Guardian's Flame [Guardian City 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Grace Lynn Page B

the crowd with her entrancing voice.
    Nathan sat with his back to the wall, next to Demend. The table was thick, and the scratches told tales of bar fights. He was grateful he was strapped, and for once thought Demend might not be as paranoid as he once thought. The female swayed to the music, circling the pole in the middle of the stage with the grace of a ballet dancer. Nathan cocked his head at the conflicting images in his mind and quickly focused on the filled patrons in the club. Every table was full, and there wasn’t an extra chair to be seen anywhere. Money lined the table in large stacks, but no one made a move to approach the stage. Demend, what exactly is going on here?
    It’s an orgasm club. Incubi and Succubae come here from all over to try their charms, and whoever walks out with the most money wins a grand prize.
    So, she is going to do the fog thing to us? Jason asked.
    If we stay out here long enough, yes, but our bond should hold. She isn’t as strong as the fog was, Demend assured.
    A waiter approached the table, dressed in a leopard-print thong. Nathan slid a glance to Demend in concern. He wasn’t really up to being social. He wanted to find their mate and disappear. A set of guards appeared from a darkened hallway and approached their table, flanking the waiter.
    “Leo will allow you to search freely for your mate, with a guard of course,” the young waiter said with a dazzling smile that probably made him good money at an establishment like this. Nathan stood first, stepping in front of Demend with the protective, dumb-dog look he was learning to perfect. He needed to be in front anyways, since it was his nose they needed. He just couldn’t smell anything beyond stale beer and cigarettes in the bar itself. The guards stood aside, and Nathan went first. Jason followed, allowing Demend to cover the rear of their small group. Nathan walked to the hallway, sniffing the air experimentally before catching a slight hint of summer rain and earth. The smell was the same as both of his mates, with a hint of something exotic, deeper, and more dangerous.
    Nathan looked back at his mates before nodding his head. He could smell the scent. Demend nodded his head with a look of pure relief, and Nathan swelled with pride that he could be of some use. He followed the smell down the hallway, surprised at the trailer-like wood paneling on the walls. He almost commented at the difference in the décor, but thought better of it. His nose led him past the bathrooms, and through a door that was labeled “Fusion Personnel Only.” Nathan ignored the makeshift offices that were splattered throughout the room, following the succulent smell to its source. Nathan smelt his way to another closed door, but the scent had changed slightly with harder scents of blood, sickness and death.
    He opened the door, steeling himself to whatever was on the other side, but was surprised to find a staircase leading down into darkness. Nathan wondered what it was about the Incubi and darkness. He eased down the steps, with Jason latching firmly onto the hook of his jeans. Nathan was grateful for the touch, reminding him that he wasn’t walking down alone. The steps were old, and in some places had crumbled away. Nathan was careful, reaching the bottom of the steps easily. A large room that looked much like a kennel was laid out before him, only instead of cages it held closed cell doors.
    Nathan almost choked on the overbearing smell of urine, sickness, and blood. A hint of death touched the scent, but it must have been a while ago. Nathan followed the summer rain smell that was hidden beneath the layers, finally landing on a cell two doors from the wall.
    “Here,” Nathan said as he pointed to the cell, sure whoever was behind the cell was their mate.
    “Leo would like to see you in his office where you may discuss the issue,” the guard rumbled with a tone of annoyance.

Chapter Nine
     
    D followed the guards through the office