Every eye in the tavern remained on Jax.
The glowing red eyes of the vampires followed him as he walked calmly across the room without the slightest trace of fear.
Jax ignored the tension completely.
He walked straight to the bartender.
She was stunning.
Pale skin.
Dark crimson lips.
Long silver-black hair that cascaded down her shoulders.
And a chest so generous that even Jax briefly wondered if Bunny finally had competition.
The dress she wore was cut low enough that it seemed one strong breeze away from becoming a public event.
Yet despite her beauty, her eyes were cold.
Careful.
Suspicious.
"We aren't looking for trouble," she said flatly.
Jax nodded seriously.
"Ok, great. I came to the right place then."
Her eyebrow twitched slightly.
"Neither am I."
The surrounding vampires watched carefully.
Still silent.
Still tense.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
Jax glanced around the tavern casually.
"Well, this appears to be a tavern."
He motioned toward the shelves behind her.
"So I was hoping to get a drink."
A few vampires exchanged confused looks.
This human was either incredibly brave—
—or catastrophically stupid.
Jax leaned slightly on the bar.
"Maybe something fit for a human or beastkin. What would you recommend?"
The bartender answered instantly.
"Finding another establishment."
Jax looked genuinely surprised.
"Have I offended you somehow?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"We don't take kindly to vampire hunters in this town."
Jax sighed softly.
"You're now the second person to call me that."
He tilted his head curiously.
"Is that really a thing? Are there actually humans on this continent hunting vampires?"
"There is at least one."
The room grew slightly colder.
"And others who follow him."
Her voice sharpened.
"We don't need more like him here."
"Or anywhere."
Jax nodded thoughtfully.
"Well, I can assure you that the trouble I usually cause tends to be the good kind."
A faint grin crossed his face.
"And I always pay for whatever me or my friends accidentally destroy."
That got a few reactions.
Several vampires looked confused.
One even snorted into his drink.
The bartender studied him carefully.
Trying to understand him.
Humans were supposed to arrive terrified.
Or hateful.
Not... conversational.
Not relaxed.
Not casually discussing property damage.
"And I am not a vampire hunter," Jax continued. "I'm a traveler and merchant on my way to your capital city."
"Merchant?" she repeated skeptically.
Her eyes moved over his armor and enchanted trench coat.
"You don't look like a merchant."
Jax smiled.
"Oh, I absolutely am."
He reached into his inventory.
Several vampires instinctively tensed.
But instead of a weapon—
Jax pulled out a large chilled bottle of Pixie Mead.
The bottle lightly frosted in the tavern air.
He placed it gently on the counter.
"I'd like you to try this."
The bartender didn't touch it.
The surrounding vampires grew wary again.
Poison?
Holy water?
A trap?
Jax immediately noticed the hesitation.
"Fair concern."
He held up a finger.
"Got a shot glass?"
She brought out two.
Jax smiled slightly at that.
Interesting.
She didn't trust him—
—but she trusted herself enough to test him personally.
Jax poured two small glasses.
She lifted hers carefully but stopped before drinking.
Watching him.
Waiting.
Jax tossed his shot back immediately.
"Aaaah," he sighed dramatically. "Still good."
The bartender waited another few seconds.
Then finally drank.
Her expression remained emotionless at first.
Then her eyes widened slightly.
Smooth.
Sweet.
Strong.
The magical warmth spread instantly through her body.
Her expression softened despite herself.
Jax noticed immediately.
"That good, huh?"
She ignored the question.
"How much of this do you have?"
Jax grinned.
Now they were speaking the same language.
He reached into his inventory again and placed four more large bottles onto the counter.
"Consider these free samples."
The bartender stared at the bottles.
Free?
No merchant gave away products this expensive.
"My companions are behind me with full barrels," Jax continued casually. "If we come to an agreement, they can be yours."
Now she was intrigued.
Very intrigued.
Instead of answering immediately, she turned and poured a drink from one of the tavern taps into a large glass.
"This," she said, placing it in front of him, "is our best seller."
Jax inspected it automatically.
FAIRY CIDER
INTOXICATING EFFECTS WITH MILD EUPHORIC PROPERTIES
LIGHT APHRODISIAC EFFECT
HIGH QUALITY
Jax blinked.
"Fairy Cider…"
The bartender immediately noticed.
"You know it?"
Jax realized too late that he said it aloud.
"Ah. Not exactly."
He took a sip.
Fruitier than Pixie Mead.
Lighter.
Dangerously smooth.
His eyes lit up instantly.
The bartender saw it happen.
"You like it."
"Oh, this would sell insanely well back home."
He took another drink.
"It doesn't matter the continent. Fairies apparently make amazing alcohol."
"And apparently all fairies are horny," she added dryly.
Jax nearly choked laughing.
Now the tension truly broke.
For the first time, the bartender smiled openly.
Jax pointed at the cider.
"I want trade access to this."
"Big ambitions for a human."
"Big ambitions are kind of my thing."
She walked around the bar this time instead of leaning over it.
She brushed close enough against him that Jax noticed.
Not accidental.
Interesting.
"I'm Selene Vaelith," she said smoothly. "Owner of this tavern. Several restaurants too."
She picked up two bottles of Pixie Mead.
"And now apparently your trade partner."
Across the room, several vampires had already started drinking the samples she handed out.
Cheers erupted almost instantly.
"This stuff is incredible!"
"Another bottle!"
"Human merchant stays!"
Selene smirked.
"You've somehow managed to buy goodwill from vampires using alcohol."
Jax lifted his cider.
"I find most problems improve with good drinks."
Hours passed.
The atmosphere transformed completely.
The tavern became lively.
Friendly.
Warm.
The suspicion faded.
Even the vampires who remained cautious no longer viewed Jax as prey.
Meanwhile—
The Vixens finally arrived.
The carriage ride had been painfully slow.
The driver nearly panicked at every branch movement and shadow.
By the time they reached town, Nyxian was openly threatening to throw him from the carriage.
The tracking jewelry eventually led them directly to the tavern.
Bunny stretched dramatically.
"Of course he found alcohol."
Nyxian kicked the tavern doors open dramatically.
"Oh Jaxy! We're he—"
The words died instantly.
Every vampire in the tavern turned toward them at once.
Dozens of glowing red eyes locked onto the doorway.
And hanging upside down from the ceiling—
Bound tightly with ropes around his wrists and torso—
Was Jax.
And every vampire in the tavern stared at the Vixens in complete silence.