Skye's Trail by Jory Strong Page A

Transfixed. Unable to believe their good fortune or speak. Unable to take their eyes off the man they thought was a vampire.
     
    “Candy, Dawn, and Mike,” she introduced them.
     
    Gian acknowledged each of them, staring briefly into their eyes as he did so. A waitress appeared at the table unsummoned. “Were you about to order something?” Gian asked.
     
    “Beers,” Mike managed. “We were getting a round of beers.”
     
    Without a word the waitress disappeared. She returned within moments with four beers and a wineglass full of dark red wine.
     
    “Oh, wow,” Candy breathed. “You’re the real thing. I just know you’re the real thing.”
     
    Skye only barely managed to contain a laugh. Gian gave a slight smile and shook his head when Skye started to hand the waitress some money. “It’s on the house.”
     
    “This is your place?” she asked.
     
    “Along with some partners.”
     
    “At the private table?”
     
    “You’re very observant.”
     
    Skye half-smiled as she let her eyes move over his features, linger. He was unforgettable. Like no man she’d ever encountered before. He was pure sex. Life and death rolled into the same coin.
     
    Her body recognized him, just as it did Rico.
     
    A mate.
     
    “You’re hard to miss,” she said without inflection and let her eyes wander from Gian over to the kids.
     
    His eyes lingered on her for a second longer then he too shifted his focus to include the others in his comment. “I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.”
     
    “Oh,” Dawn was finally able to speak, “we’re here every night.”
     
    Candy added, “But mainly we’re waiting outside.”
     
    “Your club is like so totally rad,” Mike said.
     
    Gian gave a small smile. “I’ll tell the doorkeeper that you may come into the club any time it’s open. There’s no need to wait in line.”
     
    “Oh my god, oh my god,” Candy breathed. “I can’t believe this. It’s like the best night in my life.”
     
    “Perhaps mine as well,” Gian murmured. His dark eyes moved over Skye. “I can’t believe you’ve also been waiting outside.”
     
    “This is Skye’s first night here,” Mike volunteered before she could answer. “She’s just getting into the scene.”
     
    Dawn giggled and added, “Yeah, she’s a vampire virgin still.”
     
    Something burned deep in Gian’s eyes. He studied Skye. “Is that why you’re here? You’re trying to find a vampire?”
     
    Skye felt the pull of his eyes, as though once again he was trying to draw her into their darkness. Her lips tilted up in an amused smile. “That’s not high on my list tonight.”
     
    His eyes lingered on her face for a long moment before moving back and focusing on Mike. “The DJ is doing a good job. Wouldn’t you agree, Mike? It makes you want to get out on the dance floor.”
     
    Without hesitation, Mike stood. “You’re right. Come on, Dawn. The music is too good to miss. Let’s dance.” He didn’t stop to take a fortifying gulp of beer as he had before the last dance, this time he practically dragged his girlfriend to the dance floor.
     
    Skye picked up her own beer and took a swallow as she waited to see what Gian would do next. He turned slightly in his chair. Several tables over four young men sat. Like Mike, they were completely dressed in black. Three of them had canine teeth elongated and filed into sharp points. They were animated, high or drunk. The fourth sported silver studs and chains, but was quieter than his companions. There was no obvious contact between Gian and the young man, no point at which Skye knew Gian had used hypnosis, and yet the young man looked over at where Candy sat and got to his feet.
     
    He was hesitant, almost shy in his approach. But soon he stood next to the table, his attention on Candy. “Uh. Hi. You want to, uh, dance?”
     
    “Yeah,” Candy answered, breathless.
     
    Skye watched as the two young people moved through the crowd and got to