Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
The smaller vampire met him after a couple of steps with a nervous smile on his bright-red lips. He’d finished his hair and makeup for the evening but was still in his street clothes of jeans, T-shirt, and zip-up yellow hoodie. Gideon did not look like the sex god that would dance above the masses tonight but an adorable snack that Ryder very much wanted to steal away from the rest of the world.
As they returned to the club, Ryder remained as close as a shadow. It was unlikely most people would recognize Gideon in his everyday attire, but Ryder didn’t want to take the chance of someone bothering him. Gideon had been a favorite of Rafe’s clubs over the year, and he’d attracted quite a fan club. But no one was allowed to get close to him. Ever. Ryder would never permit anyone to harm his Gideon.
Gideon’s steps slowed as he drew close to the waiting witch. Ryder placed a reassuring hand on his hip, reminding him that he was right there with him. No one would hurt him.
“Hi, I’m Gideon,” he introduced as he stepped up to the banquette.
The witch grinned broadly at him and waved one hand. “Maddox. You’re Fox’s friend. The one with the ghost trouble?”
“I am.” Gideon slid into the booth on the opposite side of Maddox and Ryder followed right behind him. He almost smiled when Gideon’s hand bumped his under the table and then immediately threaded their fingers together. His voice said calm confidence, but the little tremble in his fingers screamed nervous energy. “I want to thank you and your friend for coming all this way to meet with us.”
Maddox groaned and sank into the seat as if he were melting into the leather. “Trust me, you’re doing me a favor. You ever have a Monday that was so Monday that it leaked into Tuesday and Wednesday?” He held up his beer. “I needed this.”
Gideon shrugged, still smiling brightly. “I don’t work on Mondays. The club is usually closed.”
“You know the owner, right? Rafe?” He pointed his beer at Gideon before taking another drink. “You need to talk him into opening this place on Monday nights. I think most people could use a drink after dealing with Monday bullshit.”
Ryder fought a grin as he watched laughter sparkle in Gideon’s eyes. Yeah, Gideon knew Rafe. The sexy, sweet vampire had their boss wrapped around his little finger most of the time. Not that Gideon was the type to take advantage.
“I’ll mention it to him when I see him next,” Gideon murmured. “Have you known Fox long?”
Maddox placed his beer on the table and shook his head. “We haven’t actually met in person yet. Witches, you gotta be careful. Too many of them are shady as shit. But he seems like a nice guy, and he’s apparently studying under Zelda, so you know he’s gotta be good. We’re taking it slow. Online chats.” Maddox sat up and grinned. “He’s got one of those overprotective boyfriends, right?”
Now that was the biggest understatement he’d heard in a while.
Gideon giggled. “His boyfriend?” He rocked into Ryder and relaxed. “Yeah, I’d say Fox’s boyfriend is a bit overprotective. But Fox is wonderful. Very sweet, honest guy.”
Maddox smiled, but his eyes narrowed. “And he’s friends with vampires. That’s pretty cool and different. Most of us don’t go around with other witches, let alone vampires.”
Ryder cleared his throat to keep from choking. It sounded as though Fox hadn’t been exactly forthcoming in the details of exactly who he was and the clan he was part of. Fox was more than a witch who was friends with some vampires. He was part of the most powerful vampire clan in North America. That carried with it a lot of fucking weight.
And maybe that was why he hadn’t told Maddox. Because he was trying to make some friends based on his own merits and not on the family he essentially married into.
“But Fox said that you’re part of a coven?” Gideon asked, thankfully letting the whole Varik Clan thing slide by.
Maddox nodded. “It’s a small one. Just the four of us. We met online and kind of stuck together at first because we’re all guys. You know…” His voice trailed off, and he stared at his beer. Ryder got it. Fox had said that male witches were incredibly rare. There were old stories about the sons born to witches being killed off at birth, and there were other stories that the gene wasn’t passed to boys. Whatever the truth was, witches were predominantly female, and they viewed the few male witches that existed as outcasts and pariahs.
“That’s cool. So, do you all specialize in something different? Like your friend?”
“There’s a lot of overlap between some of us, though we often go about things differently. But yeah, Sky.” Maddox paused and rolled his eyes. “Sky is definitely different.” Something caught his attention across the club, and he sighed. “Speaking of different.”