Witch’s corpse. Witch’s ticket. Witch’s party. As a counter-boy at a high-end men’s boutique, Charlie Jessup’s life consists of little more than work and sleep. That, and enough flirting to help guarantee his commission on sales will pay his rent. So when a twist of fate, and some behavior unbecoming that of a Ganymede employee, leaves him in possession of a dead man’s pass to a mysterious Club 669, Charlie has no desire to waste it. Every seventeen years, the House of Witches throws a party like no other. It’s invitation-only, and for centuries it has helped ensure peace between the covens. It’s the last place Caspian wants to be, but with the death of Queen Avel, and his own imminent rise to the throne, it’s more important than ever that he attends. The stability of the House depends on it. In four days a new king will be crowned, but when Charlie unintentionally crashes a gathering of the most secretive of all the Great Houses, he sets in motion a series of events that could disrupt the transition of power, and threaten the future of the House of Witches forever.

Club 669

A thought of Dreamboat flashed through my mind, but I squashed it down. Sebastian was here and interested. Dreamboat...he was a fantasy.


A light flashed above the bar, and Sebastian glanced over to where easily a dozen people worked to pour drinks. “I think my order should be ready. I’ll be right back.”


He disappeared into the crowd and I appreciated a moment to breathe. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to relax. My eyes popped open when I felt a warm mouth pressing against mine, but it wasn’t Sebastian, it was another man I hadn’t seen before.


“Dance with me?” This guy was younger, his look less predatory than Sebastian's, his smile more joyful-excitement than what big teeth you have, grandma, and I smiled back.


He nodded, still happy, and kissed me again—a quick peck this time—before disappearing back into the crowd.


“Friend of yours?” I looked up, finding Sebastian and accepting the glass he held out, something I found trickier in the glove.


Chapter 9