Chapter 12: Chapter 12

EVERMORE

^Club Phoenix, Located on the Outskirts of the Riverbeds: 9 p.m.^

“You’ll be staying the night until the mob hierarchy is sorted. Your mother sent you here, Draco—because Aspen will never suspect that you were even aware of my existence.” Ozzy is older than Draco by five years.

He’s got two mates, Waverly and Braelynn.

Waverly has long purple hair, ripped jeans, and a jacket—but while she looks like a baddie, she’s peaceful and sweet, holding onto Ozzy’s side.

Braelynn looks like Cinderella, with a flowing pastel blue dress, perfect blonde curls to her shoulders, and pink eyeshadow. However, despite her sweet appearance—she’s definitely the wild one.

She had barely come over to say hello. She was busy serving customers their drinks at their tables.

There was a ring in the middle of Phoenix. This place was a Fight Club—and a bar.

It was all dark reds and blacks with a cozy vibe despite how spacious it was—no doubt for the big crowds that came to watch the live events.

The first thing I saw when I came into Club Phoenix was Braelynn breaking a beer bottle and threatening a customer with the broken neck after they smacked her butt.

That was our welcome when we approached Ozzy at the bar.

He witnessed the whole thing and didn’t even intervene to save his mate—because I don’t think Brae needed saving.

The customer left with their hands up, swiftly apologizing.

She cleaned up the mess, said a polite welcome as she waltzed by, and continued to serve like nothing happened.

Waverly, though, seems to be the manager of Phoenix.

Once she’s said hello to us, she’s back behind the bar.

Ozzy? He’s definitely a fighter.

He’s been training because his large shirt barely fits him.

And while Draco is muscular, he’s never hardcore trained like Ozzy.

He’s a smaller Ozzy, but they’re the same height, same red hair, and red burning eyes.

“I guess my mother planned to use you as a safe point at some point in my future,” Draco reasons.

“Thanks—so you have rooms here?”

“Yeah, at the back is our condo. You can crash on the couch, it’s big enough for the three of you.” Ozzy starts to smirk and then his eyes roll over Fiona and he holds out his hand.

“You must be Fiona.” She shakes his hand and then Ozzy turns to me.

“Evermore?” I shake his hand also and I just smile.

“Rex will be here soon.”

“Mmhm,” I answer, pursing my lips as I look to the ring.

“Do you mind if I…jump up there?”

Ozzy follows my gaze to the closed-off platform.

“You can look but don’t touch,” Ozzy denies me what I want just enough that I shoot him an icy glare, and he grins.

“Kidding—you can jump up, have a look.” So Draco’s older bro had a ~cheeky~ side, huh?

“Evermore,” Fiona murmurs my name under her breath as she follows me while patting down the back of my silver dress and straightening it a little.

“Don’t start any fights ~prematurely~. Don’t get any ideas.”

“Do you think you can rip off limbs in these underground fights?” I ask as I reach the platform and I jump up under the ropes, rolling back to offer my hand to Fiona.

She shakes her head.

“No, thanks.” I pout and jump up.

“Look quickly and come back down.”

“Dancing with the big bad Rex?” I look around the ring.

“I guess I’ll just ~have~ to do it. I really would have preferred a fight.”

“Just because it doesn’t involve blood, doesn’t mean it’ll be boring,” Fiona tries to reason.

“Draco and I will be finalizing his rise to power in the Riverbeds while you complete the dance tomorrow night—”

“You sound like you’re trying to convince yourself more than me, Penny,” I tease her.

“I ~know~ what the plan is. You don’t have to keep reminding me.”

“For the last time—Don’t. Call. Me. P—”

“Evermore!” Draco growls loudly, it’s a snappy yell and I turn to see that as the Fight Club slowly fills with the locals, one more red joins us.

Fiona has been silenced by the presence of the newcomer just like me.

This well-dressed Red has black hair with highlights of red.

Rex is a mountain compared to Draco and Ozzy.

He’s got two mates. Hazel and Zayda.

They find a table for four and sit, ordering drinks off Braelynn.

Rex moves for Ozzy.

I immediately run back over.

“Hey. So, can you dance?” I ask Rex before we’re even introduced.

“You look like a fighter—not a dancer.”

“He’s graceful as fuck when he fights,” Ozzy chuckles.

“Told you the Silver was excited.”

“Storm’s daughter.” Rex looks down his nose at me, his red eyes hold a patience that intrigues me.

I narrow my eyes, he was as old as my father—although he couldn’t be as old as Storm.

No one was as ancient as my dad.

“That’s right,” I murmur.

“You didn’t answer me.”

Rex just smirks and still doesn’t answer me as he turns to Ozzy and mentions, “Did you collect the names?”

“A full list,” Ozzy speaks business.

“Good.”

“This is Draco.” Ozzy takes Draco’s elbow and drags him closer to Rex, as Draco was respectfully standing back, looking nervous.

I had forgotten Draco was there—he had completely frozen in the Blood King’s presence.

“The contender to the Riverbeds?” Rex drawls the question, side-eyeing Draco.

“I’m Aspen’s youngest son.” Draco nods.

“I intend on making my mark.”

“You’ve never done this before, have you?” Rex is holding back a laugh while his eyes gleam.

“It’s not easy being the boss, you haven’t even started day one and you’re shaking in your sneakers…~kid~.”

Dick.

Rex just disrespected Draco.

Draco was nothing like what Rex was saying, Draco was just trying to show respect to a bigger boss.

Ozzy had been watching the interaction closely.

Waverly was quickly pouring drinks for us to ease the tension.

Rex had also ignored me—I had melted into the background like I was unimportant.

I shift to the Shadow Realm, I release my Ice Fire in the form of a sword and I shimmer in front of Rex with the frosted sword pressed to his jugular.

I hiss through my teeth, the ragon furious inside me.

My eyes glare through Rex—who’s already moving to counter me.

As his hand moves up, I shimmer to the Shadow Realm again.

I’ve ducked and hopped onto the nearest barstool.

I pounce at Rex with my sword, but somehow he sees my mirage and he turns to me, catching me on the way down.

But I won’t be turned and apprehended so easily.

I turn with his hold on my waist and arm, using my Ice Fire to cause a slippery layer over my skin.

I’ve dropped my glamour, but even as Rex almost watches me slip from his grasp, he’s quickly grabbed my arms tight as he’s swung me down, like we’re in a dance already.

But I’ve dropped my blade—kicking the handle.

Rex sees the blade shoot right up—and it misses his neck by a hair’s breadth.

He has to take us both back a step so as it turns on the way down and slams into the polished floorboards—so it doesn’t cut either of us.

Rex is still just apprehending me as I grin.

“~Just a little closer and I’d have your head~,” I whisper.

The whole Fight Club has been silenced.

Rex is reading my expression.

I can tell he’s a little impressed—but he’s still the superior.

“~I’m used to sword dancers~…” Rex drawls as he straightens up with me and he pushes me back to Draco.

Rex is hardly fazed, although he does look at me twice.

I twirl into Draco’s shoulder and I purse my lips.

“Uh—sorry,” Draco speaks normally, “She’s psychotic.”

“Good.” Rex leans on the bar. “I won’t insult you again—lesson learned.”

I’m glad Rex gives way and passes a nod at Draco, ushering him closer for a chat.

Ozzy has just been the bystander, happily observing the interaction while he shares a drink with Waverly.

Draco leans down to my ear.

“I ever tell you I love you, Ice?”

“Just enough that my icy heart melts just a little every time.” I kiss him on the lips and I slip away as he turns to Rex and his brother.

I see Fiona sitting with Hazel and Zayda.

Hazel has long silver hair like me, although she’s not a dragon—she’s a mage I think.

So is Zayda.

They both look like they came from Requiem City, dressed in thick coats and looking ready to settle for a long night.

“Impressive,” Hazel compliments me, “Evermore?”

“You must be Hazel.” I slip onto the seat next to Fiona.

“I’m a sword dancer too.” Hazel smiles.

“I don’t know what that is.” I shrug, while I look to Zayda, “And nice to meet you, Zayda. Your Red is a handful.” I low-key insult Rex, while Fiona rolls her eyes.

“Anyway,” Fiona sighs, pressing a hand to her forehead, “what were we saying? Oh yes—Rex hexed you when you first met?”

Fiona is right into the gossip, asking Hazel for more details.

“Oh, yes, it was a strange way to meet my mate again.” Hazel smiles anyway. “Reds do have a temper—unregulated, it’s worse.”

“Sex is good, cools them off,” Fiona says openly.

“That’s true.” Zayda blushes, but I can tell she wants to change the topic.

I look Zayda over—her hair is neatly straightened.

A dark brown.

She’s got a mild look in her eye.

Hazel is also quite mild.

I’m bored.

I stand from my seat and Fiona gasps, “Where are you going?”

“Exploring,” I hiss and enter the Shadow Realm once more.

This time to explore the Phoenix.

Mostly to avoid Fiona chasing me at every turn.

As I move off, I hear Fiona apologizing for me.

“You can’t really tell what Evermore will do next—” as Fiona babbles, I sneak back over and I bite her arm.

Lightly.

A love bite.

When my teeth press against her flesh she squeaks so loud that the people seated nearby get a fright and turn to see what’s wrong.

Fiona swats at my invisible head and I let her arm go, walking away, “It’s rude to randomly bite people—including ME, ~Ice~!” Fiona yells.

I think it’s adorable.

She loves my bites!

But she’s trying to appear normal to get along with a pair of queens.

She can do that.

That’s cool.

I’ll do me.

I wonder what vantage points I can find—any place I can hide.

Because me? I had my own plan.

Draco and Fiona were going to kill Aspen.

Me?

Tomorrow, after the dance in the Ring, I was going to challenge Knifer, Pincer, Franky and Sini to a fight.

Four against one.

I was going to take all their arms.

Eight more to add to the freezer where Kage’s arms were waiting for another day.

I had to build up on snacks for comfort while being Draco’s Silver.

Running a mafia was going to be difficult work.

But there would be rewards along the way.

And blood, lots of blood—painting our enemies’ misery across the Ring, for the Dark Ring spectators and anyone concerned about our power.

They’d all see exactly who Draco and his mates were.

Hm.

I decide I like Club Phoenix.

This is where I belong.