Page 42 of Rafe

“Hey, you okay?” Rafe asked Skylar who continued to focus on the table.

“Yeah.” She nodded. “Not really. I can’t look.”

“We’ll be done soon,” he promised as he reached for her hand.

Rafe’s senses went on alert as more patrons filed into the arena. With no empty tables, donors and vampires lined the perimeter of the room. Music reignited and a shimmering apparition appeared on stage. In waves of blue and silver, the image morphed into the shape of a wave. The domed ceiling parted, revealing a descending platform. Purple rope knotted in diamond patterns bound a naked man to the glass structure.

Smoke billowed through an opening in the floor. As it slid open, a tall lithe figure emerged. With rhythmic movement, she began to dance. Dark magick filtered through the room, her apparent prey dangling from the platform. The human appeared dazed, bespelled by the creature under him. With long platinum hair that dusted the floor, she tore off her scarf, revealing her pale skin. Dressed in a deep purple see-through gown, she glided across the floor as if she were floating. She wore an elaborate feather headpiece, her bright red lips pursed below her ornate mask.

Rafe leaned to whisper in Skylar’s ear, his intuition warning him. “It’s going to be okay.”

Her wide eyes met his. He sensed her fear, her heartbeat beating ever faster.

“Trust me. I’ll protect you.” Her scent filled his soul, his wolf readying to attack.

Rafe looked to the exit where the waiter had disappeared. Something was off. Topper was on the run. And there was nothing his wolf liked more than a good chase.

Rafe glanced at Greyson who nodded to Xavier. The vampire appeared transfixed on the performance. The mesmerizing performer pointed at Xavier then cupped her breasts and licked her lips. She spun and bent over, touching her toes. With a flick of her hair, she stood up and approached the man above her. His eyes flashed open in both fear and arousal, his dick hardening in front of everyone.

Rafe sniffed the air, the scent sweet. Too sweet. Seducing. Demonic.

Skylar scrunched her nose and whispered to him. “What’s that smell?”

Tuberose. Deadly to paranormals. Rafe looked back to Xavier who remained in a trance. “Hey dude. Snap out of it.”

A loud groan echoed throughout the theater as the music cut to silence. She once again turned with her gaze on Xavier and bent over. As she rose, her hand trailed up her calf onto her thigh. She spun around, brandishing a dagger and tracing its tip through the air, looking upward to her victim.

“Rafe.” Skylar’s eyes widened.

The Alpha sent his calming energy through his fingertips, hoping she’d still be able to look at him when the night was finished.

The man whimpered as she trailed the blade down his abdomen, her fingers brushing his skin. By the time she reached his dick, he was trembling. He cried out as she wrapped her hand around his cock and began stroking him.

Rafe glanced at Skylar who’d covered her eyes with one hand, occasionally stealing a peek at the spectacle. The man groaned, convulsing, fucking the air.

The frenetic energy grew thick in the air. Rafe looked to Xavier who’d begun to stand. “What’re you doin’ man? Snap out of it.”

Xavier blinked as if he’d been woken from a hypnotic trance.

The crowd gasped as she took his dick into her mouth. Out of the corner of Rafe’s eye, he saw Laz in the doorway gesture to him. He gave a short nod and disappeared into the darkness.

“Let’s roll,” Rafe said to Greyson. “Kenji. Keep your eye on Xavier.”

A primal scream of terror echoed as she stabbed the dagger into his groin. Blood streamed out onto the floor, and she broke out in maniacal laughter. She reached for the corner of the platform, giving it a strong push, sending him spinning in circles. The blood sprayed out onto the crowd as vampires rushed from their seats and descended on him.

“Shit.” Rafe scooped up Skylar in his arms. Within seconds Greyson had flashed them into the corridor where Laz had been.

“Oh my God!” Skylar bent over, coughing. “What just happened? That man. Oh my God. She stabbed him.”

Rafe cupped her cheeks gently, forcing her to look up at him. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re safe. Take a deep breath. That’s it. I’m sorry you had to see that back there.”

“But she…she…that man.” She shook her head and held her hands over her mouth.

“You’re all right,” Rafe caught her hand in his and nodded, sending his energy to her. “We’re almost done here and we’ll get you home.”

“Okay.” She nodded as if she was attempting to convince herself, still wearing a confused expression. “But that woman. The blood.”

“Sorry, love. It was a bit messy out there.” Greyson retrieved a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Skylar. “It’s no place for ladies such as yourself.”