Into The Dragon's World - Brittany White Page 0,1

she was too drunk.

“Hi, Lydia,” he said, climbing past her on the stairs. “Have a good night.”

He passed her by without waiting for a response. Lydia was a nice person, and he had no doubt that if he had been in the mood for some no-strings attached fun, she would have been a good candidate for a partner. But…

But he couldn’t bring himself to go back to the way he’d been before Savannah, when he could bed a different woman every night and not think twice about it. Savannah had demanded monogamy, and he had wanted her enough to try it. After a while, he’d discovered that he could be happy with one woman, that all other women paled in comparison to her. Now that Savannah was gone, he had no interest, sexual or otherwise, in anyone he met.

Brady watched the club floor below and couldn’t help but smile. Shifters were transforming in and out of their human forms, which made dancing interesting. Most of them had decided to remain human in order to drink and troll for partners. The club wasn’t intended to be a pick-up bar, but more power to them, Brady thought. Just because he didn’t want to love again didn’t mean the whole world had to mourn.

Brady poured himself a few fingers of whiskey and held his glass out in a toast. “Cheers to all you horny bastards,” he said and laughed.

He took a sip and scanned the nightclub floor. Apart from a few scuffles, it was turning out to be a nice, quiet night. Maybe he’d even be able to take off a little early. Luke could handle any trouble that might pop up. The thought of going home and maybe stretching his wings for a quick flight sounded perfect.

Besides...it wasn’t like anything exciting was going to happen.

2

Casey

“Jazzy, it’s getting worse.” Casey Donahue made the subway door just before it closed. Thankfully, the car was mostly empty. Her cell phone buzzed in Casey’s ear. Yet another text. “I’m afraid to go home tonight. He’s been following me everywhere.” She hesitated a moment. “He’s a shifter.”

“God damn him,” Jasmine breathed. Casey could tell that she was furious. “Come to the club. There’s a lot of people around. I don’t think he’ll show up here. He better not show his ass here.”

“Okay, okay. I’m on my way. Thanks, Jazz.”

“Just get your butt here in one piece.”

Casey ended the call and glanced at the screen. Five new messages from Evan. She opened the first message: You look so gorgeous in blue. I can’t wait to get that sweater off you.

Ugh. She looked down at her ocean blue sweater. It had once been her favorite, but now it was ruined. The left arm had been torn to shreds when she’d ripped herself away from his grasp. He hadn’t done nearly the damage he was capable of doing, thank God.

The irony of her having a stalker was rich. Casey kept her head down and her mouth shut. She didn’t ask for attention and didn’t receive it. She’d had exactly one serious boyfriend in her life and that had ended years ago. She didn’t go looking for male attention; in fact, she did everything she could to avoid it. Shapeless clothes. Little makeup. Everything about her screamed, “Do not trespass!”

So, how did she end up with a stalker? What had she done wrong?

Another text buzzed: Why aren’t you answering me, Casey? You know I don’t like to be kept waiting.

Casey grimaced and looked out the subway window, trying to focus past her ghostly reflection. Why couldn’t he just leave her alone? Go find a cheerleader to harass.

Another text: You just made me so angry, Casey. I’m sorry. I can’t control myself with you. You just drive me so crazy.

Casey knew what was coming next. He was working himself up to obscenities. Now he’d start telling her exactly what he wanted to do to her in vivid detail.

Another buzz: I’m going to fuck you so hard you’ll beg me to stop. You know you want it. Stop fighting me.

And there it was: the first F-bomb of the evening. A tenured English professor should be more poetic in his threats, Casey thought as she turned off her phone. She didn’t need to see the rest of the messages. They all involved some combination of sexual threats and images that made her stomach churn. The idea of Evan Wallace even touching her shoulder was repugnant.

I shouldn’t have been so nice to him, Casey chided