Free A Witch's Fury by Kim Schubert Page B

release I
needed.
    Lorraine stalked to the other side of Logan,
her heels getting caught in the holes in the parking lot.
    “What a loathsome establishment,” she hissed
at him.
    I rolled my eyes and shared a look with
Darren. Every shifter here had just heard her. Well, perhaps not
those inside the club, given the thumping music, but it was still
an ignorant statement to make while engaged to the Alpha of the
Shifter Nation. The music was far quieter than in a normal club, in
deference to the shifters’ superb hearing, but even they enjoyed
drowning their gifted senses in the pulsating beat.
    Darren blew out a breath. “This is an
interesting choice of venue,” he muttered to Logan, fully knowing
his voice would carry.
    Logan only shrugged, practically carrying
Lorraine. “He’s difficult to deal with; giving him home field
advantage will hopefully help smooth things over.” I smiled, happy
Logan was setting a precedent that didn’t require me to behave.
    Darren huffed. I stayed out of it. I was not
here tonight in my official capacity as right-hand arbitrator for
Logan. I was only here to make sure no one grabbed, molested, or
harassed Darren.
    Easy peasy.
    The bouncer at the front door gave me a long
look when it was my turn to gain entrance. The tall, tattooed man
inhaled deeply. “Not a shifter,” he growled.
    I slid up into his personal space. “Wanna
take a guess?” I whispered sultrily.
    Tall and beefy’s head dipped over my body in
appreciation before his eyes settled on my own, a wisp of a smile
on his lips.
    “She’s with us,” Alec said, dragging me away
from him.
    “Wait!” The bouncer called out, his brain
cells firing again. “She needs to be searched.”
    I pulled out of Alec’s hand as Logan and
Darren looked worriedly back at me. Turning, I held my hands out as
the bouncer reached out to pat my arms. I let my power out, desire
seeping into his hands. Raw, potent need flowed under his skin as
his hands checked my hips.
    He inhaled a shaky breath, hands running over
my spread thighs. He missed the knives in my boots, standing back
up, breathing heavily. I turned with a smile back to my group.
    I was going to have fun tonight.
    The interior of the club was everything I had
expected: low lighting for the shifters’ excellent eyesight, a deep
bass pulsing through the strategically placed speakers, and the
scent of wet, sweaty dog. I'd never admit that last observation
unless I was looking for a fight.
    Actually, I might be.
    Logan and Darren were escorted to a round
booth near the back, next to the bar. Alec and I stayed standing,
surveying the scene as the other three settled with a new member of
the group. My gut had me instantly disliking him and I wasn't sure
if it was the slimy appearance of his hair or the grainy cast to
his skin. I was certain that the cagey, drunk eyes roving over my
body had more to do with it.
    I adjusted my stance, watching his hands
closely. Shifters having a drink was not an uncommon event, but a
drunk shifter was something else. That took talent, to overload
their hyperactive metabolisms to achieve a state of
inebriation.
    I tuned out the conversation at the table,
choosing to focus on the bar instead. A long haired beauty with a
deep tan, dark makeup, and an alluring smile moved quickly filling
drink orders, her movements sure and practiced as she delivered
alcohol to the waiting crowds. The darkly lit dance floor was
loosely populated with couples wrapped delectably around each
other, pelvises aligned and grinding with a single-minded need.
    I was jealous of their total abandonment of
rational thought.
    Turning my attention back in front of me, I
raised an eyebrow at Alec who was sipping a beer. “How did you get
served so quickly?” I asked him softly.
    He smiled and flexed. I couldn't help but
roll my eyes. I turned my attention to Lorraine, sandwiched between
the larger men, looking miserable. That brought an honest grin to
my face.
    A woman's sweaty body