Hear No Evil (Alpha Guardians Book 2) by Vivian Wood Read Free Book Online Page A

voice to be heard over the music.
    To her surprise, Rhys and Aeric both left them, Rhys heading for the dance floor and Aeric for the back hallway.
    “Don’t worry about them,” Gabriel said, leaning close to murmur in her ear. He was close enough that Cassie could feel his breath on her neck and smell his crisp, masculine scent.
    “I—” Cassie started, flustered.
    Gabriel took her hand, lacing his fingers with hers as he had before, and led her to the bar. Even in a Kith establishment full of Vampires and every kind of shifter in existence, Gabriel was by far the most handsome man at the bar. One of the tallest, too.
    He elbowed his way into a spot at the counter, seeming unaware of the two blonde nymphs who were practically begging for his attention, giggling and thrusting out their chests. Cassie held in a wince as she eyed their thin frames and ethereal features, acutely aware that she was much taller and curvier than the two fairies.
    “Cass,” Gabriel said, giving her hand a squeeze.
    She looked up at him, nearly melting at the look on his face. He was giving her an overtly appraising, appreciative look, his midnight blue gaze running up and down her frame before returning to her face.
    “I almost couldn’t let you out of the Manor in that dress, you know,” Gabriel said, lips twitching with humor. “It’s the definition of sinful.”
    His accent seemed to thicken when he was flirting, and Cassie could only imagine the effect it had on unknowing women in bars like this one. Hell, that look on his face, that accent, the way his suit jacket defined his tall, muscular frame…
    Yeah, it was working on Cassie too, if her ever-dampening panties were any indication. She licked her lips, feeling her face heat as she stared up at Gabriel. Sucking in a breath, she tried to remember her mission.
    “We should, um… look for Asangel. As soon as we get this drink, I mean,” she said, jerking her gaze from Gabriel’s.
    “All business, are we?” he asked, but he let the matter drop. Gabriel managed to attract the attention of a pretty female bartender, and in short order he offered Cassie her drink. The cocktail came in a dainty gold cup, filled to the brim with crushed ice and garnished with fresh strawberries and mint.
    Cassie took a sip and nodded her approval, especially since the drink was both light and strong. Not too girly, despite the intricate fruit garnishes. She noticed that Gabriel had chosen a glass of port for himself and found herself glad he’d spared her the same.
    “How’d you know what to order me?” she asked, curious.
    A grin burst over Gabriel’s face, his eyes twinkling. Cassie’s lungs seized for a moment at the beauty of him, and she realized this was the first time she’d seen him smile fully.
    “Actually, I asked the bartender what the Oracle gets,” he admitted, looking proud of himself. “I didn’t figure you for a port girl.”
    “You figured right,” Cassie said, sipping her drink.
    She turned her back to the bar and scanned the room, and then had an idea. Leaning up on her tiptoes, she tried to get close enough to Gabriel so that she wouldn’t be overheard by others.
    “Order us another drink,” she murmured.
    “Already?” he asked, lips twitching.
    “When you order it, ask the bartender to send a glass of blood wine to Asangel. If you play it cool, she might make it easy for us,” Cassie explained.
    Gabriel nodded, looking impressed, and turned to comply. Cassie pretended to focus on her drink as the blonde bartender poured blood wine into a golden chalice and handed it off to a stunning brunette waitress. Gabriel sipped his port and put a new cocktail into Cassie’s free hand, engaging her in some discussion about the bar’s interior design. Gabriel turned away from the dance floor to seem more casual, but his banter didn’t fool Cassie for a hot second.
    Cassie nodded, watching the waitress over the rim of her cup. When the waitress handed the chalice off