Pre-gaming

About thirty minutes in to Nemia looking over the notebook she had dedicated to the elusive Malcolm, Julia had finally woken up and Nemia practically ran out of the bedroom. Thankful she was free from those four walls called her bedroom, but she was quickly met with a disapproving leer from Julia. Her hands set annoyingly on her hips while her tongue clicked.

"How many times do I have to tell you? You don't have to lock yourself into the room while I sleep. I promise you I'm not going to wake up and even if I did I wouldn't be mad!" Julia was exasperated but still rubbing the fresh sleep from her eyes. "But I need coffee." She grumbled lowly, sagging into the still waking up, groggy feeling.

Nemia's lips twitched into a slight smile. "I'll never do it." she shot back with a huff before turning towards the kitchen. "I'll start the coffee" She called over her shoulder.

Their morning consisted of small chitchat and more catching up that lasted for a few hours. Though finally around 1 p.m., Nemia pulled out her phone and waggled her eyebrows at Julia. "While this has been fun, I do need to make that phonecall to Donovan."

Julia grimaced. "You're still going to make me ride with you?" she huffed, crossing her arms to emphasize her disapproval in her jutting chin and thin lips.

Nemia pursued her lips and tapped a finger to her chin in a manner of thought before refocusing back onto Julia with a bright, and obviously, fake smile. "Oh you betcha."

With that said, she unlocked her phone and found Donovan's number. A few rings later, there was a distinct pick up sound followed by rustling then Donovan's voice slid through the receiver. Involuntarily, she shuddered with disgust. "Ah, Nemia. Milli said to expect a call. What is it you need? Help getting dressed for tomorrow I hope." She could hear his grin and his false confidence. God's, she really did hate this man.

"Not a chance in hell, Donovan." She bit back instinctively, then sighed. "It is something concerning tomorrow however." She added.

"Fiery girl." He chuckled and she couldn't help but pull the phone from her ear to evade the majority of the slimy feel of his laughter. Julia could overhear him though and grimaced at Nemia's phone then glared at Nemia. "Well go on, what of tomorrow?"

"My roommate doesn't have a date. If at all possible, could she ride with us so she doesn't feel left out. If you can find a date for her too that'd be great too!" She made her voice sound more pleading than anything and pleading was the right way to go.

Donovan hissed a sound she could only assume was approval. He cleared his throat. "She absolutely can. It'll be a threesome. But if anything, our driver can be her date."

Nemia and Julia both sneered at her phone at the crude comment. She held a finger up to silence Julia's opening mouth and started talking before she could.

"Awesome! Thanks so much Donovan. I know she'll be just so ecstatic to hear the news! That's all I needed though. Have to go shopping for that perfect dress now, bye." She sounded light and airy to coax Donovan's ego for the moment before she abruptly hung up after she said bye without giving him the chance to reply in general. She turned to look at Julia then, and if looks could kill she'd have died on spot.

"What. The. Hell." Julia gritted out. "He better not say something that outlandish when he picks us up. I'm not violent but I will be." She warned with cocked brows and a serious expression.

Nemia bit her lip to keep from laughing. Julia didn't even know the half of it. "Oh he will, you can count on it. But we do need to get started on the dresses."

Julia grimaced, knowing everything about tomorrow was going to be extra uncomfortable now. But a twinkle shined in her eyes at the mention on getting started with the dresses. She jumped up and ran to her bedroom. Nemia just sat there staring after her with a confused look. The is until Julia came prancing back out of her bedroom with her sketchpad. She plopped back down on the couch next to Nemia and flipped the pad open.

A few pages turns later, Julia finally landed on the one she was after. There were two dresses sketched out Infront of her. One was on the left side, sketched out on the back of the page and the other was sketched on the front of the page on the right side. The left was a beautiful, pale green mermaid styled dress with a jeweled sweetheart shaped chest made in a corset style. The dress on the right was a stunning royal blue with flakes of gold glittering through the sheer lace that flowed down the length of the dress. The top half was also corset styled but had the old victorian box style around the neck that had tightened elbow length sleeves that flared and would drape down to her knees. It was old looking and exuded royalty but Nemia couldn't help but fall in love with the dress.

"Those are both absolutely gorgeous. That pale green is going to look magnificent against your ash blonde hair." Nemia murmured and waved her hand towards the dress she was referring to.

Julia smiled and traced a smidge of the sketch with her fingertip. "It will, won't it?" She responded with self arrogance and followed it with a laugh. "But, as far as getting them made.. I just need the fabric and we need to find shoes. Everything else is already right here." She twirled her hand to show off the room as well as let a small poof of fairy dust cloud over the palm of her hand for seconds before she waved it away.

This time it was Nemia's turn to show a smile. Julia's fairy magic had always stroke the cord to her curiosity. Fairy's were extremely rare, their race nearly hunted to extinction for the price of their dust and blood. Blood feeding creatures of their world found fairy blood drug like and addicting, this included vampires. Humans on the other hand, hunted for the magical properties of the fairy dust. But all of that happened over 300 years ago. Now, they are just few and far between as far as the world is concerned. Most fairy's are secretive creatures now and with good reason. Even though hunting and feeding from fairies is strictly prohibited, rogues and ferals... and most humans will still actively search for them. Which is why only Nemia and the council knew who and what Julia was exactly and she was given city protection. Julia was, without a doubt, safe here; but that didn't mean she went around town flaunting exactly what she is.

Nemia wondered when was the last time Julia attempted to let out her wings and go for a fly. She was close to asking, but then decided against it at the last second and started in with the dresses again. "Sounds perfect, I may stop by Delano's Nightclub again tonight if we find ourselves over that way. Just to check in and see if anything new may have turned up."

Julia cocked a brow. "It's more than just checking in if you take me in there too." She gave a cheesy grin and patted Nemia's knee who's eyes were starting to narrow and caused Julia to continue barreling her words out to not give Nemia the chance to object. "We'll go get fabric, shop for shoes, eat, then go to Delano's to have a few drinks and enjoy the music.. maybe enjoy a body or two?" She couldn't help but pause a moment to laugh. "I'm serious though, we haven't had a girl's day in two years! Give me today. You don't even have to dance." She practically pleaded.

Nemia's eyes started to soften in defeat. She sighed and sagged her head down slightly. "Alright, alright. I give. It's a girl's day." She added the last part with a slight bitterness etched into her voice but cleared her throat and slid a masking smile onto her lips. "Fabric, shoes, food,... Nightclub.... Then back here."

Nemia stood from the couch then after checking the time and offered a hand down to Julia. "We'll need to get going, the best fabric shop closes in an hour and then we will only have about two hours to shop for shoes. You know, since the humans tend to close most their businesses around five unless they sell food." She rolled her eyes.

She didn't hate the humans, but didn't like them either. She just found them quite idiotic at times. Like with their coexistence with the supernaturals. The humans know of their presence in the world, knows that the supernatural has a hierarchy that coincides with their own human government. Each supernatural king in each country delegates issues with the human government and politicians.

Well, most do as far as she knew. Having never met any of the kings, she couldn't even think that like a fact. But that is how it's supposed to be. Going by that, one would think the commoners of the human race would be more accepting of the supernatural races. That wasn't the case though. No, instead most humans choose to ignore the supernaturals presence in the world. Their schools won't teach supernatural history and instead fills in those gaps with made up stories or twists the supernatural being or beings in the historical event to be portrayed as evil or bad or a stark raving lunatic. It was, for lack of a better word, dehumanizing to Nemia. Though some humans were okay enough she supposed, like Milli. That human had guts and brains to boot.

Julia grabbing Nemia's hand brought her out of her thoughts as Julia used her to pull herself up off the couch. "Let's get going then." Julia responded excitedly and practically bounced over to the kitchen table and swiped up her purse laying on the table and hung it over her right shoulder. She twisted back to look at Nemia with a mischievous smile. "Ready to hit the town?" She wiggled her eyebrows, badly and Nemia busted out laughing.

After a moment of labored breathing with interruptive laughter, Nemia regained her sense of self control and stopped laughing altogether. "Yes, now let's go. Ms. Wiggles." She couldn't help but joke and started to giggle. Julia joined her with the giggling and started walking out of the apartment shaking her head with Nemia closely behind.

From there, the two of them left out and went straight to the fabric shop. Julia found the fabrics she needed. Some pale green and royal blue solid fabrics as well as some sheer lace netting in various colors. From there they went to a few different stores to find shoes.

After the third store, they both found what they deemed the perfect shoe. Julia's being a short heeled, thin, off-white she with knee high lace ties. Nemia choose a glittering blue six inch stiletto with flakes of gold flicked upon the shoe beautifully, carelessly. After both girls shoes were boxed up and ready to go they soon took off to find a homely little restaurant tucked off in a near forgotten corner of town.

It was a family owned food establishment. Quaint with a warm atmosphere. Light, classical music played from speakers attached to each corner of the dining room. A short, black haired woman came over to them and introduced herself as their server and went over the specials for the day, got their drink order, then disappeared into what Nemia could only assume was the kitchen area and drink station.

Nemia and Julia discussed over what they were going to have and when the server came back, they ordered their meal. Nemia ordered Pomana Porcului, a traditional Romanian pork dish. while Julia ordered Tochitură which is a traditional variation of pork stew with fresh sausage simmered in tomato sauce and served with mămăligă which is a porridge made out of yellow maize flour. Then they both ordered their dessert which was a Papanași which is a delicious, little Romanian cheese donut.

Everything arrived in a timely manner and they two of them sat and ate together and chatted in meaningless conversations with one another until finally they both pushed their plates away. No longer able to eat another bite. Not that much of anything was left on either of their plates including their dessert. Nemia with her wolf, made since to have such a wolfish appetite. But Julia? That was a different story. Where was she putting it?

Nemia laughed lightly at the thought and Julia's brows knitted. "What's so funny?" She asked haughtily.

"Was just wondering where you put all that food is all, you eat more than me most of the time." Nemia fell into a small fit of laughter after catching the speechless, open mouthed expression stuck on Julia's face.

Finally, Julia recovered and closed her mouth only to open it again shortly after to speak. "Don't you know it's rude to talk to a girl about her eating habits." She huffed and crossed her arms.

Nemia cocked a brow. "But I'm a girl, so that makes it okay. And I eat a lot too. But I harbor the appetite of a wolf, what's your excuse?" She leaned her head in closer as if to hear Julia better.

Julia huffed again but dropped her arms from the crossed position on her chest. "Rude. But dropping it. It looks like the owners are trying to close up and .." She glanced down at the time and her eyes widened. "I'd say it's time, it's nearly ten p.m." She quickly finished and started to stand. She reached for the check and waved the server over, who came bouncing over happily.

After the meal was payed, they headed out of the enclosure of the quaint little restaurant.

"Still up for nightclubbing or can I just do my job?" Nemia asked as they started walking down the cobbled pavement. Glancing over at Julia as she had done so.

Julia sagged her shoulders and extended her neck in exasperation. "Yes I'm still up for it... just not at long now. Give me two drinks." She straightened her posture again and cut her eyes at Nemia. "It wouldn't hurt for you to share a drink with me you know." She added pressingly.

Nemia sighed and nodded her head. "Two drinks and don't worry, if I'm stuck there I'll drink. Just nothing fancy for me, those sweet, fruity drinks are too.... well, sweet."

Julia lit up like a Christmas tree, her smile acting as the bright star set atop. "Oh goody, you'll drink too." She made a mock cheers to the empty air with her invisible glass. "To sweet drinks being too sweet." She giggled. "But that means you're going straight, how can you handle that burn? It makes me sick." She crinkled her nose in displeasure.

This time Nemia giggled a bit. "That just means you're not hard enough, I welcome that burn." She jeered. The two of them continued with small chitchat till they got to the entrance to Delano's. Nemia could hear a similar beat compared to what was playing last night when she stopped by. She remembered how sweaty the dance floor must have been last night and shuddered as he nose crinkled in disgust at the thought.

Though the thought lasted about as long as it showed up in her mind as Julia's hand grabbed at her forearm. "Don't start with those looks, we haven't even made it inside yet." She complained then glanced at the door before looking back at her. "Smile please."

Ugh. Nemia's look of disgust deepened for a moment. "Be glad I actually like you." She murmured, then the disgusted look dropped from her face as if it were never there to begin with and was replaced by a smile. It was most definitely fake but looked believable enough that if it weren't for the fact that Julia knew how she truly felt, even she would have believed the smile.

Which is what she must have been looking for because Julia beamed back up at Nemia with a smile of her own. She reached up and lighted patted Nemia's cheek. "Much better, good girl."

Nemia's eyes narrowed and opened her mouth to retort to the comment but Julia didn't give her a chance. As soon as she has finished she quickly turned, opened the door, and pulled Nemia inside the nightclub. Julia stopped at the desk just inside and insisted the worker held their shopping bags behind the counter who happily obliged. Which led Nemia to being pulled further into the club, stopping only one other time at the bouncer line. He checked their IDs then motioned them on inside. Which prompted Julia to drag Nemia straight to the bar.

Nemia seen Ms. Delano tending behind the bar and relaxed, at least she was right there so she wouldn't have to search around for her. Though she noticed that Delano was in discussion with some male at the bar. By the flirty smile and the way she walked around the bar in slow struts with her chest puffed out to emphasize what was there, made it obvious the man at the bar was her catch of the night.

Nemia slightly smiled and shook her head a tad before the two of them finally reached the bar and claimed two stools down at the left end of the bar. Two chairs down from the mystery man. He was handsome, muscular, and tall. Light blue eyes, a golden brown, sun kissed skin tone and dark brown hair that was semi short and spiked in the front. By scent, which it was hard to tell with all the different being around, she could tell he was a wolf of sorts. Not werewolf though so most likely he was a Lycan.

Julia pulled her attention back to her. "This club is gorgeous!" She practically squealed, grinning ear to ear. She was looking around the club, twisting and turning to see all that she could see.

"It does look nice, yes." Nemia commented. Not going beyond saying that because she wanted Julia to have a good time and not listen to her complaints. That did not mean that she was overly successful at controlling her facial expressions however. Which became clear as Delano noticed them at the bar and walked over to them.

Delano held a disapproving look, pursing her lips and putting a haughty hand on her hip. She clicked her tongue, shook her head, then cleared her throat to speak. "What can I do for you, mystery girl?"

Nemia cocked a brow at Delano. "My friend wanted a few drinks, get her whatever she asks for. Since I'm here though, and stuck, get me a Țuica."

"I'd like a Pálinka." Julia chimed in happily.

"One Țuica and one Pálinka coming up." Delano murmured and set off. Though she stopped and leaned in to whisper something in the man's ear that was sitting up at the bar as well. In most cases, Nemia would have been able to over hear whatever it was but because of the beating sound of the music being near deafening, she couldn't hear the exchange.

That also usually wouldn't have bothered her either but, just as Delano finished saying whatever it was, the man turned his gaze directly onto her. His eyes slightly narrowed then he stood and made a quick round to them.

Nemia nudged Julia and gave her the quickest warning of the sudden approach just as he stopped and leaned up onto the bar with his elbow. As if he were sliding up to the bar. He had chosen to slide up on Nemia's left side, putting himself standing up at the very end of the bar facing both Nemia and Julia. His eyes flicked to Julia's. "Having a good night, Julia?"

Julia put a hand on Nemia's shoulder in a calming sense and leaned around the front of Nemia slightly with another bright smile. "So far, so good. How about you Nik? I'm surprised you're out and about with the formal being tomorrow."

Nik gave a jeering smile. His eyes flicking from Julia, down to Delano, then back to Julia. "So far, so good." He said with a wink.

Nemia made a sound of disgust and was leaning back into Julia to give a bit of distance from the closeness of the mystery man named Nik. Her eyes were narrowed. "If you're here to talk to Julia could you kindly move the hell over there to her side." She didn't necessarily want to be rude, but the unnecessary closeness of him was setting her off. She didn't do unwarranted closeness.

Nik's brows furrowed and Julia gasped behind her. "Nemia! That is our kings beta you are talking to!" She yelled over the increasing beat of the music.

Nemia glanced over her shoulder at Julia and was met with a wide eyed expression of shock mixed with a tad amount of fear. Maybe Nemia should reel herself back in, back off. But that could be the king hovering over her and she'd still have the same reaction. She gave Julia a knowing, sorry look before turning back to face Nik. Who had, while she turned to look at Julia, moved away from the bar about a foot to give breathing room.

Nemia sighed lightly in relief and offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry for the abrasiveness, I just don't do well with the close thing." She iterated sheepishly. Though she caught the confused look he immediately represented giving the fact that she was nearly crawling into Julia's lap to subconsciously put distance between them. Before he could mention that, she held up a finger to pause him then wiggled it between Julia and herself. "This is different. She is, by far, the only person I trust. She's like my mother, my sister, and my best friend all wrapped up into one glittery little package." She added the end with a smile and nudged Julia with her shoulder affectionately.

Julia smiled warmly. "Aww, so you can be sweet." She jabbed lightly with a laugh and draped an arm around Nemia's shoulders to give a one armed side hug.

Nemia snickered back and greeted Delano with a smile as she approached with the drinks they had ordered. She slid the corresponding drinks in front of them, including one for Nik, and Nemia grabbed hers to take a sip immediately but was interjected by Julia grabbing her arm and tsking at her.

"Ah, ah, ah.. Hold your horses. First, a toast." Julia started and Nemia groaned, rollings her eyes.

"Julia..." Nemia started.

"Nemia." Julia finished with a sharp look.

"You're a sadist." Nemia grumbled defeatedly.

A grin stretched Julia's lips across her face and she winked. "Only sometimes." She chimed and reached for her drink to raise it in the air between them and once Nemia begrudgingly raised hers, Julia opened her mouth. "Noroc!" She shouted.

First Nik shouted the Romanian cheers out proudly and loudly which quickly caused a domino effect of "Noroc!" being shouted by every single person in the nightclub. Nemia had grumbled her cheers quietly to herself though loud enough for Julia to hear her so she couldn't say she didn't say it and insist one doing another round of this... lunacy.

After everyone died down, as much as one could in a nightclub that is, Delano leaned over towards the three of them. "Have you been properly introduced?" She asked looking pointedly at Nemia.

Nemia glanced between Delano and Nik, then shook her head. "Not quite."

"I'm Nikolaus Maftei. Beta to the Lycan King Dorian Volkov of the Romanian providence. But please, call me Nik." Nik added in with a charming smile.

Nemia nodded her head low to his acknowledgement. "Nemia Bohdan, I work for the C.J.L.S. but I feel like you may know that already." She added the last part in with a pointed look over to Delano. Her suspicion correct by seeing Delano bite her bottom lip and cast her gaze down to the ground.

"Pleasure to meet you, but Bohdan?... Isn't that name from the Silverbacks pack that was wiped clean from rogues ten years ago?" He asked curiously.

This time it was Nemia's turn to cast her gaze down to the floor, though with a saddened expression. "That's right. Sole survivor. That's when I came here, sought help from the council for justice." She scoffed. "Though not much help they've been since the ringleader is still at large." She added bitterly through gritted teeth.

Nik shifted slightly, his brows pulling together to display his confusion. "The ringleader? It was just a common rogue wolf attack, there was no ringleader."

"Malcolm Jianu." Nemia clipped back. "It was an orchestrated attack. He was and still is their leader. Why he let me escape that night, I still haven't a clue." Her teeth clenched. She wanted to throw her suspicion of Donovan at Nik as well, but thought better on it and held her tongue.

She watched as Nik processed the information she had just given him, and by the looks of him it would seem to her that Donovan had misinformed Nik and most likely they king as well. Nik's jaw clenched and she noticed the tick in the back of his jaw.

"Fucking hell..." Nik growled, looking between all three women before settling his gaze back on Nemia. "Dorian is already suspicious of Donovan for allowing you to work under him without our knowledge. Now I have to go tell him we were lied to on the events pertaining to the Silverbacks pack. We were told by Donovan himself that there were absolutely no survivors and that the rogues were already dealt with."

Nemia looked over to Julia, only to find her with her eyes cast down into her.... second drink? When did she order another one? She mentally shrugged her shoulders and looked back over to Nik. "I'm not sure why Donovan would lie, but I don't suspect that to have any good come out of it. But..." She paused, her brows furrowing slightly. "Why does it matter wether he told you of me working for him or not?"

"It's a safety measure. Too many creatures still seek to claim the thrones all throughout the world. We can't just have any random person working close to any council member. There's supposed to be a special clearance, a work permit basically." Nik answered her earnestly.

Nemia rose her eyebrows slightly. "Seems like your system is a bit flawed." She commented sarcastically before downing her drink.

"Would you like another?" Delano chimed in softly and reached for Nemia's now empty glass.

Nemia shook her head. "No thanks. But now for what I actually came here for."

Delano's brows knitted a tad in confusion. "I'm sorry, what? I thought you came for your friend." She motioned to Julia with a hand.

"Yes, but we agreed on two drinks for her and then we could leave." She looked over to Julia. "Isn't that right, Julia?"

Julia rolled her eyes and scoffed but nodded her head in agreement nonetheless. "Two drinks is right.... mom." She groaned the last word like a whiney teenager.

This time, Nemia rolled her eyes and scoffed but was smiling warmly. She looked back over to Delano and was about to speak again when Nik cleared his throat and subtly waved his hand to establish he was still present. Nemia rolled her eyes and swiveled her head to peer up at him. "Yes?"

"I am still here and I thought WE were discussing things.." Nik started but was quickly stopped by Nemia holding a hand up.

"Let me go ahead and stop you, there is nothing left to discuss there pertaining directly to just me and there is absolutely no point in repetitively kicking a dead horse. Which is exactly what this conversation will turn into very fast without other people present. Also, I came here to discuss work with Ms. Delano and share a drink with my friend. Not be hounded by the Romanian kings horny beta."

Nik's mouth was slightly agape and eyes wide with shock. Processing. Julia and Delano holding similar looks as well. Julia's hand had reached out to cling to Nemia's forearm. "Nemia, what the hell?" She half whispered.

Nemia ignored Julia for the most part, keeping her gaze held high to meet Nik's. Even though he was a beta, he still has alpha like tendency's. But to her surprise, he didn't react in the way she expected fully.

As the shock fell from Nik's face and mind, his lips twitched. Once, twice. Then a roar of laughter ripped through his sternum and bubbled out. After a moment, the laughter ceased and he looked to Nemia with humor still creasing the corners of his eyes. "You really are Mystery Girl, Miss Nemia." He gave another small chuckle and waved a hand in front of him to signify for her to continue. "By all means, do whatever it is you came here to do."

Nemia stiffly nodded. "Much appreciated." She grumbled then turned back to Delano with a fake smile. "Has there been anything new come up on your end pertaining to Veera?"

Delano looked between Nik and Nemia with concern etched across her features but eventually settled her gaze on Nemia and shook her head. "No, I told you everything last night. Though that secretary got in contact with me earlier saying the potential victims were safe and secure."

Nemia nodded her head. "Yeah, she informed me already as well." She commented, dropping her held gaze on Delano and surveyed the mass of bodies in the club. After a moment she turned back to Delano. "You wouldn't happen to have any form of a guest list from that night would you?"

Delano's brows knitted slightly. "Not a full guest list but VIPs have to sign a guest list to be able to get into the backrooms. Cards too of course, but they sign too to ensure the card wasn't stolen."

"Could I have a copy of the list? I know the know potential victims are secure but... I don't think they were ever actually in harms way. Just a means for a distraction. But a distraction for what or who, is still one of the many questions at hand."

Delano nodded and held up a finger. "Just a moment, it's in my office." With that said, she slipped out from behind the bar and darted off through the crowd of people. Nemia wasn't exactly sure where in the back she was going and because of the mass of people, she lost sight on Delano relatively quickly.

Nik piped up after Delano disappeared. "What makes you think the siren wasn't after the humans she was seen showing interest in?" He asked slightly curious but unbelieving in her judgement at the moment.

Nemia turned to focus back on Nik again with a stiff smile. "You don't think my hunch is plausible, do you not?" She shot back, tipping her head to the side slightly.

Nik opened his arms out to his side and shrugged his shoulders. "You're considerably young compared to me and have most likely never dealt with a siren considering their rarity in this region. So excuse my doubt, but please do enlighten me. Surprise me." He jeered the last bit and gave her a wolfish grin.

Nemia rolled her eyes but went along with it anyway. "The patterns doesn't match. Yes I know, no one creature is subject to the same habit and patterns as the other. But there is little things that's common to each species and their subsets. A sirens main common, is salt water. Which is hundreds of miles away from here in any one direction. Even in the case of wanting to go from the port on one side of the country to a port on the opposite side, a siren would travel by water rather than by land unless there wasn't a choice and even then they would find the shortest travel distance between the two bodies of water."

Nemia paused for a moment to breathe before she continued on, Nik was now leaning against the bar with a look of intrigue.

"Then there's also the fact that you so kindly pointed out already. She was seen with those men at the bar. Sirens are sneaky, confident, and smart. If those were the men she was going to choose as her next meal, she wouldn't have shown herself fraternizing with them so publicly." She cocked her head to the side a bit more. "Don't you find that just the littlest bit strange?"

Prompted with the question, Nik sighed. He used his right hand to reach up and grip at the back of his neck almost subconsciously. "I suppose you are right in that. But.. does that mean you have an idea of what she may be after or up to?"

Julia piped up then to answer with her own opinion. "It's obvious the siren is here for the king or someone close to him."

Nemia turned to shoot her a quick smile. "That was one of my guesses and most likely the correct answer." She turned back to Nik as she spoke but was met with an odd look from him.

He shook his head slowly. "She's not here for the king. She's alone and her siren song won't work on him..."

"He's a Lycan, he is susceptible to a sirens song. Just as you are and you could be one of the ones she is after just for being his beta." Nemia had interjected and looked at him pointedly.

"He's not your normal Lycan and neither am I. We aren't affected by a sirens influence or any mind altering magics in general. Veera knows this and isn't stupid enough to act against us by herself."

Nemia opened her mouth to retort then closed it again, the confusion spreading rapidly on her face. Then, a strike of reality flashed through her mind and her eyes narrowed onto Nik. "You've personally dealt with this siren before, haven't you?"

Nik chuckled lightly. "You're smart, I'll give you that. Yes, Dorian and I know her personally. She passed through decades ago. My theory is she just got bored and is moving to the opposite ports in the continent. Even still, she is still dangerous and getting her out of town is priority. If she chooses to prolong her stay, expect chaos. She's a wild card when it comes to a siren, does things that goes against what she is in a whole. Like travelling by land instead of sea because she prefers her legs. Unlike most sirens, she can go years without saltwater."

Nemia could do nothing but stare at Nik as he spoke about Veera. She could hear a mixture of emotions lace through his voice as he talked about her. There was a hint of sorrow mixed with anger wrapped in judgement and tied with an odd bow of appreciation and acceptance. 'He's slept with her, most definitely.' She snickered to herself in her mind before realizing he was finished talking.

"So, a siren who prefers land. That is a bit strange for the breed but I've seen stranger. But I get it, she's dangerous. Like most every creature I track down near daily. But... I have one more question concerning her. You've already stated she not like most and going on that, you keep saying she's alone. What if she's not?"

Nik's brows furrowed in thought at the question but didn't respond automatically as Delano appeared back at the bar with the list of the registered VIP members that was here the night Veera was. She glanced over it before looking up at Delano and offering a small smile. "Thanks, as soon as I have confirmation on these people I'll have someone return the VIP list. Thank you for your help, Mrs. Delano."

"Alex." She grumbled with a piercing stare before smiling back. "Always a pleasure to help the C.J.L.S." Alex beamed.

Nemia's smile turned a bit stiff and more forced. "Sorry, Alex." She amended the formality of her address and turned to stand. Only to stop, frozen in place.

As she had went to stand her eyes subconsciously scanned the crowd of people and they stilled on a very familiar scar. Not on a wolf though, but on a man. A big man. There and gone in the blink of an eye. The sudden disappearance caused her to break through the frozen lock on her body and she shot the rest the way up onto her feet in fractions of a second. Staring into the spot she had seen the man with the scar, he was gone with no sign he was ever even there. She spun on her heels, searching every face in the club frantically on spot.

The other three that had been exchanging their own goodbye's silenced themselves and all turned to stare at the wild eye Nemia. Julia was the first to move and jumped up in front of Nemia, grabbing her by the shoulder and shaking her lightly to get Nemia's attention to focus on her. "Nemia, Nem... honey, talk. What's wrong?"

The man was gone, Nemia's eyes snapped to Julia's as she was shaken to her senses. "I swear I just seen Malcolm. Scar and all." She worked down the lump building in her throat. Her eyes snapped over to Nik and Alex before drawing them back to Julia.

"What?!" Julia turned, started to search the crowd for any confirmation but was quickly pulled back to focus on Nemia.

"He's gone now if he was ever even there. I seen what I though could be him based on the deep scar across his eye. But he was gone just as fast as he appeared. I..." Nemia paused, taking a deep breath. "Can we just go home now?" She asked Julia softly.

Julia gave a sad smile and stepped to Nemia's side, draping an arm around her shoulders and used her other hand to wave her goodbyes to the other two who let them leave without another word. But Nemia took notice in how the two dropped into deep conversation the moment they were out of earshot. 'Wonder what that's about." She mused to herself, still searching the crowd as they made their way to the desk they had stopped at to drop their shopping bags off.

After successfully gathering their things, they set out of the club and started their way home. The streets were relatively empty with it being 1a.m. now which was usually a comfort to Nemia but now she felt exposed in the empty streets. She nudged Julia's shoulder with her own and gave a soft smile. Atleast she had Julia to walk with. For a while, their walk was silent but as they reached their last stretch of street to the apartment building, Julia finally broke the silence. "You sure it was Malcolm?"

Nemia sighed. "I didn't get a long enough look. My eyes could have just been playing tricks too...."

"I sense a but in that explanation somewhere."

Nemia huffed out a small laugh of agreement. "But... I know that scar. It was Malcolm. He was staring right at me."

Julia blew out a loud sigh. "First a siren and now this?"

Nemia rose her hands awkwardly holding the shopping bags as mocked the "I give" motion before dropping her arms again. "I bet if you asked Nik, he'd say there was no relation in the two." She grumbled, giving Julia a side eye look of disapproval.

Julia chuckled lightly. "Probably so. But I got to admit, it is strange..."

"That it is." Nemia sighed, pushing open the door to their apartment having reached it finally and went straight to the couch where she dropped down with a grunt. "But for now, that's a problem for another day. Let's make those dreadful dresses for tomorrow."

Julia pursed her lips in disapproval of the use of Nemia's words. "I'd like to not think they are dreadful, you know... But up you stand. I can't do it with you sitting there all lumpy." She jabbed at her with a cheery smile.

Nemia rolled her eyes but stood from the couch and held her arms straight out at shoulder height on either side of her facing Julia. Before she knew it, the fabrics they had recently bought came floating out of their designated bags by glittering gold dust, AKA fairy dust, being controlled by Julia's fingertips. The fabrics wrapped around her. Twisting, pulling and cutting. For about thirty minutes this went on until finally the dress that was sketched out earlier by Julia was now wrapped and completed around Nemia.

Everything from the flared sleeves down to the sheer, branch like design on the bottom hem of the dress was there in that gorgeous royal blue.

But the look on Julia's face said she didn't like something about it. "What is it?" Nemia asked, looking down and trying to see what was wrong with it herself.

"The color.. it's gorgeous but... not right..." The a bright twinkle got caught in her eye and next the Nemia knew, she was cast into a cloud of Julia's glittering fairy dust and as it settled she opened her eyes to look down and see the dress has changed from royal blue to a deep emerald green that was a perfect match of her eyes. The gold dust only accenting the color more.

Nemia sucked in a gasp before looking to Julia for confirmation. "It... it's beautiful. Perfect."

"But?"

"Is it not too much? This is older generation royal attire, I won't be out of place?" Nemia voiced her concern willingly.

Julia smiled. "I forget, this is your first decade formal. A lot more people will dress in clothes like this than you realize this year."

Nemia's brows furrowed. "But your dress isn't old looking." She waved to the sketch book that housed the sketches of both dresses side by side.

This only brought another smile out of Julia though. "Fairies don't usually follow the normal standards." She responded with a wink.

Nemia shrugged. "I suppose you're right with that last part." Biting back her laugh, she continued on. "But as long as I won't stand out too much, I suppose this will be okay. Now get it off of me so I can watch you do yours then go to bed.

"Alright, alright. Hold your horses." Julia grumbled and within a few seconds, the dress opened at the seams. Nemia stepped out to watch it form back together and drape itself over the back of the couch. Then the fabric for Julia's dress started the same process hers had. An hour or so later, the two of them would drag themselves into their rooms and crash into their beds consecutively. Both their minds on the formal that was so close, and neither of them were thrilled given who their dates were.