I didn't want to stay out here alone. The darkness behind me suddenly felt much more threatening than the pulsating chaos that awaited me inside. So I forced myself to hurry after him.

As soon as I crossed the threshold, a wave of heat, alcohol, and heavy perfume enveloped me. My stomach twisted unpleasantly. The noise was overwhelming—bass thrumming in my bones, loud voices mingling with filthy laughter, and somewhere someone screaming in joy or pain, I couldn't quite tell.

Eryon stood a few steps ahead of me, watching me with a satisfied grin, as if he were just testing me to see if I would follow him.

I tried...