“That was bullshit. I almost had you and you know it!” the muscular woman growled.
The fairy slowly dragged her tongue across her lower lip in the most obscene way possible before knocking lightly on the McLaren’s passenger window.
It rolled down revealing a giant green-skinned troll inside gripping the steering wheel with both hands while his entire face turned bright red.
The fairy pouted dramatically at him. “Looks like somebody didn’t offer enough incentive, huh, Alic?”
Then she made a very explicit motion with her hands and mouth, acting like a dick was right in front of her.
“Aniyah!”
The fighter woman crossed both arms instantly while glaring.
Behind her, another massive man with long dark hair sat inside the Hummer watching her with a sweet smile, like every other living being around him simply ceased to exist.
“Aniyah, quit traumatizing people.”
The fairy burst out laughing so hard she doubled over against the car before suddenly grabbing the troll’s face and kissing him deeply enough half the restaurant forgot how breathing worked.
The muscular woman rolled her eyes skyward like this happened hourly.
Wait. Aniyah? Nova? My brain screeched to a halt.
I stared harder at both women now that I actually looked at them. The white hair. The pink eyes. The overwhelming presence.
Oh my god. These were Calix’s sisters.
Before I could fully process that, a figure suddenly appeared directly behind Aniyah without a sound, leaning close to her ear.
“Using every trick available to you, I see.”
I physically jolted in my chair. Riot. That was Riot.
Aniyah shrieked loud enough that several people nearby jumped. She practically launched into the air clutching her chest dramatically.
“Fucking hell, Riot!” she gasped while glaring at her. “We need to put a bell on you!”
Nova laughed under her breath and walked over to drape an arm across Riot’s shoulder.
“Don’t let her ruin your vibe, Ri.” She smirked. “You’re perfectly terrifying already.”
Riot didn’t react. Not even a twitch. Her face stayed completely unreadable while her eyes moved slowly between both sisters. Then her head turned sharply toward the street.
“She’s here.”
The teasing instantly stopped. Aniyah straightened. Nova’s smile faded. Even Riot seemed somehow sharper as an all-black Rolls Royce glided silently to the curb in front of them.
The back passenger door opened first and a tall vampire stepped out smoothly onto the pavement.
Sweeping white hair framed a face so sharp and pale it looked carved from marble. His tailored grey suit fit perfectly across broad shoulders and a lean, dangerous frame. But it was his eyes that made the world fall silent.
Crystal blue. Cold and haunting. The kind of eyes that had seen horrors most people wouldn’t survive and came out the other side untouched.
He rounded the car calmly and opened the opposite door, bowing his head slightly while offering his hand inside.
A black heel emerged first. Then long legs wrapped in tailored black slacks. A slim tattooed hand slipped into his. And suddenly I forgot every other person standing there.
A woman stepped from the car wearing power like it had been stitched directly into her skin.
