“So, what do you think?” Tristan asked, encircling his arms around my waist.

I pushed back against him, feeling comfort in the way he pressed the bridge of his nose against the column of my neck. I cupped his hands, drawing them tighter around my mid-section.

“I’m impressed.”

I glanced down at the nightclub scene below me. The view from the second-floor balcony was nice and open, allowing me to see the happenings from every angle. The previous owners had closed the entire level to Tristan and me, giving us ample time to make our decision.

There were two color-changing water fountains in the center of the floor. The sculptures reminded me of the ones I used to see in some historical parks I’d visited. Only these were fancier.

”I see the potential in this place,” I told him. ”Most of the inner-city nightclubs are overcrowded, which doesn't bode well with rowdy shifters. Plus with the Converted starting to wreak havoc we're already getting a bad rap. We need to reinforce the need to co-exist peacefully.”

“Once we eliminate the threat, that won’t be an issue,” he said.

“You don’t sound very convincing.”

”I fear that irreversible damage has already been done,” he replied.

“I was trying to be positive, but you're right. I think things will get worse before they get better.”

”Talking about this sends your blood pressure soaring,” Tristan noted, his fingers gently kneading the veins on my wrists.

I sighed. “Yes.”

“Then let’s not…at least not tonight,” Tristan suggested. “We’d have to find someone to renovate the place. Make it nice and functional. The set-up is a little claustrophobic. We’ll clean everything out and start from scratch. Ground zero.”

“The current staff members seem hard-working. Great service. I hope you decide to keep them rather than let them all go.”

Tristan had specific procedures he followed when acquiring an established business. He was known for letting all the workers go and then only re-hiring the ones who he thought would remain loyal or filling the place with employees of his choosing.

“The current staff members are loyal to the current owner. They have no idea he’s about to sell the place. But I gave you my word and a portfolio of your own. You can do whatever you like with this place.”

Grinning, I turned around in his arms. “Someone’s in a generous mood.”

“I want to show you the way…just in case,” he said, apprehension lingering in his voice.

“Just in case?”

“Yes…just in case.” He kissed me then said, “I’ve also learned that when you’re busy with your hands and mind occupied, you get into less trouble.”

I laughed. “What do you mean? Trouble? I’m just a boring museum director.”

He shot me a teasing look and then added, “A museum director who practices blood magic and can conjure up the dead.”

I swatted his shoulder playfully. “I’ve never conjured up the dead.”

“No? But you try…”

“Either way, I’m glad you understand why staying at home and being all domesticated would bore me,” I said. “I might one day, but not today.”

“I understood you the moment I met you. No need to explain yourself, Elisa. This is your life. I want you happy.”

“Let’s sign,” I told him. “But do you think you can convince him to leave the color-changing water fountains behind?”

“I’m sure he can be convinced.”

The owner of the place, Mr. Demarest, entered the room not too long after that. We parted. After Tristan straightened his collar and tie, he walked over to converse with the owner. I knew I was supposed to be learning from Tristan, but I turned my attention back to the party scene down below, and something caught my eye.

A woman with long hip-length raven-colored hair sat on a stool by the bar, but it wasn’t her appearance that piqued my interest. Something about her aura was off which was odd since most of the people here were human. There were a handful of shifters mixed in, but as far as the supernatural was concerned, that was it.

The woman must have seen me staring in her direction because she redirected her gaze down to the countertop. But I’d already seen the striking tint of silver in her irises glowing in the dark like the glass orbs hanging from the ceiling. She didn’t look as old as the average guest here tonight but looks could be deceiving. If my initial instincts were correct, she was pretty young. Her back was turned to me now, but she was still at the bar. She brought her arm up to rest on the bar and cradled her chin in the palm of her hand as if she was trying to hide her identity. There was an oversized silver ring on her index finger, but soon her thick wavy hair concealed that too. Everything about her demeanor told me that she didn’t want to be noticed. But why was she here if she didn’t want to be seen? In a crowded nightclub of all places?

“Elisa?”

Tristan pressed his palm gently against the small of my back and whispered, “Are you okay?”

I nodded.

“You still want this?”

I broke my gaze away from the woman at the bar to give him a reassuring smile. “Yeah.”

“Good. We’re going to handle this in the main office where it’s quieter.”

I looked back at the bar, but the raven-haired woman was gone.

“What are you looking at?”

I swallowed. “Nothing.”

Tristan gave me a knowing look. “It looks like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“There was a woman…” I said, my glare traveling from the empty bar seat and across the dance floor. As if my mind was playing tricks on me, I spotted the same woman standing by one of the decorative fountains. She was staring at her reflection in the water.

“There. Her. With the silver ring on her finger.” I pointed. “She has black hair.”

“Where?” Tristan asked. “There are like a hundred people down there.”

“Over by the fountain,” I said. But by the time I blinked, she was gone again.

“There’s no one standing by the fountain. Do you know her or something?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I was just…it’s strange. She was right there.”

Tristan tipped my chin upward gently with his finger. “The floor is crowded, and I’m sure she was there. Lots of the local college kids come here.”

“Yeah…sure.” I pressed my fingers to my temples and sighed.

Frowning, Tristan placed himself between me and the railing. “Are you sure you’re up to this? We can come back tomorrow during the day.”

“No, let’s do this.”

I walked out of the room with Tristan, but with a strong urge to turn around. I knew the woman was there, lurking somewhere in the shadows. And she wasn't a ghost. She couldn't have been a ghost or some spirit I'd accidentally or intentionally conjured up. The woman was flesh and blood like everyone else in here. Of that, I was confident.