We Own the Night (The Night Songs Collection Book 3) by Kristen Strassel Page B

else would have an edge on the countless other Vegas magicians?
    I couldn’t have wished for a better teacher.
    But how long had he been in Vegas? No one had ever talked about him before, had they? I didn’t remember hearing about his show. I’d have to look it up, but my laptop was in the living room, and I wasn’t moving.
    I heard the door open softly, but I didn’t turn towards Tristan. He slipped under the blankets and pressed his body against me, draping his arm around my stomach. I didn’t say anything, but I snuggled against him.
    “So many nights, I carried you in here and watched you sleep until I almost burned myself with the sunrise.” He murmured, playing with a curl of my hair. “I miss that.”
    “That feels good,” I said softly. “I used to hate it when I woke up in here, alone. Now this is where I come to get away from you.”
    “There are things I can’t explain to you about this world, but you’ll understand it once it happens to you,” Tristan continued twirling my hair between his fingers, and I wrestled with consciousness. “I know it drives you crazy.”
    I turned towards him, resting my head in the nook on his shoulder. “What do you know about Cash?”
    “Not much.”
    Shouldn’t Tristan know something about the other vampires in town? Maybe that was asking too much. It’s not like they handed out an updated directory every year. “Do you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing?”
    “I’m sure we’re going to find out.” Something about the way he said it, he seemed a million miles away.
    Before I had a chance to ask anything else about Cash, our lips met and we were speaking a whole other language. Tristan pulled me in close, his fingers so tangled in my hair I thought we may have to stay like this forever. My hands found their way down to his ass, his hips grinding against me in a way there was no question what he was thinking about.
    I couldn’t think anymore tonight. And I just didn’t care.

T he debacle known as “Soul Divider: Revamped” started tonight at the Riviera. For some insane lack of reason, I insisted on going. Already heated from fighting with Tristan about it, I walked through the lobby as fast as I could without making people stop and stare, and also in an effort to lose Tony, my babysitter.
    Honestly, I didn’t mind Tony’s company at all. He’d always shown me kindness, even when I first arrived in Las Vegas, and then I wasn’t any different to him than the rest of the throng of girls vying for Tristan’s attention. Tony actually seemed to give a shit about all of us. But I still resented Tristan for thinking I needed Tony’s protection. He was human. It had its limitations.
    Nothing had changed at the venue since Fire Dancer played there, not even the crew. Changes cut into profit, and Blade was all about the profit. No one paid me much mind as I pushed through the crowd up to the side of the stage. Melanie didn’t see me, or anyone else for that matter. Her eyes were glued on Ryder, watching him like she’d never seen anyone pick up a guitar and make it sing before. In that moment, knowing every thought and feeling swirling around her, picking up on the pure adoration she felt towards Ryder, I could forget how much she hated me. And I could almost forget that I didn’t trust her. Anyone who could look at another person like that couldn’t really be evil, could they?
    I realized that was completely untrue as Noah caught my eye, squatting down in front of me, looking at me like he was Jesus and I’d been placed in front of him at The Last Supper. As I always did around him, I felt naked and filthy, and fought the urge to run as far away as my legs would take me. I hissed at him, feeling the heat rise and I knew my eyes must be glowing. The people around me gasped and stepped away as much as space would allow. For a second, I was mortified, but then I realized that was exactly what I wanted. It was just the wrong people I’d scared.
    It