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

“I’d wondered what you’d look like without the makeup.”


“Yeah?” He had? My pulse sped up as I waited for his verdict.


I was sure I blushed. Handsome was so much more promising than pretty.


After dinner Caspianwas far more relaxed, the single glass of wine he’d ordered with his meal leaving him quicker to laugh and more flirtatious.


I wasn’t even sure if he knew he was doing it. But his lingering looks and how often his eyes seemed to roam to my mouth would have been enough to give anyone’s ego a boost.


When we stepped out into the cold night air, he laid his arm around my shoulders again and tried to shield me from the worst of the wind. “You’re probably looking forward to going home.”


This time he didn’t have to encourage me to wrap my arm around his waist. I just did.


“I can’t say I’m not looking forward to fresh clothes. Why? Ready to open a magic door and push me through?”


Chapter 16