Page 90 of Those That Defy the Realm

“We can’t start anything. A massive brawl is likely to get us arrested by the authorities. Then we’ll be dead, not just fucked,” Ty says.

“I didn’t say start a fight. But it’ll set them on edge, right? They won’t be able to outwardly start throwing punches when the place will be full of other fae and humans.”

“They can throw us out and take us to a back alley to start a fight,” Antares says, clearly speaking from experience.

“One of us maybe, but as a collective that’s too big of a scene. If we stick together, don’t let them separate us and remain the perfect gambling citizens then they won’t have reason to throw us out.”

The more she says the more I’m liking Bree’s plan. That, or it's the only option we have, and I refuse to stop actively searching for my female.

“If they have Claire, they’ll be extra guarded. If they don’t, they’ll be more openly pissy. It’s psychology 101.” Bree looks to each of us in turn to get our agreement.

Lacking anything better, we all agree and start heading toward the largest casino in the city, with only a small couple of stops to break into a couple of boutiques to make sure we look the part. Thank the gods for Ty’s shadow powers so we don’t have to worry about getting spotted.

Considering the circumstances, when we walk into the casino and hand off our coats we don’t stick out nearly as much as I thought we might. We’d been able to get basic suits that mostly fit, and Bree found a simple black jumpsuit, so no one pays us any attention as we enter the floor and try to decide which table to make ourselves known at.

We don’t have to wait long. Antares nudges me as we take our seats at one of the quieter tables in the centre. I follow the flick of his eyes to the bartender, who is watching us like a hawk as he clears some empty glasses from the bartop.

“That’s Neilson. He’s not exactly in the inner circle but wants to be,” Antares says under his breath. Despite the noise of the crows and the games at play we are in a room full of supernatural beings, so we need to communicate quietly so as not to be overheard.

“We have another to our left,” Ty murmurs and takes the chips handed to him by the dealer. “Phelan if I’m not mistaken.”

Antares’s gaze shifts but I force myself not to look, not wishing to make us seem conspicuous too fast.

“Yep, that’s him. If he’s here, Fillias will be as well,” Antares confirms.

“Big dude with the bird tattooed on his neck?” Bree asks from Antares’s other side. She’d been quiet until now but as I glance her way, I can see her craning her neck towards the wall where Phelan stands like a bored bodyguard.

“Correct,” Antares answers her.

“Cool, back in five.” Bree hops off her chair and slips by all three of us before we can catch her.

“I don’t like this,” Ty says, a dark rumble taking over his voice.

“What’s she going to do?” Antares sounds enraptured.

We can do nothing but watch on and pay half attention to the game Ty is playing at the table as Bree sidles up to Phelan and begins talking to him. She mirrors his posture as she stands beside him.

It seems to catch him off guard because he keeps tilting his head ever so slightly in her direction as she talks. I can’t catch a word of what she’s saying with the noise in the room, but when Phelan’s eyes swing to our position my stomach becomes a pit.

“Shit, what’s she done?” I ask.

“I don’t know, but it looks like we’re about to find out.”

Phelan pushes off the wall and begins walking our way. I note the subtle signal he makes with his left hand and swing my gaze around the room. Three others ease their way out of their conversations and begin heading towards the centre.

“Ty, long time no see,” Phelan’s deep voice greets my leader in a smooth baritone that doesn’t give away any tension whatsoever. My instincts, however, make my limbs tingle. I move slowly but not so subtly so that I’m brushing shoulders with Ty and squaring up to the vampire who rivals my height.

“Phelan, looking sharp as ever,” Ty responds in an equally calm tone, as if they are just two associates who have run into one another.

“What brings you to town?” Phelan’s tone remains friendly but the slant to his eyes says something different, something along the lines of what the fuck are you doing on our turf?

“We want to catch up with Fillias, as I told you.” Bree pushes herself into the conversation. “We have something he’ll be very interested in.”

Thankfully we all have good poker faces, for if the males at my side are feeling the same as I am, none of us know what the fuck Bree is bargaining with.

“You connected to this fairy?” Phelan inclines his head to the female. The slur makes me tense. Ty actually growls.

“Excuse me! I’ll have you know I can take your ass any day,” Bree snaps, not needing any of us to come to her rescue.