the scene, it was easy. Just not done.
Right now she would focus on the job she was doing for Caladh. As long as she was successful, it should garner her recognition among the prominent movers and shakers within the pret community.
She wanted, needed, to not be alone any longer. Most days she was fine on her own, but sometimes the loneliness seemed to eat her alive. If she got attached to Finn and he dropped out of her life without staying in touch, it would be too much for her to bear.
Without using her empathic abilities on him, she could sense there was something about her that made him hold back. She didn’t know if it was her background, or that she was fey, or if she’d said or done something. Finn liked her, she knew. Maybe he thought his job was too dangerous to get deeply involved with her.
Which was fine. She had to keep reminding herself of that. She had work to do as well, after all. And regardless she seemed to have a penchant for falling for the wrong kind of guy.
Keira fastened her seatbelt and pulled out of the gallery parking lot. She had just enough time to go home and soak up some Earth energy before heading over to the meeting.
It was taking place at the Devil’s Domain, which she wasn’t sure was a good omen or not. She’d find out in an hour.
Chapter Five
Finn pulled his motorcycle into the rear parking lot of the Devil’s Domain and cut the engine. He sat there a moment, watching people heading toward the back door. The big, beefy guy at the door double-checked the codes the attendees showed him on their cell phone screens. After a quick pat down for hidden weapons, he buzzed them in.
Everyone going through the door had varying natural weapons. They didn’t need guns or knives, though no doubt some carried them. Hell, he usually had a gun and short sword on him. Sometimes he preferred the easier and less messy way of dealing with a problem over being hands on. Tonight he figured security would be tight, so he had only his body as a weapon.
If it came down to it, that would be enough.
He hopped off the bike and got into line behind a couple of vampires. When his turn came, he pulled out his cell phone and brought up the message that held the bar code. The bouncer gave a brief nod. “Raise your arms to the sides,” he instructed. After giving Finn the same impersonal frisking he’d given the others, he let him into the building.
There was a small landing and then stairs leading down into a sublevel. Finn followed the vamps down, aware that there were more prets coming in behind him. It made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He hated having anyone behind him—he was more exposed to an attack if he couldn’t see it coming.
Once he got to the bottom of the steps he moved to one side and let the rest go ahead of him. Then he started off after them, passing a few closed doors on each side. There were double doors at the end of the hall, and he followed the others through into a surprisingly large room. Rows of chairs set up theater style were separated into three sections with aisles between. With a quick glance he figured the room seated about a hundred fifty to two hundred, and it was mostly full already.
A small portable stage area was at the front of the room with a podium and microphone in the center. Plenty of recessed lighting gave the room a bright, airy appearance. Finn looked around and figured the room was roughly half the size of the club upstairs.
And he’d never known of its existence. Interesting.
He directed his attention to the inhabitants of the room. He didn’t know what he’d expected, but he was surprised at the variety. Preternaturals of every shape and size represented their clans. There were werewolves hanging out in the front near the podium, and several vamps talked in groups at the back just a few feet from where Finn now stood. Elves, pixies, sprites, leprechauns, and even a few trolls interspersed with werelions, werebears, and wereleopards. There were even a few of the elusive and shy brownies in attendance.
There were lots of demons, which didn’t surprise him in the least. Most of them he knew, including Phoebus. “So,” the other