A Calculated Display

The bass pounded through my body as Kaelen led us past the bouncer with surprising ease. A few softly spoken words, a flash of what I suspected was compulsion, and the hulking man stepped aside, unhooking the velvet rope.

"VIP guests," the bouncer announced, earning us envious glares from those still waiting in line.

Ronan nodded politely as we passed, though I caught the tension in his shoulders. Jaxon scowled, keeping close to Rhys who was practically vibrating with excitement.

"This is incredible!" Rhys shouted over the music as we stepped into the strobing darkness of Eclipse.

The moment we entered, my senses went into overdrive. The Grey realm had heightened my perception, but I hadn't experienced it in a setting this intense before. The club was a sensory assault—lights pulsing in kaleidoscopic patterns across writhing bodies, the music so loud I could feel it in my teeth. But most overwhelming was the smell—sweat, alcohol, perfume, cologne, desire—all mixed together in a heady cocktail that made my head spin.

"You okay?" Silas asked, his hand finding the small of my back as I swayed slightly.

"Just... processing," I managed, blinking rapidly to adjust. "There's so much more to everything now."

Kaelen pushed through the crowd toward the bar, his commanding presence causing people to instinctively step aside. When he reached the counter, the bartender immediately abandoned other customers to serve him.

"Water," Kaelen ordered firmly. "Five bottles."

The bartender glanced at him questioningly—nobody came to Eclipse for water—but something in Kaelen's expression stopped any comment. He quickly produced five bottles, which Kaelen paid for with the human currency he'd brought.

"Hydration is essential," he explained when he returned, distributing the bottles. "Your bodies are adjusting to the realm transition. Alcohol would complicate that."

"Boring," Rhys complained, but he accepted the water.

I took a long drink, grateful for the coolness sliding down my throat. The club's heat was already making my skin prickle with sweat.

"Now what?" Ronan asked, looking uncomfortable as a group of women nearby eyed him appreciatively.

I scanned the club, trying to spot Landon among the sea of faces. The main floor was packed with dancers, a balcony ringed the upper level, and dark booths lined the walls.

"We should spread out," I suggested. "Cover more ground."

Kaelen nodded. "Rhys, Silas, go with Hazel. Take the dance floor. Jaxon, Ronan and I will circle the perimeter and check the booths."

I felt a flutter of nerves at the thought of dancing. The last time I'd been on a dance floor was back when I was just a normal human girl, not someone bound to five supernatural men who might go feral if another guy so much as looked at me wrong.

"Let's go," Rhys grabbed my hand, enthusiasm radiating from him. Silas followed with an amused smile as we pushed our way into the crowd.

The dance floor was packed, bodies pressed together in the universal language of nightclub choreography. I felt self-conscious for about five seconds before the music took over. It was a heavy, electronic beat that vibrated up through the floor and into my bones.

Rhys moved with natural grace, grinning as he found the rhythm. Silas was more reserved but just as fluid in his movements. They positioned themselves on either side of me, creating a protective bubble in the crowd.

"Relax," Rhys shouted in my ear. "We've got you."

I closed my eyes and let my body remember how to move. The music guided me, and soon I was swaying, spinning between my two bonds. Something primal and confident surged through me. I wasn't just Hazel anymore—I was stronger, faster, more aware of my own power.

When I opened my eyes, I caught Rhys watching me with undisguised heat. Silas moved closer behind me, his hands settling lightly on my hips. We weren't just dancing anymore; we were putting on a show—for each other, for the crowd, and for anyone watching.

I let my head fall back against Silas's shoulder as Rhys moved in front of me, his body nearly flush with mine. The three of us moved in perfect sync, the bond between us creating an electricity that had nothing to do with the club's atmosphere.

"We're getting attention," Silas whispered in my ear, his breath hot against my skin.

He wasn't wrong. Several dancers around us had slowed, watching our display with curious, hungry eyes. A few guys drifted closer, eyeing me with interest.

Rhys noticed too, his smile turning possessive as he draped an arm over my shoulder, making it clear I was spoken for. The gesture should have annoyed me—I wasn't property—but instead, I felt a thrill of satisfaction.

Through the sea of faces, I suddenly locked eyes with Kaelen. He stood at the edge of the dance floor, his expression unreadable as he watched us. Jaxon loomed beside him, his gaze dark and intense. Even from this distance, I could feel the weight of their stares, the silent claim they were making.

Kaelen lifted two fingers in a beckoning gesture. Time to regroup.

"We're being summoned," I told Rhys and Silas, nodding toward where Kaelen waited.

We made our way off the dance floor, my skin flushed with exertion and something more primal. As we approached the others, I noticed Jaxon's nostrils flare slightly, no doubt picking up on the cocktail of pheromones coming off the three of us.

"Any sign of him?" I asked, slightly breathless.

"Nothing yet," Kaelen replied, his eyes lingering on my face a moment too long. "There are private rooms upstairs we haven't checked."

Before we could plan our next move, a drunk guy stumbling past knocked into me hard, sending me lurching forward directly into Kaelen's chest. His arms came up automatically to steady me, strong hands gripping my upper arms.

Time seemed to freeze for a heartbeat. This close, I could smell his unique scent—cedar and something crisp like winter air. His pupils dilated as our eyes met, and I felt that familiar electric current passing between us.

"Sorry," I mumbled, forcing myself to step back.

Kaelen cleared his throat, releasing me quickly. "Are you alright?"

"Fine," I nodded, glancing around for the guy who'd bumped me.

I caught a glimpse of Jaxon's back disappearing into the crowd, and seconds later, the offending drunk reappeared, looking considerably more sober and slightly terrified as he hurried in the opposite direction.

"I need to check my phone," I said, pulling it from my pocket. A quick scroll through social media revealed a new post from Landon—a selfie with his friends, clearly taken in one of the club's VIP booths.

I showed the screen to Kaelen. "He's definitely here. But this place is packed, and he could be anywhere. We've been searching for almost an hour."

Frustration welled up in me. We were so close, yet finding one person in this sea of humanity was proving nearly impossible. Then a thought struck me—we were going about this all wrong.

"I have an idea," I said, looking around at my bonds. "Instead of us trying to find him... what if we make him find us?"

"What do you mean?" Ronan asked.

I smiled slowly, feeling a new confidence rise within me. "Five supernaturally attractive men and me, causing a scene? Word will spread. Phones will come out. Social media will light up."

Kaelen's eyes narrowed with understanding. "You want to draw him out."

"Exactly," I nodded, glancing back at the dance floor. "It's time to put on a show."