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I make my way back to the table I was sitting at before and take my seat. Andi has already switched places with the blonde and is talking to the band. The blonde, Jasmine I believe her name is, flounces away, a bitter look on her face. She sits off to the side and it’s easy to see the ugly envy in her eyes. She would be attractive enough, I suppose, in that sun-kissed Southern belle way, if it weren’t for the jealousy that makes her look like a petulant toddler.

“Okay,” I hear Andi say, "let’s take song five from the top.”

The band begins running through the opening of the number, a sultry song that I don’t recognize, so it’s not old. Then Andi opens her mouth and starts singing, and I stop breathing.

How is it possible for one person’s voice to be so perfect? It’s velvety soft and golden, warm, yet bright. It dips and flows with the music, effortlessly filling the space, even though she isn’t singing into a microphone. It’s like a gentle finger along my spine, pleasurable and haunting all at once. I have never heard her equal, and I have heard many singers in my time. Andi sinuously moves to the music, looking like a temptation itself, even though she is dressed in such casual clothes. I close my eyes and let the music wash over me. I have never felt like this before listening to a song.

The band finishes, and Andi starts to talk to them about some changes, looking more in her element than I have ever seen her. I don’t understand the technicalities of what she’s saying, but when the practice begins again, it sounds even better than it did the first time. She is truly gifted. I can see why she didn’t want to give up her spot at the theater.

“She’s good, isn’t she?” comes a familiar voice to my left. I turn and see Jade Yarrow slide into the seat next to mine, looking up at the stage.

“Indeed,” I agree, amused at Jade’s audacity. She is still the firebrand that I remember. Most Others who know who I am would not dare to come close to me without an invitation, but Jade goes where she wants. If Gaspard weren’t so lost on her, I might have been interested in her for myself. No matter. She pales in interest compared to Andi.

“What are you doing here, Commandant?” she asks bluntly, though quietly enough that we will not be overheard over the music.

“Why does everyone keep asking me that?” I quirk the side of my lip at her.

“Because you shouldn’t be here,” Jade says, still blunt. “You should be at your mansion or your club, doing dark deeds or whatever it is that you and Gaspard do with your time. Not babysitting my friend.”

“Wasn’t it your idea for her to have a babysitter?” I query. I’m still amused, but there’s a bit of a warning in my tone. Though I like Jade and want her and Gaspard reunited, it would not do for her to forget her respect. Like I told Andi, I expect respect from those that I speak to and will have it.

Jade has the grace to look chastened. “It was,” she admits. “But, Commandant, you must realize that by taking a personal interest in her, you’ll make Andi a person of interest to your enemies as well.”

It hadn’t occurred to me, but I’m not worried. “None shall get past me.”

“While you are here,” she points out. “Andi told me that she entertains you, but we both know that won’t last. So when you no longer take an interest in her, what will happen when the vultures start circling? When people think they can get to you through her?”

“What would you have me do?” I ask curiously. “I’ve already promised to protect her until her Colton problem is gone, which might not be for a very long time, as we both know. If I get tired of her, she will still have one of my best guards.”

“What about the Circle of Nightshade?”

“What about them?” I drawl, getting a little bored by this conversation. It is starting to sound like a meeting with my brotherhood. I already know that I’ll need to do something about the Circle, I don’t need an upstart witch to tell me so. I want to go back to listening to Andi sing.

Jade is not discouraged by my lack of interest. She says hotly, “I did some asking around. You guys are rivals, thorns in each other’s sides. When he finds out you are personally involved, it’ll turn into a dick-measuring contest. He’ll want to prove that he’s a bigger man than you, that you can’t take his toys away from him. He certainly won’t take you stepping in lying down.”

“Again,” I query, “what do you want me to do? You’re the reason I’m involved in the first place.”

“I want you to kill Colton Haynes,” Jade says boldly. Andi hits a high note at the same time Jade speaks, pulling my attention for a moment. It’s a perfect, soul-shattering note, one that moves me, even though I don’t know the song. Seeing her actually performing in costume with all the stage lights she talked about must be a treat. I can’t believe she’s been hiding from me all this time, this little songbird.

Back to the witch, I smirk. “Andi doesn’t want that. Was quite adamant about it, actually.”

Jade shakes her head. “Andi has only been Initiated into the Other World for all of two days. She doesn’t know how brutal it can be. And if the Circle of Nightshade is after her, there’s a chance that they’ll get her.”

“Careful, witch,” I growl, my amusement gone. “Are you intimating that my skills are lacking?”

“No, but you're not infallible. No one is. And if he keeps trying, which he will, with the backing of his coven, Colton might get her away from you eventually, to do goddess knows what to her. The only way for that to never happen is if he disappears. For good.”

I smile again. “Who knew you were so bloodthirsty? I wouldn't expect it from a hedgewitch. No wonder Gaspard isn’t over you.”

Jade starts to blush at my words. Interesting. It would seem that my lieutenant still has an effect on the witch after all. However, her embarrassment at my observation doesn't trip her up for long.

“I’m serious,” she insists. “And you know that I’m right. Don’t be arrogant and actually protect my friend. Don’t leave a door open for danger to walk in.”

“You don’t understand what you are asking, witch,” I say, letting condescension drip from my words. “You are part of the Other World, but you are not entrenched in the politics of it. You are asking me to start a war.”

“A war is coming, anyway,” she retorts, before standing up. “Just promise me you’ll think of what I said, okay? You don’t know Colton like Andi does. If he has the power to take her, he will. It’s why I originally thought that it would be a good idea to put her in contact with you.”

“You don’t think it was a good idea any longer?”