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“Everyone dies at some point.” Another feline grin. “You take care of my little creeps, okay?”
“Um. Sure.”
“Good. Good.” She eases back and glances down the bar as a tall, lanky man walks in. Must be the barman. She nods at him, then refills my glass—pouring from both bottles simultaneously. When she’s done, she gives me a wink. “See you around, Your Majesty.”
I stare in her direction long after she’s gone.
“Willow!” Alfie startles me by grabbing my arm. “What’s taking so long?”
“Um.” I frown.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. You okay?” He takes the drink I offer.
“She just said something weird.”
He grins. “Don’t worry about it. You’ll forget it the moment you leave here. Come on, meet the others.”
Nervously, I allow him to guide me to his friends’ U-shaped booth. I recognize most as the crew he was with on the first day in the commons. Dahlia’s cheeks and eyes are bright, her red lipstick smudged. The man beside her is the Shadow who probably eats monsters for breakfast. The other two have charmed chains dangling from shoulder to shoulder.The woman is blond, round-faced, and seems out of breath. The man has a red headband on his long dark hair.
Alfie shuffles me forward and points to Dahlia. “You already know this nut job, but you might not know she’s a Woodrunner, Unit Six-Oh-Four in the Avorlornian army. Lindon is the House of Stone Shadow and a Warden like me. Unit Six-Oh-Four represent.” They all pound their fists together.
I smile around my straw, secretly thankful I have something to distract myself from Fox.
“These two Chasers are Guardsman Becky and Special Guardsman Ryder. Also in Six-Oh-Four.” He slings his arm over my shoulder and grins. “Everyone, meet Willow, my fiancée.”
I cough and pound my chest to cover my shock.
“Go down the wrong hole?” Alfie shoots me a concerned look, slapping my back. The rough action jerks me forward, and it feels like my breasts are about to burst from my top. Panicking, I fumble for my cleavage but end up spilling more drink.
“I’m good. I’m good.” I quickly correct my glass, wipe my face, and smile at him.
A flicker of irritation flashes in his eyes, and then he pushes at Ryder. “Shove over for Willow, will you?”
I dart a glance around as if someone will save me. My skin prickles with unease. But I bunch my storm cloud skirt and slide in next to the big guy with the red headband. It smells coppery, like blood. And he breaths really loud.
Alfie squeezes in on the opposite side of the table and starts chatting with Lindon as if his declaration is old news.
Dahlia leans past Ryder and says to me, “Hey, no hard feelings here, alright?”
“Ah, sure.”
“I mean, out there, we’re rivals. But in here, we got each other’s backs.”
“Six-Oh-Four,” Becky crows, and they fist-bump.
That will get real old if they don’t stop soon.
Everyone at this table serves in the same military unit. That kind of bond is strong. Unbreakable. After a few awkward minutes of me sitting on the outskirts, with Ryder joining the same conversation as the other boys, Dahlia urges him to swap seats with me.
The queasiness in my stomach says I’d rather not, but I think the vodka is starting to get to me. I slide across so I’m beside the two women.
“Hey.” Becky reaches across and squeezes my hand. “I’m sorry about your face.”
“Me too,” Dahlia breathes. “I mean, I’m sorry too. I can’t imagine having to walk around looking like that. It must be horrible.”
Yeah, this isn’t making me feel better. It’s none of their business, anyway.
“But don’t worry.” She bumps my shoulder with hers. “We’ll teach you the ropes. We still have a few hours left tonight. We can get you hooked up with a Radiant to earn your first charm, and if things get a little crazy”—she nods at my drink—“at least it’s a rest day tomorrow.”
