But I’m not scared now.
I’m angry.
So. Fucking. Angry.
She took my past. My future. My body. My choices. Turned me into a living curse and disappeared like a ghost, leaving me with death on my lips and guilt permanently lodged between my ribs.
And now she’s sending assassins to finish the job?
No.
She doesn’t get to choose how my story ends.
I grab another glass, fill it with ice, and slam the shaker lid on harder than necessary. The metal stings my palm. The rhythm of pouring and mixing helps keep the fury in check, but just barely.
This is my life now. Messy. Loud.Mine.
She can’t have it.
“Cinder. Kai.” Snow literally vaults over the counter to get to the two people approaching. An Asian woman with dark purple lipstick, and jet-black hair pulled into two ponytails framing her sharp cut bangs. The former Lost Girl has the expression of someone who has lived the goth lifestyle since emerging from the womb and has never smiled in her life.
Snow slows to give the woman she called Cinder a fist pump before turning to the taller, lean man next to her. Unlike his companion, he folds himself over to envelop Snow in a warm hug, sporting a devilish grin that stretches ear to ear.
I jolt when I register the fangs of a Midnight Fae.
Blood drinker.Vampire.
Alarm shoots through me, but no one else seems to be panicking.
“Steady,” a low voice says from nearby. I forgot Talon was right beside me for a moment.
He’s right to tell me to keep calm. No one else seems surprised this Kai person is here, and judging by Cinder’s pallor, she’s likely to be a vampire too. Or just...very goth.
There isn’t much hope of her cracking a smile so I can gauge what enamel she’s packing. I do remember Snow talking about Cinder’s blood magic and consorting with vampires, but she didn’t go into much more detail.
I curse myself for not asking more questions.
Giving in to my sudden bout of insecurity, I take a step closer to Talon.
As if knowing what I’m doing, he extends an arm on the bar, closer to me. Even without touching me, he calms me with his nearness.
Snow is practically bouncing off the walls at their visit, as Kai waves to Ariel behind the bar.
“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it’s finally happening,” Snow exclaims. “I thought for sure Goldie would lose patience and elope in Vegas like you guys did.”
That’s right. Snow, Ariel, Rap and even Geanie are going to Goldie’s wedding, another former Lost Girl. This pair must be in town for the festivities.
“You kidding?” Kai jokes. “She’s going for the full fairytale wedding.”
“Goldie deserves it too,” Cinder says, still straight-faced.
Despite the nice words, I’m not sure if Cinder means them. I guess you’d have to know her to get a real read on her emotions because she certainly doesn’t wear them out in the open. I wonder whether she’s also learned to wear a mask or is just naturally like that.
Kai nudges Cinder’s arm. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she released a flock of flutter buns as soon as they say I do.”
The front doors of Poison Appleexplodeopen in a cloud of shimmering gold and sapphire glitter.
A diva enters, strutting like the stage belongs to her. Rhinestones blaze on her heels, and a frosted swirl of powder-blue curls rises high enough to kiss the rafters.
