The bass pounded in my chest, a relentless rhythm that matched the pulse of the night. The club was dark, lit only by flashes of neon and the occasional strobe light that made everything look like a fever dream.
I could feel the heat of bodies pressed together on the dance floor, the mingling scents of sweat, alcohol, and desperation hanging thick in the air. This was exactly the kind of place where I could lose myself, where I didn't have to think about anything except the present moment.
And then there she was the girl with the short, dark hair and those piercing blue eyes. She moved like she owned the dance floor, her body swaying to the music in a way that was hypnotic.
There was a wildness to her, something untamed that caught my attention immediately. She wasn't like the others who were all too eager to throw themselves at me; she was something different. The kind of challenge I was looking for.
I made my way through the crowd, my gaze locked on her. She noticed me coming, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she was trying to decide what to make of me. I gave her my best smirk, the one that usually got me whatever I wanted.
I could see the way her eyes flicked over me, taking in the leather jacket, the tattoos, the way I moved with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. She didn't back down, though. Instead, she matched my stare with one of her own, her lips curling into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
This was going to be fun.
"Hey," I said as I got close enough for her to hear me over the music. My voice was low, dripping with the kind of charm that usually made girls melt. "Mind if I join you?"
She didn't say anything at first, just tilted her head slightly as if she was considering it. Then, with a shrug that was all attitude, she turned back to the music, her body swaying again in that hypnotic rhythm. It wasn't exactly a no, so I took that as my cue to step in closer.
We danced together, our bodies moving in sync with the beat. There was a tension between us, a push and pull that made the air around us crackle with electricity.
I could feel the heat coming off her in waves, the subtle brush of her skin against mine as we danced, but there was something else too. Something more. She wasn't making this easy, wasn't just falling into my arms like so many others had before.
It only made me want her more.
I leaned in closer, my lips brushing against her ear as I spoke. "You want a drink?"
She pulled back slightly, just enough to look me in the eye, her expression unreadable. "I don't know. Are you buying?"
I chuckled, a low, throaty sound. "Only for you."
She didn't smile, but I could see the way her eyes sparked with interest. Or maybe it was curiosity. Either way, she didn't say no, so I took her hand firmly, confidently and led her off the dance floor and over to the bar. The crowd parted for us, not that I gave a damn about them. My focus was entirely on the girl in front of me.
"What's your poison?" I asked, leaning against the bar as I waved the bartender over.
"Whiskey. Neat."
I raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. Not many girls can handle whiskey neat."
She just shrugged, her lips curling into that almost-smile again. "I'm not most girls."
"I can see that," I said, signaling the bartender. He slid the glass over, and I handed it to her with a flourish. "To not being like the others."
She clinked her glass against mine, her eyes never leaving mine as she took a sip. I could feel the tension between us building, like a coil winding tighter and tighter. But even as I flirted, as I leaned in close and let my hand brush against hers, I couldn't shake the emptiness gnawing at me.
Because the truth was, I didn't care about her. Not really. She was just a distraction, something to take my mind off everything that was driving me insane. Her body, her attitude, her fire that was all I wanted. Nothing more.
"So," I said, my voice low and smooth as I leaned in closer, "what's your story?"
She gave me a look, one that said she wasn't going to spill her life story to a stranger in a club. But that was fine with me. I wasn't actually interested. It was all part of the game, the back-and-forth that got us to where we both wanted to be.
"Not much to tell," she said finally, her voice casual. "Just here to have a good time."
I nodded, leaning back slightly as I took another sip of my drink. "That's what I like to hear. Maybe we could have a good time together."
She didn't respond right away, just looked at me with those intense blue eyes that seemed to see right through me. It was almost unsettling, but I wasn't about to let it show. I held her gaze, letting a smirk play on my lips.
"I'm not looking for anything serious," she said after a moment, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. "Just so we're clear."
"Neither am I," I replied, my tone matching hers. "Just two people having fun, right?"
She nodded, and for a moment, I thought I saw something flicker in her eyes. Maybe doubt, maybe hesitation, but it was gone before I could really pin it down.
"Good," she said, finishing her drink in one smooth motion. "Then let's go."
She slid off the stool, and I followed her, my heart beating a little faster not out of excitement, but out of anticipation for the distraction this would bring.
We made our way through the crowd and out into the cool night air. The sudden quiet after the noise of the club was almost jarring, but I didn't mind. It gave me a chance to focus entirely on the girl in front of me.
We stopped under a streetlamp, the light casting shadows across her face. I could see the way her breath hitched slightly as I stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the heat of her body against mine. My hand reached up, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as I leaned in.
But before I could kiss her, something changed. Her eyes widened, not with desire, but with fear. She wasn't looking at me, though her gaze was fixed on something over my shoulder. I frowned, pulling back slightly as I turned to see what had spooked her.
Standing a few feet away, half-hidden in the shadows, was one of Leora's guards. His expression was grim, and even before he spoke, I knew this wasn't going to be good.
"Ciara," he said, his voice flat and devoid of any emotion, "we need to talk."
I sighed heavily, stepping away from the girl who was now clearly more interested in getting away from the situation than anything else. "What the fuck is it?" I snapped, irritation lacing my words. I wasn't in the mood for this. Not now.
The guard hesitated, his gaze flicking to the girl before settling back on me. "Aeliana's health is really down," he said, his voice serious. "She might die."
I felt my heart stop, just for a moment. The words hung in the air, cutting through the night like a blade. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I fought to keep my expression neutral. But inside, something was unraveling.