Chapter 120 Playing games

Chapter 120 Playing games
Seraphina's POV:

The bass of the club pulsed through the floor beneath my heels as I watched Soren disappear toward the bar. For the first time in weeks, I felt almost normal. There were no bodies on the ground, no blood staining my our shirts. No constant fear that the ghost from my past would appear and tear apart everything I loved, just the beat of the music flowing through me and my men by my side. 

Just one night to breathe. I stay on the dance floor for another minute, letting the rhythm carry me before finally turning toward our VIP section. I immediately stop, my green eyes narrowing at the sight in front of me. That is interesting. Cassian and Malakai aren’t alone.

Two women occupying the booth beside them, both laughing a little too loudly at whatever was being said. One was blonde, the other brunette. Beautiful, polished, dressed to attract attention. The blonde leans toward Malakai, her hand resting lightly on his arm. Like she belongs there.
I stared. Then smile. Because unlike most people expected, I wasn’t angry. I wasn’t going to make a scene. And I definitely wasn’t going to hurt anyone.

I was going to have fun. Across the room, Soren glances up from the bar carrying a tray of drinks. Our eyes met. His gaze followed mine toward the booth. A slow grin spreads across his face. The bastard knows exactly what I am thinking. A quiet laugh escapes him. Just loud enough for me to hear. Poor Cassian and Malakai.

I shoot him a smirk. Then made my way toward the table. The second I arrive, both men visibly tense. I slide directly between them, forcing them apart to make room for me.

“Hello, boys.”

Malakai closes his eyes briefly. Cassian looks like he is preparing for impact.

“Oh no,” I say sweetly. “Don’t stop talking on my account.”

The two women exchanged a glance.

The brunette smiles politely.

“We were just talking.”

“So I heard.”

I accept the drink Soren handed me before settling comfortably against the booth. The blonde straightens. 

“We were asking about their company.”

“Really?”

I tilt my head. “That’s fascinating.”

The blonde smiles again. Something about it feels forced.

“What do you do?” I ask.

“Oh. Um…”

The hesitation was immediate. I take a sip of my drink waiting for her response. 

“What company do you work for?”

The brunette suddenly became very interested in her cocktail. Malakai looks ready to throw himself off the balcony. Soren sits across from us looking entirely too entertained. I continue smiling.

“How did you meet these two?”

“We didn’t.”

“Ah.” I nodded. “That makes more sense.”The silence grows heavier.

Cassian rubbed a hand across his face. The blonde shifted uncomfortably in her seat. I lean back against the booth.

“You know,” I said conversationally, “people always find Malakai intimidating.”

The blonde laughed nervously. “I can see that.”

“Oh, he’s actually very sweet.”

Malakai turns slowly toward me. “Seraphina.”

I ignored him.

“Very protective.”

“Seraphina.”

“Extremely possessive.”

Soren nearly choked on his drink. The brunette looks concerned. Cassian looks seconds away from laughing. I continued.

“Honestly, if someone gets the wrong idea around the people he cares about, he gets grumpy for days.”

The blonde immediately removed her hand from Malakai’s arm. My smile brightens instantly. I can tell my plan is working perfectly. 

“And Cassian?” Cassian groaned.

“Don’t drag me into this.”

“Oh, you’re absolutely being dragged into this.” 

The brunette shifted farther away putting distance between them. Soren is openly laughing now. The women exchange another look.The kind people shared when they realized they had accidentally wandered into dangerous territory. I leaned forward slightly.

“Anyway, enough about them.”

Neither woman looked convinced. A few awkward moments later, the brunette stood.

“We should probably get back to our friends.”

“Great idea,” the blonde agreed immediately.

Both women practically flee. The second they disappeared into the crowd, I lost the battle. A giggle escapes me, then another. Soon I was laughing so hard I had to set my drink down. Soren joins in instantly. Cassian buried his face in his hands.

“You are impossible.”

“I didn’t do anything,” I protested between laughs.

“You interrogated them.”

“I asked questions.”

“You hunted them.”

“I was being friendly.”

Soren barked out another laugh. Malakai remained completely silent. That was worse.
Much worse. I finally looked at him. His dark eyes are fixed on me. Calm. Steady. Dangerously amused. My laughter fades slowly. 

“Oh.”

Cassian immediately lookes away, knowing what’s coming. Soren suddenly became fascinated with his drink. Malakai reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture is gentle. The look in his eyes isn’t. 

“When we get home,” he said quietly, “you are in so much trouble, little vixen.”

Heat instantly rushes into my cheeks. Soren laughed again. Cassian shook his head.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, surrounded by the people I loved most, the darkness waiting outside the club didn’t seem quite so overwhelming.