Free Deceived by Stephanie Nelson Page A

my gaze.  Aiden is your boyfriend. You shouldn’t be devouring Dorian with your eyes. I chided myself.
    “Come on, I have something to show you.” I turned to see Dorian making his way down the icy sidewalk. Tucking my embarrassment away, I followed.
    We ended up walking into what looked like the world’s scariest bar. Dim lighting lent a dangerous feel and casted dark pockets of shadows where people could lurk. Thick clouds of smoke permeated the air and danced in the beams of light like eerie spirit s. The entire bar was constructed of wood, and the floors were covered with worn hardwood. Neon lights shone harshly from the various bar signs that hung over the pool tables and the haunting voice of Jim Morrison floated out of the jukebox alongside the wall. An array of torn pleather barstools lined a wooden bar and housed a collection of disconcerting patrons. Most wore leather of some sort and had disturbing tattoos covering their flesh. A few of the men wore bandanas around their heads and dark sunglasses to conceal their eyes. 
    When we stepped into the bar, all eyes traveled in our direction. I stepped closer to Dorian’s side as sickening smiles grew on the men’s faces, their eyes undressing every inch of me. The women devoured Dorian, their lust almost visible as they watched him.
    Dorian’s arm went around my waist and pulled me against his side. We moved towards an empty booth, and I slid against the black vinyl and sat against the wall. I watched as Dorian walked up to the bar and ordered two drinks. A man he stood beside gave him a head nod that he returned, and when the bartender set the glasses on the bar, Dorian slid him cash.
    “It’s a little early to be drinking.” I commented when he set the amber filled glass in front of me.
    Dorian slid into the booth and brought the mug to his lips. “You need a drink, you’re too wound up.”
    We stared at each other for a few moments. I lifted my glass and took a deep swallow of the beer. “Happy?” I wiped the foam from my mouth.
    Dorian leaned back against the seat and appraised me. “You need to relax, Gwen. I can tell you’re all tight and twisted inside. The world is filled with problems, has been since the dawn of time, it’s not your job to clean it up.”
    I arched an eyebrow and snickered. It sure as hell felt like it was my mess to clean up. The NAWC and Ian Despereaux were most definitely my problems. I wished I could have thrown my hands in the air and been done with it, but I couldn’t. “If I don’t clean it up, then who will? Are pixies going to come in and sweep all of my problems under the rug?” My throat suddenly felt dry. I hoisted my glass to my lips and flooded my mouth with the cold liquid. The beer did nothing to snuff my annoyance, but it had helped the dryness. I had no clue how to fix the problems I faced today when yesterday’s problems were still a mess.
    “I wouldn’t put it past them, they love to clean.” Dorian laughed. I rolled my eyes and stared out the window. Cars crept along the snow covered road and a few humans walked down the sidewalk with shopping bags in hand.
    “Pixies aside, I can’t ignore the complexity of my life, Dorian.” I looked over at him. “I wish I could, but it’s more difficult than you realize.” I’m sure he thought I was talking about the war, which was my number one hassle at the moment, but he didn’t know I was also bonded to Ian. No one did, besides Aiden, Micah, and Fiona.
    “Because of your vampire?”
    “No, well yes, but he’s only the tip of the iceberg that my life’s crashing into.” I didn’t really think of Aiden as a problem, except for the fact that I’d been ordered not to see him. At the mention of him, I wondered if he’d find anything that could help break my bond with Ian tonight. I didn’t know who he was meeting, but it made me smile that he was at least trying.
    “Are you against the war?” Dorian took another long drink of his beer. I tucked