Dangerous Creatures

CHAPTER 16 For Those About to Rock

What is she doing here? Ridley thought. At least, that was her first thought. Her second was I’m going to kill her. The third was My mother is going to kill me.

“Link! Ridley!”

Link looked almost as shocked as Ridley. “Sweet Cheesus—”

Ryan Duchannes was at Sirene.

Ridley froze. It was an animal instinct—fight, flight, or freeze. Her little sister was here, at the club. Ryan was thirteen years old and expected to go Light as the sun itself. A Dark Caster Underground club was the last place you’d think to find her.

True, she was wearing makeup and a mess of an outfit Ridley couldn’t even begin to understand—plaid shorts, an argyle vest, knee-high duck boots, and a baseball cap. Ryan’s attempt at a signature style.

She stood there in the crowd, holding the cat, sandwiched between Dark Casters and looking about as out of place in the industrial warehouse as a Mortal Girl Scout would. Ridley’s sister would never have found this place on her own. Someone else was involved.

Someone powerful.

Someone who wants me to know just how powerful he is.

Running wasn’t an option. She couldn’t leave Ryan alone here.

Fight was out, too. Ridley didn’t know exactly what she was up against, but she had a pretty good idea.

This one move told her more than most. She could smell a predator a mile away, and more than anything, she knew when she was bested.

Checkmate, Lennox Gates.

She was in New York City, on his turf. She had dragged her boyfriend all the way here, and she’d put her future and his on the line. Now she was staring at her kid sister.

It was the first time Ridley understood that getting out of this whole mess was going to be trickier than she’d thought. She had underestimated her opponent. After Sarafine and Abraham, she thought she’d learned never to do that again.

Ridley’s hand was around Ryan’s wrist before Ryan could say another word. “Get out of here.”

“Why?” Ryan looked shocked. “I thought you invited me? For Link’s gig?”

“We didn’t invite you.” Ridley was already pulling Ryan toward the door, which wasn’t easy, seeing as she nearly knocked over an Incubus carrying a pitcher of what she doubted was cherry soda. He glared as she pushed past.

“How did you get here, Ryan?” The sisterly inquisition was on.

“Tunnels.”

“And Mom thinks?”

“Mamma thinks I’m sleeping at Jackie Eaton’s.” Ryan looked past Ridley. “Hey, Link.”

“Hey yourself, Ryan. Lookin’ sharp.” Link leaned in for the same old awkward hug he usually gave Rid’s little sister, the kind that avoided all unnecessary touching.

“Why are you here, Ryan?”

“That note you sent.”

“I never sent you a note.”

“Of course you did. I have it in my bag.” Ryan slipped her suede backpack off her shoulders and unzipped it. She handed Ridley a slick black envelope sealed with red wax.

The wax had been stamped with the letter S, only the S was a serpent. “ ‘Ridley Duchannes and Wesley Lincoln request the pleasure of your company at a private concert benefiting the Sirensong Foundation. Come join us in celebrating the opening of the club Sirene. R.S.V.P. & H.T.V.T.’ ” Ridley looked up. “What the hell? Is this some kind of a joke?”

“H.T.V.T.?” Link looked blank.

“Hold to Virtually Teleport. It’s a Rip letter. All Ryan had to do was go anywhere in the Tunnels with this thing in her hand and she Ripped right here.”

Ryan’s eyes were still glowing. “It was like riding in a Ferrari.”

Ridley shook her head. “Not an easy Cast, more of a status thing. You know, big party, transportation provided. Check it out.” Ridley held the letter out to Link.

He raised his hands. “No way. I’m not touchin’ that thing. I have a bad enough time Rippin’ as it is.” Link looked as worried as she felt.

She knew they shouldn’t have come here. But then, if we hadn’t, who would be taking care of Ryan right now?

Ryan’s face clouded over. “If you didn’t invite me, Rid, then who did?”

“I did.” The words sounded like they came from the sky, both above and behind her. But Ridley knew better.

Not the sky—the balcony. Ridley recognized the voice immediately, though she hadn’t heard it in weeks now. It still made her shiver.

The one who looked as hot as he acted cold.

The one she owed not one but two markers.

One that could ruin her relationship, and one that could ruin her life.

He was the reason they were here tonight, and the reason she was in New York at all.

Ridley had finally met her match, and his name was Lennox Gates. Ryan was his move. It was a challenge, head to head. Siren versus whatever the hell kind of Dark Caster he was.

Forget Liar’s Trade. The real game was only now beginning.

This might be Link’s audition, but it was her game.

Her fist clenched in the sudden green light of her Binding Ring.

It’s on.

The moment she turned to look at him, the club went quiet.

Not quiet—utterly and completely silent, because there was no one left inside. Every single person had disappeared, and now it was just the two of them. Ridley could hear her own heart pounding.

Lennox Gates was there, standing at the railing of a raised industrial platform. His eyes were as intense—and as gold-flecked—as she remembered. Something about them reminded her of what Dark Fire looked like.

Pure power.

Ridley couldn’t see past what he wore under the leather jacket, but it was clear that whatever it was concealing included a compact, athletic build. His golden hair fell around his face and almost curled in places, especially near his neck. He looks like ambition, she thought.

He looks like danger.

Ridley didn’t take her eyes off his face. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of thinking he had impressed her with his little magic show.

Anyone could—what? Evaporate a room full of heavily Charmed and powerfully protected Supernaturals? Throw down a Temporal Distortion like that? Not really.

No one could, except maybe Lena. Even then, it wouldn’t be easy.

Ridley had to admit that. Her heart was pounding, and she wondered if he could hear it, which only made it pound harder.

Get it together, Rid.

She spoke first. Not broke first, she thought. Keep playing the long game. Focus on how you will destroy this person. “You must be really proud of yourself for pulling that one off.”

His eyes didn’t waver from her face. “I’m almost never proud. They say it goes before a fall, and I’m not planning on falling.”

“That’s funny, since I’m not planning on caring. Now what did you do with the nice people in the club, Mr. Gates?”

He waved a hand dismissively. “They’re still there. Having the night of their lives. Or so they think.”

Condescending jerk. “You’re talking about my sister and my boyfriend,” Ridley said. “Put them back or you’ll wish you never met me.”

“How do you know I don’t wish that already?” Now he was smiling.

“What’s it to me, either way?” Ridley smiled back. “Whatever your problem is with me, I guarantee you it’s about to get a thousand times worse. Ask around. I’m sort of famous for that.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” He snapped his fingers and the noise, the chaos, the wild adrenaline of the club instantly returned. He raised his voice over the noise. “Who said I had a problem with you? I’ve missed you since our little encounter at Suffer.”

He snapped his fingers again, and the people disappeared for a second time.

“See? Everyone’s happy as a soft-shell clam.” He gestured toward her. “But this is me time. You and me time. What’s that in your hand?”

Ridley looked down at the black envelope Ryan had given her. It only took a moment before the room around it went even blacker.