shifter features proudly. They stood behind a long, marble topped counter and I could easily see the feline ears and slitted eyes in the party lighting.
For the first time in a while, I considered doing the same. No one knew me here, and so what if they did? I wasn’t a kid anymore. I was old enough to not care what people thought of me.
“I’ll get us in for free. You thinking of letting loose?” Aveline’s eyes followed the trail of where mine were fixed. “Go on and do it. Not like anyone is going to judge you. Even if we tell them you’re my cousin, lots of families are mixed, you know that.”
I hesitated, considering, then smoothed my hands over my hair and felt my magic tingle against my scalp. My white ears sprang up, parting my hair, and I adjusted my shorts so that my tail could easily curve over them. Aveline helped, using the garter belt to frame in just my tail so I wasn’t showing everyone more than I wanted.
“Hey Aveline!” the woman at the reception counter leaned over it languidly. “Who’s your friend?”
“This is my cousin George. She just moved here. Thought she’d like the club.”
Aveline slid her arms along the surface of the counter, leaning her weight on it. I took that moment to look around, noting that this place was amazing. And intimidating. Thankfully my all-black outfit really fit in, making me not as self-conscious about it as I had been before we’d left Aveline’s house.
Well, my house too, I supposed.
“Picked a good night for it; we aren’t too crowded. I like the atmosphere tonight,” the man commented, turning to me. “I’m Felix.”
“Felicity,” the woman added.
“George, like she said,” I greeted. “This place is way different than I was expecting.”
“River said there’s a VIP group here?” Aveline repeated curiously.
Both feline shifters nodded. “Some new guy and his friends. They’re up in the lounge.” Felicity’s eyebrows wiggled. “Maybe I’ll go see them when I’m done here.”
“The lounge?” I was confused as to what the fuss was about.
“You into the kink lifestyle, George?” Felix asked daintily. “Like Avi here?”
“No one can be into this lifestyle more than my cousin,” I answered soberly, making him laugh. The truth was, I didn’t know much about it, but I didn’t want to say that to Aveline’s friends.
“True. We have a light bondage area upstairs. It’s nothing big; mostly just for show. Some fuzzy manacles, a couple of light toys. It’s for people who either don’t feel like going to another place, or those who are too scared.” He gazed at Felicity thoughtfully. “Definitely don’t think our VIPs tonight are too scared.”
“I’m going to show George around.” Aveline had finished talking to Felicity. “See you guys later.”
“Later,” Felicity agreed as Felix waved.
Aveline looped her arm with mine and we walked out of the entry area. I had to focus on stepping down onto the sunken dance floor, trying not to trip even in the low heels. I was much more used to wearing tennis shoes and sweatpants in college about ninety-percent of the time. One could say I was out of practice with heels.
I saw that most of the other patrons were dressed much like us, or in even less. Some women wore only bras, others in bikini tops, and most of the men were in leather, fishnet, or a combination thereof.
“Is there a dress code to come in here?” I asked, still walking beside Aveline.
“Absolutely. You don’t have to wear black, but you can’t come in here wearing just jeans and a raggedy
