Soulfire by Juliette Cross Page A

where she was applying mascara. “What’s up? I thought you had dinner with the family.”
    “Yeah, well, that disaster is over. I’ll meet you straight at the club. I need a drink, like now.”
    “Geez, Jessen. That bad?”
    “You have no idea. I’ll tell you when you get there. What’s the address again? And what’s the name of the club?”
    “It’s one block over from Acropolis . It’s called The Torch.”
    “The Torch? What the hell, Sorcha? Did you have to pick another Morgon club?” I was so not in the mood. I still hadn’t recovered from my last adventure to one.
    “Jed picked it, not me. And, honey, you can knock it all you want, but I haven’t gotten enough of my Morgon man. Corbin’s meeting me there.” She winked, painting on her favorite red lipstick.
    “Fine.” I sighed. “I’ll see you there.”
    All I wanted was to get drunk and forget about my father, Aron, and especially a specific pair of piercing blue eyes.
     
     

Chapter 6
     
    Bent backward over the bar, my shoulders flat against the stone surface, a shot glass upright between my teeth and lips, the Morgon leaned his body over me. Black wings taut and the devil in his eyes, his legs straddled mine on the floor, his hands gripping my waist. My silk dress clung to my curves, bearing more of me than usual. Breasts heaving, I relished the rebellious thrill pumping through my veins. My hem hiked higher as his legs brushed against mine. I forced myself not to laugh, knowing he was being naughty, and any movement would jostle the glass, spilling liquid all over me.
    A crowd cheered us on. Dark eyes met mine. “Don’t move.” His lips poised above the glass. “Trust me.”
    He pursed his lips and blew a fine line of flame, skimming the top of the glass with delicate precision. My rebellious heart leapt—thrilled at the danger of fire burning close to my skin and a fine Morgon man close to my mouth. Damn, I was drunk. More cheers as I lay stretched on my back, a glass of liquor and fire in my mouth. Crazy Jessen cheered with them.
    “Ready?” he asked with a grin. I winked, my hands on his shoulders. He opened his mouth, engulfing the flame, sliding his lips down the sides of the glass to meet mine. Only then did he haul me up against him, sucking the glass from my mouth, tipping his throat back and downing the shot.
    A roar of applause and whistles lit up the crowd. I laughed, Paxon’s hand still resting on my hip. He dropped the empty shot glass upside down on the bar. He leaned down, mouth close to my ear. “I’d like to try that without the shot.”
    “Maybe.” Smiling, I stumbled away from him toward Jed on a nearby stool.
    Jed threw an arm across my shoulder, beaming his mischievous smile. “Entertaining, Jess.” A glance over my shoulder. “Better be careful with that one.”
    “Why should I?” My words slurred. I barely managed to keep myself upright, but Jed helped.
    Corbin leaned over with Sorcha ensconced in the crook of his arm. “Pax Nightwing likes the ladies. Really likes the ladies.”
    “Am I not a lady?”
    Jed shook his head, a lock of coppery hair falling over one eye. “You’re trouble.”
    Sorcha giggled, eyes half-closed. She was even more wasted than me.
    I pushed off and punched Jed in the arm, pretending it was an insult. “How is he related to Lucius, anyway?” I asked like I didn’t care, when I was dying for the answer. I’d known he was a Nightwing the second I saw him. Those sharp, midnight wings were an undeniable giveaway. Not my fault he started flirting and buying me drinks.
    “Cousin. His uncle’s son.”
    I nodded, staring off into the distance when the start of one of my favorite songs started pumping hard and loud. “Whoohoo! Come on, Jed. Let’s dance.”
    I dragged him away from the bar to the dance floor, admiring the cool architecture of the place. The Torch looked like the inside of a mountain or a cave. Stairs carved into cavern walls led to bi-level niches for