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

“Of course.” Probably. You never really forgot-forgot how to drive a car, did you?


“Don’t tell anyone where I’m going.”


“I’m still working that part out.”  6


“Do you want a pairof my pants?” Tiki asked as he unlatched his bedroom window and pulled it open wide. “What size shoe are you?”


I looked down. The toes of my heeled boots were peeking out from under the heavy fabric of my skirt. Ankle length or not, I’d probably have a better time navigating the fire escape dressed as I was, than wearing something too big that Tiki could loan me.


He didn’t buy it. When I stepped through the window and onto the slick, metal walkway to begin my descent, Tiki and Emma watched me. Their whispered words of encouragement only heightened my anxiety.


Chapter 23