Free Curse of Shadows and Light by Penelope King Page B

straight-up as it comes.
    “ Um, I’m not so sure I should have this—”
    “ Yes, you absolutely should. Trust me.” Ruby’s eyes flash again, and I look away. Maybe drinks are different out here. Hell, everything else is.
    Kieron and I clink our glasses together, and I take an apprehensive sip. Immediately, a powerful rush jolts through my body and I almost jump out of my chair.
    Kieron looks at me, startled. “Lucky, you okay?”
    My eyes wide with pleasure, I nod and eagerly gulp some more. Ruby smiles knowingly at me as she wipes down some glasses. I feel like I’d been dying of thirst, and my body is eagerly absorbing every last molecule of Energy like a sponge and putting it to the best use. Before Kieron has taken even three sips of his drink, I’ve chugged the whole thing.
    I signal Ruby for another. She approaches slowly with a wry smile and sets down a second, smaller cup. “Don’t overdo it. A little goes a long way with this stuff.”
    I scowl but pick it up and start to drink. All I know is that this is the most blissful concoction to ever pass my lips, and a sense of euphoria and strength is surging through me that I’ve never experienced before. I feel so incredibly alive. It makes me realize even more just what a weak zombie I’ve been lately. Now I feel like I’m finally waking up— body and soul— and I’m on fire.
    I can’t take it anymore. I need to do something before I explode.
    I turn to Kieron and grab his arm.
    “ Come with me.”

Ch apter 10. Lucky
     
    Kieron quickly slams the rest of his drink and sets his glass down on a passing table as I drag him through the bar. We exit through the curtains and return to the main club area. The smoky room is still packed with sweaty bodies, barely discernable under the funky glow of the strobe lights, and the music is deafening. There’s no way to talk and be heard in here, but that is exactly the point. All communication is purely physical.
    I push through the sea of bodies and find us a space. The beat is hard and fast, and it consumes me wholly as I press my body to Kieron’s and we start to move to the slower thump, thump of the bass. Strong… seductive. We twist like serpents dancing in the shadows, broken and disjointed under the pulsing rays of light. I close my eyes and let the music take me away as the beat pumps through my heart. Kieron’s arms are around my waist, and our hips connect and move in rhythmic synchronicity. I feel so sublimely free, like I’m literally floating in the air.
    Hot, sweaty and breathless, we grind to the music, lost in our own world, oblivious to others around us. I lose all sense of time and perspective. I just don’t care. Right now it’s just me and Kieron. There is no one else. His muscular body presses against mine, and he douses me with feverish kisses as our entangled bodies continue to gyrate. I haven’t felt like this with him in so long… the passion, the desire, the absolute need to ravage him and be consumed by him. It’s almost driving me mad.
    “ Let’s get out of here!” I shout in his ear. He nods and leads me from the dance floor back to the VIP area.
    “ I could definitely use another drink,” Kieron says as we pass through the long, velvet curtains.
    Me too.
    Jade is waiting at our table with a small smile. “Our house DJ is legendary for his beats. Nobody can resist getting their groove on when he spins.”
    I brush my hair from my face and nod. “I love dancing. Haven’t had the chance to do much lately. It’s nice to get some aggression out.” Especially since I have no outlet for any of my pent up energy these days. Right now I feel like I could run for miles and miles, and then kick a whole army of Light-angel ass by myself.
    “ I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. In a minute, there are some very important people I’d like you to meet. They came here specifically to see you.”
    I frown. “Me? Why?”
    Jade glances back and forth from me to Kieron, who’s