Monique pulled in front of Shenanigans with a smile. “Just the two of us tonight.”
Erik snorted. “And what about Dustin? He seems to have Monique radar. He always finds you.”
“Yeah, but I’m with you, where I belong. He’ll figure it out sooner or later.” She sighed. “And part of that is me going where I know he’ll be so I have an excuse to drag you along.”
Erik shook his head. “You should have told me.”
“I know.”
“And why him? Honestly, I don’t understand.”
“Desperation to feel something.” She dropped her gaze. “He’s a creep, but he always backs off when someone else is around.”
“What was the draw?” Erik asked for the first time.
She turned to him. “Why haven’t you asked before?”
He shrugged. “You weren’t mine. You weren’t letting me in. Figured you wouldn’t answer.”
She licked her lips. “Was always yours, no matter what I told myself I wanted.”
Doubt and hope played over his features. “No more pushing me away?”
She shook her head. “No. Only pulling you to me from here on out.”
He smiled slightly. “Let’s get in there.”
Without waiting, Erik climbed out of the car and started for the door. She hurried to catch up, but he was inside and made his way through the crowd too fast for her. He took a seat at the bar as she stepped inside.
Monique made her way through the crowd. She spotted Gwen, who beat her to Erik. The guitar player from Nights Embrace was with her. Last she heard, they’d moved in together, and Mike had been in the first round of training for the new DSF.
Pushing away the old bitterness, she sidled up next to Erik and smiled at Gwen. “Good to see you, Gwen, and you too, Mike. How’s Roxy’s baby doing?”
Erik turned to her with a raised brow but didn’t comment.
Mike grinned. “My niece is doing great. Adorable.”
“Think you’ll ever play another show?”
Mike nodded. “In a month or two. Roxy’s nearly ready to take the stage again.”
“I can hardly wait.” Monique turned to Gwen. “I just finished a dress I think you’d love. You’ll have to visit me soon.”
Erik’s hand went around her waist, tightening. He had to be wondering what the fuck. As soon as they were alone, she planned to do better and show him.
“Once this mess is over, I’ll be in.” Gwen directed her attention to Erik. “What the hell happened? Preston told me you were framed for something. Now Tarek’s dead and two old school mages are catatonic in the infirmary.”
“We’re not sure of the details, other than a dark mage is involved. Seems someone wants the DSF to end.” Erik shook his head. “We’ll find and stop them.”
“Anything you need, you got us,” Mike promised.
“If you hear anything, let Robert or Preston know. I’m supposed to be keeping my head down. Figured most of the mages who would want to end the DSF aren’t going to want to be anywhere near here.”
“True.” Gwen rolled her eyes. “Too many closed-minded assholes still hold rank. One of these days, that’s all going to change.”
“Not completely,” Erik admitted, surprising Monique. “Doesn’t mean we can’t change those minds we can.”
“Very true,” Gwen stated. “Remember, if you need anything, let me know.” She pulled Mike away.
Monique climbed onto the stool next to Erik.
“She comes into Monique’s Uniques often?” he asked.
“Yeah. Every few weeks. She’s an impulse buyer and doesn’t always wait for me to enchant things. Sometimes, if I think she’ll get an outfit, I’ll enchant in advance, without mentioning it. She’s a good client.”
“But you were mad at me for years for something I didn’t even do with her?” Looking away, he waved the bartender over.
“Defense mechanism. Gave me a reason to hold you away. She never was one of the mages I bitch about. She has never made me feel like an outsider. And before you comment, I wasn’t truly mad because you wouldn’t have even been cheating had you actually been with her. But it did hurt because I thought you gave up on me that fast.”
“Damn it, Monique. What happened to not dwelling on the past?” He leaned back in his seat. “There’s nothing I want more than to forget the last forty-two years.”
“If I could go back I would, but I wouldn’t have learned a damned thing yet, and I’m afraid I would have made the same stupid mistake.”
* * * *
Yeah, and Erik would have too. He knew he hadn’t handled it well when she first left him. He was too busy being hurt to chase after her. He did his damnedest to let her go.
He fell into work only to have that ripped away from him. Then he dove into becoming a cop and working in Edenton.
Erik shook his head. “You need to stop. I get it. I do. Can we go back to attempting to enjoy our night? Maybe we can glean some answers.”
“You’re going to let it go that easily?”
“Gonna try. You’re awfully persistent. Figured if you didn’t really want me, you wouldn’t be trying so hard to convince me.”
“Trying to convince you because I was wrong to let you go in the first place.”
“Please, Monique, stop. Have a drink.”
She leaned closer. “What are you having?”
The bartender finally got to them and echoed her question.
“Whiskey neat,” he answered.
“Cosmo,” Monique added.
The bartender smiled, starting on the drinks.
Monique captured Erik’s chin, pulling his gaze to hers, then leaned in to brush her lips over his. “My love won’t dry up after we find the answers. Forty-two years away from you couldn’t kill my love.”
His restraint broke at her soft confession. His tongue slipped between her lips, caressing hers. She leaned closer, her breasts pressing against his chest.
Her hands tangled in his shirt, and he had to pull away to catch his breath. Her eyes burned dark as she watched him.
“Remember, we have a purpose here,” Erik whispered.
“Haven’t forgotten, just distracted.” She swept her drink off the counter and drank it down. Turning, Monique scanned the crowd and turned back with a nod. “Let’s dance.”
He tossed down some money and drank his whiskey neat. “Lead the way,” he murmured.
Monique pulled him into the midst of the crowd and moved against his body, her hands curling around his ribs as she leaned up to whisper against his ear. “The woman, near the corner. She’s a mage and a client.”
He managed a glance over. Margot Demoza. High-ranking Silver Council enforcer. Though she seemed to be on Robert’s side.
“Don’t think she’s our culprit.”
“Why do you say that? She’s watching you like you’re of great interest.”
He nuzzled her ear. “She’s one of Robert’s supporters. Long-standing friendship with Draecyn. Of course, anything is possible, so I’m not writing off your concern.”
“Would she make a move in public?” Monique asked.
“How so?”
“She’s coming this way.”
Erik managed to dance his way to face Margot.
She sidled up next to them. “We need to speak, Mortale.”
She’d never spoken directly to him, but he nodded, curious what she had to say. He knew Ward Tower Security watched Shenanigans. If they had any inkling anything would happen, they would have already removed her. The threat was low.
He threaded his fingers through Monique’s and followed the mage to her table in the corner. Margo motioned for them to sit, which they did.
Margot leaned forward. “You’re a brave man. Going out when it’s known a dark mage is trying to tear the DSF apart.”
“Can’t sit around hiding forever. And if we’re going to get to the bottom of this, a little bait never hurt.”
“But this mage could drain you dry without much thought.”
Monique smirked. “We’ll see.”
Margot’s brow arched as she turned to Monique. “I’d ask, but secrets are best kept in times like these.”
“Agreed,” Monique answered. “What’s your interest in the case?”
“We may not all be created equal, but we all share this planet. Our varied talents should be celebrated, not admonished for being different.”
Monique dipped her head.
“Besides, programs like the DSF open the way for mage hybrids to be welcomed into the Council.” She translocated from the booth, leaving Monique and Erik alone.
Monique turned slowly. “Did she just say hybrids?”
Erik nodded. “Not talking about that here.”
“Is she one?”
He shrugged. “No clue. Again, not something to talk about here. There are still those in the Council who would hunt most hybrids based on an outdated principle.”
“Aren’t you one?”
“Yeah, but bad time to talk about that.”
Her eyes slid shut as she breathed deep. He knew the direction of her thoughts, but she held her tongue, amazingly enough.
He’d started to wonder if the rumors of the Dark Templar existed. Mages who were secretly attached to the Silver Council and hunted all hybrids of interest, among what they considered dangerous casters, like necromancers.
And considering the last forty-eight hours, it was a safe bet that they were somehow involved if they existed. He didn’t have proof, but he did suspect it.
Erik pulled his phone out. “We need to talk to Robert. Maybe Preston too. Let me send a message.”