Chapter 13

13

Grant and Jong-hyun chugged energy drinks at breakfast due to our late-night escape that had us returning to the room well after midnight. After dessert, we’d gone for a walk around the casino and they’d explained some of the games to me, extending the relaxing evening and the joy I felt returning to my chest.

Jong-min and Reed seemed irritated that we’d gone out by ourselves without alerting them, but didn’t say much aside from a random growl or two, which was honestly their more common response to most things.

Once they got checked in, the guys all grew very serious and quiet. I stayed at Jong-min’s side, at his request, as the rest took turns going to play. Jong-min had the latest start and he said it would make him feel better to have me with him. I found that really odd considering the grumpy feline shifter usually just growled at me, but I wasn’t going to look a gift cat in the mouth.

“You won’t be able to stand near me while I’m playing,” he explained as it neared his time. “They would be too worried about you cheating. There is a bar with a view of the table I’ll be at, so you can sit there, drink, and look pretty.”

“Aw, you think I’m pretty?” I teased to lighten the mood.

“Pretty aggravating,” he grumbled, but I knew he was only teasing me.

I kissed his cheek and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, giving him a tight squeeze. “I love you, tiger.”

He sighed. “I keep telling you that I’m not a tiger.”

He did, but it didn’t stop me from saying it often to get the wearied sigh from him.

“I’m sorry I snuck out of bed last night,” I apologized, since I hadn’t had the chance to do so yet.

He set his hand on my forearm across his chest and patted it twice. “It’s alright. I understand the occasional need to escape, especially when sleep evades you.”

“When we get home, will you sing for me?” I asked.

“If I win my matches today, I will take you to karaoke and sing for you there,” he promised.

My mouth dropped and I nodded vigorously. “Yes, please!”

He kissed my cheek and stood. “Go to the bar there, please, so I can see you while I play.”

I grabbed his face between my hands, squishing his cheeks and kissed him hard on the lips. “Go get ‘em, tiger.”

He sighed, but smiled, and shook his head. As he walked away, he said something in his native language that I was beginning to understand was closely related to “what a brat,” in English. Someday, I would learn their language.

Heading to the bar he pointed at, I ordered a drink and sat down to watch him play.

The noise in this area was quieter than a normal casino, but that was due to the poker games and people being a bit more respectful.

Two women sat down next to me, chatting animatedly to each other as they ordered a drink. Both wore club dresses that showed a lot of cleavage and barely covered their butts. As I looked at them and compared my own jeans and t-shirt, I wondered if I had underdressed for the occasion.

They noticed me looking at them and smiled.

I returned their smile, with lips closed, and raised my glass in salute.

They did the same and then moved closer.

“Are you here with one of the players?” the one in the red dress asked.

I nodded. “You two?”

The one in the blue dress nodded. “It’s our first time.”

“It’s my first time here, too,” I admitted. “My guys have been here before though.”

“I’m Lana, this is Tiffany,” blue dress introduced.

“Kass,” I replied and shook her hand. Her skin was incredibly soft and delicate and as I inhaled, I quickly realized they were human. Definitely needed to keep my teeth away from view.

“Guys?” red dress, Tiffany, asked. “You lucky bitch.”

I laughed and nodded. “I am pretty lucky.”

“Are you a shifter?” Lana asked.

I nodded.

“That’s so cool!” she shouted.

The bartender shushed her and she quickly dropped her head.

“Are your guys shifters, too?” Tiffany asked.

I nodded. “Yep. What about you two?”

“Vampires,” they said simultaneously and giggled like it was something that happened often.

My heart beat faster, but I lifted my lips in a smile. “Well, I’d wish you luck, but since my guys are competing against yours, it wouldn’t really be true.”

They laughed and started talking to each other about someone they saw far away.

I continued sipping on my drink and watching Jong-min. he always looked cool and composed, but playing poker, he was a textbook definition of it. There was still so much for me to learn about these men.

“So, you’re the infamous Kassidy, huh?” a woman asked as she sat on my right.

I glanced over at her, but didn’t recognize her. She had long, wavy blonde hair, thick lashes that framed brilliant blue eyes, and a fit body shown off in a black bodycon dress. I was definitely underdressed for this event. “Sorry, I don’t think we’ve met.”

She flipped her long hair over her shoulder and held her hand up to the bartender, who was at the other end, to get his attention. “No, but I’ve heard all about you from Preston.”

My proverbial hackles were immediately raised. “Preston knows nothing about me,” I said, “and you should be careful who you take information from.”

“You’re a shark shifter, one of the few still alive, and an Atlantean at that, but a banished one. That’s probably why Reed even gave you the time of day, he felt bad for you, just like he feels bad for those other rejects he calls ‘pack’ … for now.”

“Who are you?” I asked. “And why are you sitting near me like I won’t bite your head off, literally, if you don’t stop talking poorly about my men?”

The bartender finally came over and she ordered a gin and tonic before turning to face me. “My name is Samantha. I’m Reed’s mate.”