“Chelsey, I really shouldn’t be going out to a party. I should be home studying,” Rina protested for the thousandth time.

Her best friend had met her at her mother’s and brought clothing, shoes, and makeup with her.

Ambush.

Spending a few hours over at her mother’s house was just what she’d needed. All signs of her the migraine were now gone. She’d put her feet up and let her mother take care of her. She had planned to stay the night and let the pampering continue.

Chelsey Coffey has other plans for me.

“You know I love when you come as my plus-one. Everyone reacts to you and loves you,” Chelsey whined as she drove them toward the nightclub she was working at tonight.

Chelsey was employed by a well-known marketing agency. Chelsey’s specialty was launching new products, and tonight was for one of the hard liquor companies who were revealing a new brand of vodka.

“So, in other words, you’re just using me.” Rina glanced over at her friend, cocking an eyebrow at her.

“I bought you a new dress as payment.” Chelsey laughed, clearly knowing she was caught. “I can’t help how people always flock to you. I swear you should come work with me. Quit school, and you’d make a killing in my office. They’d love to have someone like you.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Rina murmured, gazing out the window.

Chelsey was making a good salary with her company, while Rina was not, working at the small clothing store.

They pulled up to the valet area located in front of the club. Rina sighed. Clubbing was not her thing, but for her friend, she’d smile and help her out. She preferred private parties, where she hosted, not nightclubs.

The valets rushed to their car and assisted them from the vehicle. She stood on the curb as she waited for Chelsey to make her way around to stand by her side. Rina took in the long line of hopefuls who were trying to gain entrance to the exclusive party.

“You don’t have to look like you’re going to meet your death.” Chelsey laughed again, grabbing Rina’s hand. “You’ll have fun, I promise.”

Rina allowed Chelsey to drag her into the nightclub. Complaints could be heard from the crowd waiting. Little did they know, Rina would switch with any of them. She sighed and put on her bright smile, knowing her friend was going to put her to work.

Music blared from the speakers. Rina couldn’t hear herself think, much less what Chelsey was shouting to her. She pointed over to the VIP section, and Rina gathered she was to follow her friend over there. They threaded their way through the packed club.

Rina kept her fake smile plastered on her face as she walked behind Chelsey. She slid her hands along her dress to smooth it out. She had to admit, her friend knew her tastes well and that Rina had a soft spot for pretty clothing. The dress was black and fit her like a glove. It showcased her curves perfectly. She’d kept her long blonde locks down, falling past her shoulders. Her heels gave her a little more confidence, making her a smidgen over five and a half feet tall.

Chelsey paused by a woman who Rina had met before. Her colleague, Freda, must be working the party with her.

“Hi, Rina. I see Chelsey has dragged you out again.” Freda giggled.

Rina smiled and nodded. “Yes, she did. She’s lucky she knows how to bribe me, though.”

They shared a laugh, and that familiar tingling sensation made its way down Rina’s spine. As Chelsey and Freda spoke, she swiveled her head and took in the crowd. She figured in an atmosphere such as a club, she’d get attention. Someone was bound to be looking at her. She swept the area near her and caught the eyes of some random males all hoping she’d acknowledge them.

She relaxed and gave them each a smile, turning back to Chelsey and Freda’s conversation. They were deep in talks on their plan for working the room and ensuring the crowd tried the new vodka.

“So, Rina. When are you going to come work for us?” Freda smiled. “You might as well get paid real money instead of in clothing if you’re going to come to work with Chelsey here.”

Rina laughed and shook her head. “I’d have to think about it. Who wouldn’t want to work for pretty dresses and high heels?”

Freda laughed and shook her head, too. “I guess you got a point. Well, have fun tonight.”

“Thanks,” she murmured. The sensation of someone eyeing her increased. This wasn’t the feeling of the innocent guy trying to catch a girl’s attention.

No. This was different.

Rina’s breath caught in her throat. She looked around the club and didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

“Let’s go have some fun getting people to try the new product,” Chelsey announced with a wide grin.

Rina nodded and followed her friend into the VIP section. Chelsey had informed Rina earlier in the car that this section was business owners who were invited by the liquor company to come try out the new item.

They began working the section, laughing and talking with the businessmen. Rina dodged a few of their straying hands. She let Chelsey take the lead while she stayed back. She’d been hit on by almost all of them, and a couple of them slipped her their number. Even the lonely businesswoman propositioned her. She smiled and kindly declined, not wanting to hurt any of their feelings.

By the end of the night, each business had agreed to stock the new product. Chelsey made an excuse of them needing to go to the restroom and pulled her to the quiet corridor away from the main part of the club.

“Oh my goodness! Thank you, Rina,” Chelsey exclaimed, embracing her in a tight hug.

“I didn’t do much.” She laughed, stepping back from her friend.

“Stop being so modest. Every business owner in there loved you,” Chelsey gushed.

Rina snorted at the announcement. That was an understatement. “I may complain, but I don’t mind helping you out,” she admitted.

Happiness radiated on her friend’s face. “Seriously, you don’t realize the size of the bonus I’m about to get with these accounts. All because of you.” Chelsey paused, a smile on her lips.

“Don’t worry about it.” Rina waved her hand at her friend. This wasn’t the time to become sentimental.

“Seriously, I’ll give you half,” Chelsey gushed again.

“You don’t have to—”

“That’s ten thousand dollars,” Chelsey cut her off.

Rina’s mouth dropped open and flapped. Ten thousand dollars was half her bonus?

“Don’t say anything. It’s yours. I want you to have it,” Chelsey said.

Rina nodded, leaning forward to crush her friend in a hug. “Okay. I—”

“Nope. You’re not going to change my mind,” Chelsey announced, pulling back.

“I was just going to say, I really do have to pee.”

They burst out laughing as Rina motioned to the bathroom door behind them.

“Shit, my bad. Go on now. I have to get back out there. The party is winding down.”

“Go ahead. I’ll meet you out there.” Rina waved her friend off and pushed open the door to the bathroom.

She entered the luxurious, private ladies’. She quickly did her business then stood in front of the sink to wash her hands. She gave a deep sigh, craving her bed. She dried her hands and immediately took notice—the music was no longer playing.

Her heart skipped a beat that it was finally time for them to leave. She opened the door to the bathroom and stepped out into the corridor.

Alarms instantly went off in her head.

She glanced one way and found an emergency exit. She turned her eyes in the direction she needed to go. A dark, shimmering mist blocked it. Disbelief filled her as the black cloud swirled around in the air.

A scream welled up in her chest, and she backed away from the entity.

What the hell was in the drinks I had?

“Oh God,” she whispered, still backing up.

The shimmering mist continued to writhe around and floated toward her. Too scared to release her scream, she took off running, heading for the emergency exit.

She rammed her shoulder against the door, praying it would let her leave. It gave way, and she stumbled out of it. She glanced back. A figure took shape from the dark mist. It rushed at her with a roar. She slammed the door shut before it could escape.

A force smacked into the door, and she then let loose the scream she’d been holding back. She knew she should run, but her feet seemed glued to the ground. Rina concentrated on the door. The force whacked into it again, and this time the door gave way.

The dark being looked almost human as it crept up to her. In the dark alley, her eyes were almost useless. She could only make out the shape. Finally, her body jumped into action as her fight or flight response kicked in.

She turned to run, cursing that she had on high heels. A swoosh overhead caught her attention, and she widened her eyes at the sight of another figure flying in the sky. Then it landed on the ground in front of her, its wings folding in behind it.

The figure from the parking lot.

Another screamed escaped her lips. She took in the demonic being’s facial features, his powerful muscles, and wings.

She was trapped.

“I will not hurt you,” the winged creature said, reaching its hand out to her.

For some odd reason, she believed him. The mist figure behind her radiated evil. She didn’t know how she knew that, but deep down in her gut, something screamed for her to run.

The demon’s eyes cut to her rear, a growl vibrating from him. He reached forward and snatched her behind him. The mist figure released a scream, its body glowing with a bright white light that illuminated the alley.

She stood frozen in fear, her gaze captivated by the demonic being that had fallen from the sky grabbing the mist figure by the throat and smacking it into the ground, snuffing out the light.

She stared at the place the demon had slammed the figure, unable to believe what she didn’t see.

The mist being was gone.

She swallowed a few times, taking in her savior as he slowly approached her. Her heart ricocheted against her chest. She couldn’t take her eyes off him.

She wasn’t sure what he was, but his leathery face with a single horn on his forehead held a scowl. His smooth, hide-like body was lined with muscles. She continued her gaze down to find his legs encased in leather pants.

Whatever he was in front of her, demon or whatever the case may be, he was certainly powerful.

A warrior.

Protector. The word whispered in the back of her mind.

“Why was that thing after you?” it demanded.

She shook her head, unsure of the answer. Her brain was trying to play catch-up with what she’d just witnessed, but it was in overload.

“What is your name?” he asked her.

Her breaths were coming fast, and she suddenly felt like she was suffocating. She took a step back, struggling to breathe, but in the end, lost the battle, and darkness claimed her.