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MORGAN
Emily invited me over to her group for some “girl talk,” as she’d put it. As if I wanted to spend time bonding with her over frivolous, unimportant things like makeup and hair—or whatever it was that girls talked about. Not like I would know. I’d never been one of the girly-girls. I’d outgrown pigtails and pink dresses long ago.
But the opportunity presented itself, so I had to seize it. Especially after my talk with Samara earlier. I was in the shower, getting cleaned up before the bonfire, and Samara tapped into my mind, interrupting the only moment of peace I’d had that day. She had a way with timing …
Hello, my child.
That was how she referred to me—child. At first, I found it irritating, the way she grouped me with the incompetence of a 10-year-old, but now I found it endearing. She didn’t think I was incapable, which was why I was given the tasks with the most value to the cause. And when the New World came, I would be her second-in-command, with Griffin by my side.
She asked me for a progress report, and I told her I’d be going to the bonfire with the wolves shortly. “I can find out more then,” I said, no concern about whether anyone could hear me since I was in the comfort of my own bathroom.
Now is your chance to get close to Emily. Gain her trust. Once you can do that, you will get her alone and give her the poison.
“How can I do that with all her goons around her constantly? I’d need to take her somewhere else, away from here, where no one can interrupt or try to save her. So that by the time they find her, not even the necromancer himself could bring her back.”
Samara chuckled, and I couldn’t stop the smile that curled at my lips just thinking about putting an end to Emily. Finally.
I appreciate the enthusiasm, child. I know the perfect place to take her. A cottage, just outside the woods. I spent many hours there when I was banished. I’ll give you the location when the time is right. Tonight, gain her trust. Make her believe you want to spend time with her, and she will gladly go with you.
I groaned. I couldn’t help it, the idea of spending time with Emily made me want to vomit. Samara didn’t take too kindly to my reluctance.
Morgan—she used my name, and I felt like I was being scolded by a parent—I appreciate your value to the cause, but make no mistake, you are replaceable. I have taken you under my wing and promised you a position of high status in the New World. Don’t disappoint me.
In other words, don’t fuck up. That last sentence held such malevolence, I stumbled back as if I’d been physically struck by the words. Could she do that? I’d never considered the possibility.
“I won’t,” I insisted, turning off the water and grabbing my towel.
Good, because there’s no room in the New World for failures. I will speak with you soon. Goodbye for now, child.
And like that, she was gone, and I had a new mission: gain Emily’s trust.
I approached her gaggle of girls, squawking like a bunch of hens. Emily had a new image—purple streaks through her perfect blonde hair, rips in her tight, and black clothes. I had to admit, all that black was just my style, which pissed me off even more. Stealing Griffin from me wasn’t enough? She had to steal my style, too? Anything to get attention. It was so desperate. As if the world wasn’t already catering to her.
I plastered the biggest smile on my face, working probably too hard to appear friendly. My nose wanted to crinkle at the foul scent of the wolves, but I forced myself not to be affected. She shooed Griffin away, and he shot me a glance before he brought his attention back to Emily.
My insides coiled, writhing in anger, as my hands fought to close into a tight fist. It was enough to make me sick, but I had to focus. I couldn’t show my anger now when I was this close to the prize. If I wanted to be with Griffin, that meant putting up with the blonde bitch. For now.
“Morgan!” Emily chimed out. “I haven’t seen you in ages. How are things? How’s the bar?” She looked at me with her big, blue eyes, full of hope. I couldn’t wait to see the look in her eyes when I squashed that hope. Why was she asking so many questions? Was she really that desperate to play the nice girl role?
Beneath my smile, my teeth gritted, holding back the urge to tell her to piss off, but I had to play the nice girl role, too. So, I answered, “I’ve been well. The bar has kept me busy.”
I still hadn’t taken a seat, and I didn’t want them to think I was being anti-social, so I sat in the chair at the far end. As I sat, Emily introduced me to the other woman—Ember, who I’d already met, and two wolves whose names I couldn’t care less about. But I smiled and waved, pretending to be interested.
As expected, it didn’t take long for the topic to shift to men. The two wolves were complaining about their mates, one griping that her mate leaves his dirty socks directly next to the laundry bin.
“That’s nothing,” the other insisted. “I swear, if Liam leaves the lid to the toilet seat up one more time, I’m going to force him to pee outside.” The girls chuckled, and one remarked that Liam’s wolf would like that too much.
Emily stood and grabbed another beer, handing me one as well. I popped off the cap, taking a long swig. At least I’d have alcohol to get me through the party. Emily handed a beer to Ember, who hadn’t taken her eyes off me since I’d joined their group. She would glance at the other women, laughing and smiling as they told their stories, but her eyes always wandered back to me.
What the hell is her problem?
I’d been tempted to ask—and after several minutes of her strange expressions, I was about to—but the men returned with more piles of wood, stacking and arranging them for the fire. Cassian struck a match, ready to light it, when Emily’s hand shot out, a small splash of water dousing the flame.
“I want to try lighting it,” she insisted and held out her hand, straining to produce a flame. I rolled my eyes on instinct, watching as she held a pitiful flame to the wood for two minutes before it finally caught. Her arms flew in the air, cheering for her own victory. Show off.
The guys brought with them a few fold-up chairs and even a bench. There were only a few of them—Griffin, Cassian, that beta guy, Sam, and a few others I didn’t recognize or care to know either.
My breathing halted as I waited to see where Griffin would take his seat. His little princess was already surrounded by Ember and those wolf girls, so sitting beside her was out. A sly grin covered my face when he carried his chair over to me, placing it beside mine. We were at the end of the row. The outsiders. That’s why Griffin and I made sense. We understood each other. We weren’t like them.
