Queen Alpha (NYC Mecca #2)(64)

We must have looked like quite the group, dressed in dark colors, lots of leather and natural fibers, all of us wearing backpacks. We had briefly debated leaving Finn and Nix behind, but neither of them would agree, and even if we insisted I knew they’d follow us somehow. So they were coming. We were stronger with our familiars, and I was glad to have Finn with me.

As Kade’s driver pulled up to the bench, we all got out and I noticed two people sitting on the bench already, a man and woman. When we opened the door, they froze.

“K-King Kade,” the man stammered, jumping to his feet. He was dressed in nice slacks and a button-down shirt.

“What are you doing here?” The woman was standing behind him, running her hands along her dress and looking nervously down at the golden disc at her feet.

As I stepped closer I could feel the pulsing mecca coming from the disc. We were at the right place.

Kade was angry. I could feel it simmering in his energy, but we had more important things to worry about. He’d have to deal with his people’s tendency to borough hop at a later stage.

“I’m going to the same place you are, to Baladar’s club,” he said shortly. Nix landed then, in all her glory, on his shoulder.

The man and woman were frozen with fear, staring at Nix as if waiting for her to peck their eyes out.

“Ummm…” The man didn’t know what to say.

Kade waved him off. “Come on, show us how it’s done and I will allow you one more night of partying before I shut this down.”

The couple seemed unsure, like this might be a trick, but after cowering under the steely gaze of their king for about twenty seconds, they caved.

Both of them sat down again and placed their feet precisely on the disc. They started to breathe slowly in through their nose and out through their mouth. “It’s just like vortex,” the man said between breaths. “Only not as strong, so most shifters can use it. We just have to wait until after 9 P.M for it to work.” He glanced down at his watch and smiled. “It’s time. Oh and this is a direct link, you don’t have to tell it where to go. Just picture traveling along it.” Then, in a surge of mecca, they were gone.

“This is a very public place to have a vortex.” I turned around and noticed there were a few people in the park. Weirdly enough, no one seemed to be looking in this direction. If anything, their eyes skimmed over the spot like it wasn’t even here, like there weren’t half a dozen shifters standing around a golden disc.

Kade followed my line of sight. “I think it’s spelled. The energy is off and it smells strange,” he said.

Nikoli stepped forward and bent down, looking around the bench. “Yep, it is. The humans see nothing here but an old dirty park bench. Not the sort anyone would want to sit upon.”

Interesting. Just how the hell did Baladar set this up, and how many more did he have?

“Arianna…” Kade reached out for my hand and I took it, sitting with him on the bench. Nix remained on his shoulder,

Finn settled into my side, placing two paws on the disc.

The swirl of mecca beneath my feet was just like a vortex, but I could sense there was only one path. The rest of the magical crisscross of lines were not available. With a deep breath, I focused on the one path, Baladar’s brownstone in Manhattan, and we were sucked into the vortex.

Arianna, forgive me.

That voice echoed through my head. The mecca was still trying to tell me something.

Before I could concentrate or try to focus on it, I was spat out of the vortex and into a grassy park area, underneath a large tree with shimmering pink flowers. Music was blaring, lots of bodies moving to the heavy beat. Looking around, I recognized the landscape. We’d made it to Baladar’s. This was his club night.

“Key?” The voice to my right had my head swiveling. Two beefy bear shifters were paused on either side of us. There was security on this vortex entrance as well apparently.

Kade growled then, and both of them about cried when they realized it was their king. Their knees slammed against the grass as they bowed deeply. “We’re so sorry, Your Majesty. We did not realize you would be here tonight.”

One of them was stammering out the explanations, the other seemed to be struggling to breathe. Kade’s expression remained hard, and I could see that despite his generally easygoing nature, he could slip into king mode no problem.

“Find Baladar. Now.” His command was low, no yelling, but the two guards shot up like he’d stabbed them in the heart. They took off, disappearing into the mass of bears on the dance floor.

Within seconds they were back, a flash of purple between them. Baladar. He wore a regal looking, deep purple suit, with a felt top hat. Opening his arms wide, he greeted us with a smile.

“Your Majesties, what an honor! Calista told me to be expecting you.”

Kade’s bear let out another low growl, and I stepped in front of him, drawing the magic born’s attention. Yes, Baladar was kind of a rule-breaker, but he was also powerful and helpful, and seemed to really like me, so I wanted to keep him as an ally.

“Sir Baladar…” I nodded my head in greeting.

His face grew somber as he assessed my face. “I was so sorry to hear about the dethroning.”

I gave him a small smile. “Thank you. It’s temporary, I believe. Selene won’t be queen for long. Right now what I need help with is getting my best friend back. Violet was taken to the Otherworld.”