Read Online Club Nexus (Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective) by E.J. Stevens - Free Book Online
Authors: E.J. Stevens
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settled in to wait. Unfortunately,
my patience was rewarded by the appearance of Puck. I cursed under my breath,
hands twitching along the catch that would release my sword from its wooden sheath.
Whatever that trickster wanted with Jinx, it couldn’t be good. I pushed my way
through the crowd, hoping to catch their conversation.
I stopped mid-stride, head snapping back as if slapped by an
invisible hand, as Jinx led the angelic looking faerie onto the dance floor.
If the reverse had been true, I’d have sliced Puck’s hand off—and to Hell with
the consequences—but Jinx was acting as the aggressor. I hoped she lived long
enough to regret the dubious decision.
I briefly closed my eyes and had to look away when Puck’s
hands settled on Jinx’s full hips. I never thought I’d envy the trickster, but
at the moment I’d pay handsomely to trade places with the predatory scoundrel.
I paced restlessly, gathering the courage to continue my observations.
When I looked back, Jinx and Puck were leaving the dance
floor, heading back toward the bar. I followed at a careful distance, not
wanting to alert Puck to my presence.
I tried not to focus on Puck’s hand resting possessively
around Jinx’s waist. I didn’t wish to see any additional displays of affection
from my rival, but I had come to ensure Jinx’s safety and that was a duty I
would carry out, no matter how vexing the task.
At the bar, Puck proceeded to fix a drink for Jinx and I
expelled a pained breath as I watched the white powder dissolve in her glass.
This was too much to bear. The trickster was trying to drug the woman I’d come
here to protect. I launched myself forward, ready to knock the glass from
Jinx’s hand, but I never had the chance.
Before I could reach the bar, Ivy toasted Jinx and Puck,
knocking the drugged beverage to the floor. Moments later, Ivy swayed
drunkenly on her stool and tumbled to join the puddle of alcohol and shattered
glass.
What the Hellfire was going on?
I wasn’t sure what Ivy was up to—had she also caught a
glimpse of Puck’s attempt to drug Jinx?—but I knew the detective well enough to
guess that her drunkenness was a ruse. Jinx’s friend was more uptight than a
Puritan in a bordello. She’d never willingly drink enough alcohol to lose
control, certainly not here in a club filled with immortals carrying millennia
of potential nightmare visions.
I tugged at my gloves, a slow smile replacing my earlier
scowl. I may not know what game Ivy was playing at, but I did enjoy the
temporary result. Puck was frowning, his hands opening and closing at his
sides as if he’d like to wring the wisp princess’ neck. Well, we’ve all felt
that way at some time or other, but at the moment I was quite pleased with the
woman’s performance. Anything that angered the trickster was splendid in my
book.
As I watched, Puck left Jinx’s side, stalking away from the
bar and toward a vampire who stood waiting at the edge of the dance floor. I
followed at a discreet distance, humming and twirling my walking stick to the
music, the very image of blithe ignorance. He passed a key and a small bag
containing a white, powdery substance to the vampire and kept moving.
Puck continued on toward a door at the back of the bar. He
looked furtively to his left and right, slid a key of his own from his pants’
pocket, and unlocked the door. With one last glance around the room, the
faerie slipped inside.
My curiosity was piqued. The trickster’s behavior was
interesting, indeed. Puck may have pulled the wool over Jinx’s eyes, but I
knew what he was capable of. If he was sneaking off into the back rooms
instead of fawning over a pretty woman, no matter how annoying her friend, he
must be up to something particularly despicable. Perhaps if I could catch him
in an act of heinous trickery, I could convince Jinx to keep her distance from
the cretin.
At the edge of the dance floor, my
my patience was rewarded by the appearance of Puck. I cursed under my breath,
hands twitching along the catch that would release my sword from its wooden sheath.
Whatever that trickster wanted with Jinx, it couldn’t be good. I pushed my way
through the crowd, hoping to catch their conversation.
I stopped mid-stride, head snapping back as if slapped by an
invisible hand, as Jinx led the angelic looking faerie onto the dance floor.
If the reverse had been true, I’d have sliced Puck’s hand off—and to Hell with
the consequences—but Jinx was acting as the aggressor. I hoped she lived long
enough to regret the dubious decision.
I briefly closed my eyes and had to look away when Puck’s
hands settled on Jinx’s full hips. I never thought I’d envy the trickster, but
at the moment I’d pay handsomely to trade places with the predatory scoundrel.
I paced restlessly, gathering the courage to continue my observations.
When I looked back, Jinx and Puck were leaving the dance
floor, heading back toward the bar. I followed at a careful distance, not
wanting to alert Puck to my presence.
I tried not to focus on Puck’s hand resting possessively
around Jinx’s waist. I didn’t wish to see any additional displays of affection
from my rival, but I had come to ensure Jinx’s safety and that was a duty I
would carry out, no matter how vexing the task.
At the bar, Puck proceeded to fix a drink for Jinx and I
expelled a pained breath as I watched the white powder dissolve in her glass.
This was too much to bear. The trickster was trying to drug the woman I’d come
here to protect. I launched myself forward, ready to knock the glass from
Jinx’s hand, but I never had the chance.
Before I could reach the bar, Ivy toasted Jinx and Puck,
knocking the drugged beverage to the floor. Moments later, Ivy swayed
drunkenly on her stool and tumbled to join the puddle of alcohol and shattered
glass.
What the Hellfire was going on?
I wasn’t sure what Ivy was up to—had she also caught a
glimpse of Puck’s attempt to drug Jinx?—but I knew the detective well enough to
guess that her drunkenness was a ruse. Jinx’s friend was more uptight than a
Puritan in a bordello. She’d never willingly drink enough alcohol to lose
control, certainly not here in a club filled with immortals carrying millennia
of potential nightmare visions.
I tugged at my gloves, a slow smile replacing my earlier
scowl. I may not know what game Ivy was playing at, but I did enjoy the
temporary result. Puck was frowning, his hands opening and closing at his
sides as if he’d like to wring the wisp princess’ neck. Well, we’ve all felt
that way at some time or other, but at the moment I was quite pleased with the
woman’s performance. Anything that angered the trickster was splendid in my
book.
As I watched, Puck left Jinx’s side, stalking away from the
bar and toward a vampire who stood waiting at the edge of the dance floor. I
followed at a discreet distance, humming and twirling my walking stick to the
music, the very image of blithe ignorance. He passed a key and a small bag
containing a white, powdery substance to the vampire and kept moving.
Puck continued on toward a door at the back of the bar. He
looked furtively to his left and right, slid a key of his own from his pants’
pocket, and unlocked the door. With one last glance around the room, the
faerie slipped inside.
My curiosity was piqued. The trickster’s behavior was
interesting, indeed. Puck may have pulled the wool over Jinx’s eyes, but I
knew what he was capable of. If he was sneaking off into the back rooms
instead of fawning over a pretty woman, no matter how annoying her friend, he
must be up to something particularly despicable. Perhaps if I could catch him
in an act of heinous trickery, I could convince Jinx to keep her distance from
the cretin.
At the edge of the dance floor, my
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