Page 67 of Fallen Stars

“If it’s all the same, Eli, I think I’ll take this one for myself,” the doorman grinned, hands lunging for Merissa. The beautiful demi-Star’s eyes widened as his hands sank into the curved flesh of her bare hips.

Elara’s hand twitched as a cold rage possessed her.

Eli noticed it, his eyes darkening in alarm.

“Unfortunately, it’s not your call,” he crooned as his eyes darted back to Elara’s frozen fingers. “She’s wanted by Lord Ariete.”

“Ah well.” The doorman shrugged, releasing his hands from Merissa’s hips. Elara untensed ever so slightly. “That’s a shame. Look at that ass.” He groped Merissa’s backside as the demi-Star clenched her jaw, stumbling forward.

Elara didn’t give a fuck that they were in a room full of Stars, undercover. With a snarl of her lips, she summoned her powers, ready to make the man beg and scream for what she’d just seen. The lights flickered, and she readied herself to turn the doorman’s mind to a screaming pile of mush as shadows closed in on them all, to relish in his fear as he pissed himself.

Then her mind froze.

She blinked.

Blinked again, her face slackening.

Not fucking here. Not fucking now.Eli’s voice was a snarl, low and commanding.

She couldn’t believe it. Eli was stopping her powers.Get off me, before I do the same to you as I do to him.

Revenge is a dish best served cold, Elara. You know that. Play your part. Calm yourself. And then once you have completed your task, you can dole out the justice he deserves.

Elara was shaking from head to toe with anger as Merissa looked at her, wide-eyed, shaking her head minutely.

Merissa has just told me to tell you she’s fine,he added, glancing at Merissa and nodding.

Elara forced herself to breathe, the black anger coating her vision clearing as Eli slowly loosened his grip on her mind.

“The fuck is wrong with her?” the doorman frowned, nodding to Elara.

“Stage fright,” Eli smirked, gripping her arm hard. “Enjoy your night, Markus.”

Elara’s stare bore into him as she took in every one of his features, committing them to memory. Markus. Yes, she’d remember him.

She tripped after Eli as he yanked her to the wall. “What in hell were you thinking?” he snarled.

“Fuck you,” she spat back.

She thought Eli might argue back, but he began to laugh. “I deserved that. But you need to control your temper, El.”

The nickname softened her a little, reminding her of how much Eli had helped them get to this point. She peered over his shoulder to Merissa. “You okay, Mer?”

Her friend nodded, green eyes narrowed. “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Just focus on what you need to do.”

Eli nodded to the door before them. “He’s in there.”

“Are the pipes ready like I asked?”

He nodded. “Hypnom being pumped through the room as we speak.”

“Good. Any women in there?”

Eli’s face took on a look of concentration. “One. A devotee.”

“Any exit points?”

“No. The way out is the same way you came in. I’ll be by this door. The closer I am, the stronger my charm.”