82
Allesio’s POV
The music thumped through the club like a second heartbeat, the kind of bass that seemed to pulse in your chest and drown out everything else. It wasn’t really my scene, but I’d promised Alaric I’d come out with him tonight. Something about needing a change of scenery, a chance to let off some steam.
Not that Alaric was exactly a party animal. He sat at the private booth we’d reserved, nursing his whiskey and scanning the room like it was just another battlefield. Old habits die hard, I guess. For him, it was impossible to relax completely—even here.
“Why did I even bother dragging you out?” I asked, leaning back in my seat and watching him with an amused smirk.
“I’m here, aren’t I?” he said, raising an eyebrow.
“Physically, sure. Mentally? You’re probably running th
