Alpha Mine (The Alpha Council Chronicles) (26 page)

Stephan watched Kat and Nicholai gyrate on the crowded dance floor. He cringed each time someone accidentally bumped into Kat.

Marcus pointed to the landing above the bar.
It’s quieter and less crowded up in the VIP section. Perhaps we should move up there.

A perfect suggestion.
Sounds good. As soon as this song is over I’ll get Nicholai and Kat.

When the song ended, Stephan made his way through the crowd to the couple. “We’re moving upstairs. Come on.” He gently took Katrina’s elbow and guided her toward the stairs, Nicholai hot on their heels.

Upstairs the VIP hostess showed the group to a booth. When he looked at Kat he discovered she was looking around, her mouth gaping wide. Judging by the look on her face, she seemed awed by the splendor. His own eyes, also tracked the room.

Each booth consisted of a semicircular couch with a glass table in front. White fabric beaded with silver sequins throughout draped the walls. Colored lights that changed from blue, to pink, to yellow lit the area. The lights reflected off the white couches and draping giving the illusion that they too changed colors.

The VIP dance floor was smaller than the one downstairs, but not crowded. The lights played off the floor, creating swirling colors of blue, yellow, and pink. He couldn’t help but notice the way Kat looked wistfully at the floor.

“Want to dance, Kitty Kat?”

“Love to.” Katrina scooted out of the booth behind Marcus.

Throughout the evening, the males took turns dancing with Kat as the hours passed. Stephan had been careful to always cut in during the slower songs, not wanting to miss an opportunity to hold her in his arms. Katrina looked nearly danced out when Stephan approached the dance floor.

“Mind if I cut in?” He tapped Nicholai on his broad shoulder.

“Not at all.” Nicholai gracefully handed Kat into Stephan’s waiting arms before leaving the couple alone to join Marcus in the booth.

As Stephan spun with her on the floor he ran one hand down her back and rested it on the small of her back. He pulled her against him, dipping his face to her hair, taking in the honeysuckle smell before resting his chin on her shoulder.

“I love you,” he whispered into her ear. And he really did, with his whole heart.

“I love you too,” she replied with a sigh.

He heard her heart accelerate, scented her desire as their bodies brushed one another while they danced. He slipped into her mind, allowing her desire to flow into him. He savored the feeling of the contrast of her softness to his hardness. She flowed in his arms like liquid heat, igniting the passion within him.

His hand traveled from her back to cup her chin, and he bent down to capture her mouth. His tongue slid between her parted lips, danced in rhythm to the music. He thoroughly explored the hot cavern of her mouth, tasting her kiss. He’d never get enough of her kiss, of her.

When the music came to a stop, he reluctantly broke the kiss and pulled back to gaze into Kat’s eyes. She looked beautiful. Her lips were swollen from their kiss, her eyes slightly closed. She gazed from under her long lashes at him.

A sultry smile came to Katrina’s lips. “Do you mind if we sit the next song out? I could really use a drink. I’m hot.”

“Yes, you are,” he agreed with a husky voice. After seeing her to the booth, he made his way to the bar and ordered her favorite drink. He brought the Long Island Iced Tea back to the booth, just as the music stopped and the emcee broke in.

“Ladies and gentleman, I have a treat for you tonight. It is time for our annual Comical Costume Contest. We have a real treat for you this year. Our scouts found seven of the funniest costumes in the crowd tonight. Now it’s time for you to decide who should win the trophy for the funniest costume.

“One by one the contestants will come out on the stage and strut their stuff. Once you have seen them all we’ll bring them back out and you’ll vote for the one you like best by cheering. The one getting the loudest cheers will win. Are you ready?” The emcee paused as the crowd responded with clapping and shouting. “Very well let’s bring out the first one.”

Kat moved forward in the booth to get a better view, her thigh brushed his. Their booth faced the stage, so they had a good view. The group watched the first contestant appear on stage.

A man, dressed in a white T-shirt and jeans, walked out backwards. When he turned around, Stephan could see a stuffed horse’s head attached to his groin. The emcee announced, “Ladies I give you Hung Like A Horse.”

The crowd erupted with female cat calls and laughter.

“That’s original.” Marcus took a sip of his bourbon. “Okay, now
that’s
funny,” he continued, tipping his glass toward the next contestant.

“Next is Shark Attack,” the emcee announced. A blonde woman walked across the stage wearing a bikini top and a shark. The costume had been designed to look like the shark was eating her from the bottom up, her chest and head stuck out of its open mouth.

“This damsel is in real distress. She might need mouth to mouth. Any takers?” the emcee asked as the noise from the crowd turned deeply masculine.

“I wouldn’t mind giving her a little mouth to mouth,” Marcus volunteered. Nicholai lifted his glass in a salute of agreement and downed the rest of his vodka tonic.

“How about mouth to mouth with her?” he asked Marcus sarcastically as the next person walked on stage.

An out of shape, middle-aged man, dressed in a two piece showgirl outfit walked across the stage. A red feather boa and feathered headpiece completed his white and red sequined outfit. “Meet Ooh La La Lola,” said the emcee, pausing to allow the man to exit the stage as the crowd applauded. “This next one is a killer. Killer B that is.”

Out walked a woman in a large letter B. She held a bloody knife in one hand while blood dripped down her face as well as the B costume.

“We all like pigs in a blanket, but I never knew they could be so cute,” said the emcee as a pretty red head with freckles all over her face came out wrapped in a blue blanket that had the heads of cute piglets attached to it.

“Now there is a pig in a blanket I could really sink my teeth into.” Marcus smiled an evil grin.

Stephan laughed. “You always have had a thing for redheads.”

Kat took a sip of her drink as the emcee announced, “Now this one is for you ladies.”

A man dressed up as a medieval knight walked slowly out onto the stage to a round of feminine cat calls. He wore a chainmail tunic that hung well past his knees. As he reached the center of the stage, he lifted the chainmail to reveal an extremely large penis, the size of a log, sewn onto his groin of the costume. “A Knight to Remember,” joked the emcee. Another round of feminine cat calls went out.

Kat laughed so hard she nearly spit her drink all over Stephan. She seemed to be having the time of her life. And he had to admit, he was having a blast this Halloween—thanks to her. Stephan reached over and placed his hand on her knee, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“And now last but not least, we have Deviled Egg,” the emcee announced as a man walked out on the stage. Dressed in an egg shaped costume, with his arms and legs poked out of the fabric, he looked ridiculous. The costume was white with a yellow circle yoke in the stomach area. A pair of big red devil horns attached to the head and a pointed red tail that hung down in the back completed the costume. The man’s face stuck through the material just under where the horns attached.

Marcus and Nicholai’s laughing stopped abruptly and realization crossed their faces in the same instance. When both men quieted, Stephan sensed the tension rolling between them. The two males turned to look at each other in unison.

“That’s…” started Nicholai.

“I know” stated Marcus.

Stephan, we have a problem. That egg is one of Gage’s men. Alvero.

Stephan sent his senses flaring out through the club. He could feel three distinct vampires one of which currently stood on stage. His heart clenched in his chest, threatening to stop its beating as he realized Katrina may be in danger. He berated himself to not being more vigilant and monitoring the club all evening. He should have known there were other vampires in the building. He’d allowed his feelings for Katrina to distract him.

It will not happen again
, he vowed to himself

Marcus, we need to get Kat out of here, now, before he sees her or recognizes one of us,
Stephan ordered. Marcus’ concern passed across the mindlink, flooding Stephan with dread.

I agree.
Marcus nodded his head.

Stephan leaned over and whispered into Kat’s ear. “We need to leave, sweetheart.”

“Why?” Kat looked at him questioningly, the smile fading from her lips.

“That egg is one of Lucio’s men. We need to get out of here before he realizes who we are.” Stephan pulled the red hood over Kat’s blonde locks. Tucked it around her face, relieved her costume had come with a mask. She held the hood closed at her chin with one hand as her other hand found his.

After sliding from the booth and leaving a generous tip, the group made its way toward the exit. Marcus and Stephan flanked Katrina on each side with Nicholai taking up the rear of the group. He glanced several times at the stage as they made their way out of the club to be sure the vampire didn’t notice them.

Stephan knew it was a bad idea to go out. He had said as much to Kat and Marcus, but he allowed his emotions for Kat to overrule his common sense. He silently cursed himself for allowing her to be placed in potential danger once again. His mind dreamt up all kinds of scary scenarios which could have happened if Gage’s guard had spotted them. For all he knew, other guards might be watching them while they stood waiting for the valet to bring his car around. He scanned the surrounding area looking for anything out of the ordinary.

As he kept a wary eye out for trouble, he realized that as long as Gage was alive his Katrina would never be safe. He would forever be looking over his shoulder. Stephan turned toward Nicholai. “Contact Demetri and ask him to meet us at the penthouse. We need to talk.”

Chapter 31

The car ride back to the penthouse had been a silent sprint. Stephan wove in and out of traffic, his only concern getting back to the relative safety of his home. He wanted Kat tucked away safe from the potential eyes of his enemy. As he drove, he kept a wary eye on the rear view mirror the entire ride, watching for any signs that they were being followed.

Stephan ruminated on the close call while he, Nicholai, and Marcus sat in the living room facing each other. No one spoke. Each warrior seemed lost in his own thoughts about the female who stood out on the terrace taking in deep gulps of air. With her arms wrapped around her chest, she stared out over the strip.

Stephan tore his eyes away from his lover. “What did Demetri say when you contacted him, Nicholai?”

“He was with Vlad. They were going to pick up Alex on the way here.”

Marcus crossed his leg bringing his ankle to rest on his opposite knee. “So when are the other Alphas due to arrive?”

As if in answer to Marcus’ question, the buzzer rang, and Stephan went to usher the new arrivals into the penthouse. He opened the heavy door wide and greeted the three males standing on the other side in the way of warriors, by clasping each one in turn by the forearms. Demetri entered first quietly making his way to the living room to join Nicholai and Marcus.

Alexander Hall was the next to enter. The youngest of the Alphas at barely over one hundred years old, he wore jeans and a T-shirt. After shrugging out of his leather jacket, he ran a hand through his short blond hair. He was unusually silent as he made his way toward the living room.

Vladimir Starikovich followed him through the door and into the living room. Unlike Alexander, Vladimir was a man of few words. While not the biggest man on the team, he was very strong and cunning. Living in Siberia taught him survival skills none of the others had. Skills which had come in handy more than once. He wore his black hair cut in a military crew style and dressed in all black that would, if needed, allow him to slip into a shadow becoming nothing more than darkness.

After greeting his fellow Alphas, Vlad sunk into one of the black leather couches, careful to position himself toward an exit. Stephan watched the six-foot-six Siberian warrior rub his stubbled head, then clasp his hands behind it.

Alex grasped Stephan then Marcus by the forearms and said “It is good to see ya, friends.” His southern twang drew the last word out making it sing-songy.

“It’s good to see you both,” said Marcus, glancing from Alexander to Vladimir.

“Da, I agree,” Vlad replied efficiently, as was his way.

“Hey, where’s Michael?” asked Alexander taking notice of the only missing Alpha.

Stephan straightened. “My plane was delayed in Savannah due to the weather, so Michael will not be able to join us this evening.”

“Michael always was the last to arrive,” observed Vlad, his thick Siberian accent making the W’s sound like V’s.

“That’s true,” agreed Stephan. “Let me get right to the point.”

The Alphas listened while he succinctly relayed the events of the past few days, beginning with the confrontation with Gage and ending with the costume contest. Vlad nodded at Demetri with respect when Stephan relayed how the Alpha had rescued Katrina from being abducted.

Alex smiled knowingly at Stephan when he talked about Kat, probably because his voice went soft when he spoke her name. He couldn’t help it. He was in love. And Alex apparently approved.

“So where do we go from here, comrade?” asked Demetri leaning forward to rest his thick forearms on his thighs.

“I’m not sure. Do you have any ideas?” Stephan asked.

Demetri nodded. “I suggest you convert her to make her stronger, less vulnerable.”

Alexander gestured at the portrait of vampiric Kat hanging on the wall with a jerk of his thumb. “I thought she was a vampire.”

“No. She is mortal,” Marcus informed Alex.

Alexander looked perplexed. “But you said she fought one of Gage’s guards.”

A prideful look adorned Stephan’s face. “She did. Marcus has been teaching her how to fight. But she was lucky, caught the male off guard. If Demetri hadn’t arrived when he did, I’m afraid things would have turned out much different.”
Bile rose from his stomach.