“I can’t stand the sight of him,” someone spat loudly. A commotion was starting. With great difficulty, I pulled my mouth from Lorcan’s. He tried to follow me, his head leaning closer, chasing after my lips. I pressed a hand to his chest and looked around him.

The Alpha of the Lycan Stalkers was fuming where he stood. His son, Roman, was demanding he calmed down but his request fell on deaf ears. Stefano Fenrir was in no mood to calm down as he ground his teeth and shot daggers at one very conspicuous rabbit god.

Tu Shen strode into the room, fashionably late. His suit was green velvet tonight and I very much approved. He strode to me with a smile, sliding up next to me at the bar. He leaned against it and ordered a drink over his shoulder.

Lorcan shifted to my other side.

“Lovely party, Lacey,” he said looking coolly at Stefano. His eyes drifted to Roman and then flicked away quickly. The bartender dropped Shen’s drink on the counter. He snatched it up with fingers littered with rings and chugged it.

“That wasn’t a shot,” I said in amusement. He made a vaguely nauseated expression before asking for another drink. This time he brought it to his mouth and sipped slowly. His eyes never left the wolf pack. The members were all bumbling around their leader, shifting around like they thought a fight was going to break out. I sighed.

“Are you going to goad him?” I asked Shen.

“Undoubtedly,” he said. His pink eyes flicked to me and he smiled charmingly, “but only if he starts it.”

“Fair enough,” I said, smoothing out the handkerchief in Lorcan’s suit pocket. He smirked at me and I felt things tighten deep in my core.

Stefano came stomping over, looking like he wanted to start a bar brawl. Roman hurried after him, continuing to beg his father to stop. Roman had another decade or two before he’d step up as Alpha.

“Tu Shen,” Stefano spat. “I should kill you here and now. The island would be a better place.” Shen hummed in response, lifting his drink for another small sip. His pink eyes looked at the alpha without fear or concern. When he pulled his glass away his tongue darted out over his lips. I saw Roman jerk his head away.

“You want to kill me for the betterment of the island? Here I thought it was because I fucked your son,” Shen said.

“Fuck,” Roman hissed. The Alpha looked dumbstruck and then he looked ten times more furious than before. I could practically see steam coming from his ears.

“Is this the truth, Roman?” He growled at his son.

“Let’s go,” Roman said. “This isn’t the place.” His brown eyes drifted to Shen and then away again. Shen rolled his eyes.

“No,” Stefano said in disbelief, shaking his head.

“Yes,” Shen countered smoothly. “You think you can take the northside from me but even your son kneels at my feet.” Shen winked suggestively.