Free Blue Moon Rising (The Patroness) by Natalie Herzer Page B

inviting zinc coated bar counter. The rest of the room was dominated by a well-worn dance floor, surrounded by several cozy looking seating corners. On the dance floor were two small platforms with strippers on top of them. Their dancing, pure sex. One of them had even changed a little, showing off her cheetah ears and tail. Right now she was moving the latter in a definitely not submissive manner between her legs.
    I followed Kylian, who was moving towards the bar. Good choice. We sat on barstools and surveyed the surroundings. A lot of skin, no weapons. Yeah, well, they didn’t exactly need them, ten razor-sharp claws and five-inch long teeth did the job too. I was glad Cutter was hidden from their view as long as it stayed sheathed. I loved magic.
    The bartender came to us and leaned over a bit, ready to take our orders. He looked positively yummy, like every shapeshifter I’ve come across so far. “Is that some kind of admission requirement?” Did they just change the hot guys, or what? Why weren’t there any ugly shapeshifters?
    “What?” both men asked in unison.
    “Never mind. Coffee and a Calvados, please.”
    Kylian looked at me. “What beer would you recommend?”
    “Bottled or draft?”
    “Bottled.”
    After a little thinking, I ordered a Breton beer for him. The bartender nodded and prepared our drinks, his moves quick and automatic. In the meantime I looked around again. The place was already crowded, on the dance floor near naked bodies were sinfully moving against each other, getting carried away in a wave of lust. Expressions of pure delight and wicked desire spreading across their faces.
    I felt Kylian watching me intently. “You’ve never been to a shapeshifter hangout, right?”
    “I’ve never had the privilege, no.”
    “Do you like it?”
    Did I like it? Let me think. I was a woman who’d gone without sex for over a year now, in a club bursting with sex and a guy at my side who constantly brought my hormones up to their boiling point. I liked being here probably as much as a recovering alcoholic being in a liquor store.
    I ignored his question. “To be honest, I hadn’t expected this. Shapeshifters claim themselves to be always in control and disciplined, so I’m kinda surprised to see them all so…loose.”
    He chuckled. “Well, that’s why we generally don’t allow outsiders to hang out here. We need to preserve our reputation. But, deep down we’re half animals, and we do accumulate aggressions and emotions that need an outlet. Fighting or…” he motioned with his head to the side of the floor. On one of the silk covered tables a woman was having a really good time with two men. I swallowed.
    The bartender brought us our drinks and I sweetened my coffee which gave me a little break and time to gather myself. Not wanting to raise suspicions by changing the subject too abruptly I tried to guide it into hopefully calmer waters. “What about life-long mating then? Just a fairy tale?”
    “No, it exists. The problem is you can’t know for sure until after having sex with the potential mate.”
    So much for a calmer topic. I arched an eyebrow at him.
    His lips curved . “Okay, there are signs even before that. But most of us prefer playing it safe.”
    “I bet you do.” Intrigued, I inquired, “How can you be sure, after the sex I mean? What happens?”
    “That I can’t tell you.”
    I leaned back. “Ah, here it comes, the famous shapeshifter secrecy. Why am I not surprised?” I shook my head and downed my Calvados, enjoying the sweet burn along my throat.
    Kylian tried to explain, “It’s to protect our women, our mates.”
    I looked at him, still not buying it. “What? Do you think I would run off and kill your potential mates?”
    He stayed earnest. “Some might. I’m not saying you would.”
    “Oh yes, you kinda are. Otherwise you’d just tell me.” He confused me, I needed another drink. “Did you like the beer? Want another one or something new?”
    Kylian