The Willow by Stacey Kennedy

size of basketballs.
     
    I laughed, shaking my head at them.
     
    We started down the street, and it wasn’t long before bright lights began to fill the sky. Just as the street ended, Haven covered my eyes.
     
    “What are you doing?” I demanded.
     
    “Shhh,” she answered. “I want you to have the full effect.”
     
    Walking in three-inch heels is hard enough. This was impossible. I was stumbling with almost every step.
     
    “This is very annoying,” I grumbled.
     
    Kyden laughed beside me, which only irritated me more.
     
    “Don’t be such a grump.” Haven laughed then removed her hands.
     
    When my eyes opened, I was standing smack dap in Times Square. I spun around trying to take it all in.
     
    The entire City was lit up, and it was magnificent. I’d seen it in the movies a few times, but it definitely didn’t do it justice. The skyscrapers were taller than I imagined, and the billboards were so bright it almost hurt to look at them.
     
    Haven pulled me forward, and I was glad she kept my arm; it gave me a good chance to look around without worrying about walking into someone.
     
    Did no one sleep around here? It had to be three in the morning, and the streets were packed full. These people were bonkers!
     
    “Yippee,” Haven bounced. “We’re here.”
     
    I followed her gaze to see a bright neon sign, The Mink Lounge .
     
    “We’re going to a club?” I asked.
     
    “Drinking and dancing, just what you need right?”
     
    It was exactly what I needed. It’d been so long since I’d had a good night out, and after all the hard training I’d been doing, the idea of having some fun sounded great!
     
    As we approached the bouncer, shock hit me. He was a vampire. This was what I had to see for myself, and they weren’t lying—supes did live among humans. I hadn’t believed it for a moment. But now, how could I deny it, it was right in front of my face. If people only knew how connected vampires were to their world they’d throw a serious shit fits.
     
    We brushed past him and he gave me a sensual smile, which I adamantly ignored. Flirting with a vampire was just asking for trouble—heaps of it.
     
    The club was rich and luxurious. Two levels made up the structure with a black glass balcony that wrapped around the top. The walls, draped with dark red velvet and low lights, made it appear almost romantic.
     
    The dance floor was straight ahead and a large, gold cage hung from the ceiling that had two vampires dancing in it—if you can even call that dancing.
     
    More vampires. Why was I seeing a trend here?
     
    I grabbed Haven’s arm. “Where have you brought me?”
     
    “Club Fang.” She laughed. “Vamps sure know how to throw a party.”
     
    Kyden nudged the small of my back and guided me toward a table while Haven went off to the bar.
     
    I sat down and looked out at the dance floor. The more I looked, the more stunned I became. There were humans here too. When I glanced back, Kyden was watching me intently. I nodded toward a couple on the dance floor. “Does she know he’s a vampire?”
     
    Kyden followed my gaze. “Yes, she knows.” He grinned devilishly. “They enjoy vampires.”
     
    His alluring tone left nothing to the imagination; it was quite clear what they enjoyed doing with the vampires. I grimaced. “Gross. Seriously that’s sick!” Having sex with a dead guy while he drank my blood. Yuck!
     
    “It is that.” He laughed.
     
    Haven approached the table holding two of the best-looking chocolate martinis I’d ever seen. The martini glass was rimmed with chocolate flakes and a strawberry heart sat along the edge.
     
    “Is this okay?” she asked, and handed it to me.
     
    “Looks yummy!” I replied, and took a big sip.
     
    It tasted even better than it looked. The smooth alcohol slid down my throat easily, the flavor exploded into my mouth. I sighed out in pure and utter pleasure.
     
    Doing my best to nurse it was pointless. The thing tasted