Page 36 of Vexatious Queen

“Okay, the delivery could’ve used some work. But I didn’t mean that I wouldn’t come at all. I just don’t want to move out there full time,” I said and ran my hands down his arms.

Tension rolled off his body.

“Theo—”

“Liam, it was always the plan for us to be together in Boston. You threw this at me without any warning and are acting like I’m supposed to be okay with it. I’ve never known you to be so…oblivious to my feelings.”

He had a point. I couldn’t argue with what he was saying, and I wasn’t even sure why I brought up the topic the way I did.

“You’re right, I’m sorry. Can I at least explain why?”

“No, I don’t want to talk about this right now. I’m not in the right headspace,” Theo said, eyes hard and angry.

He stomped inside, and I swore like a sailor before looking up to see if there was a full fucking moon tonight. Shit felt off the rails today, and that was never good. Was it an omen for everything going sideways before it got better?

I had no sooner had the thought when a car pulled into the space Sabastian had vacated. Lo and behold, Vicky—with three other girls from school and I guy I recognized from a podcast—climbed out.

Fucking great.

As if that wasn’t good enough, the roaring of motorcycles filled the air as a line of them rode down the street. A few of the bikers waved to Vicky and the other girls, making them squeal and giggle. Merlin led the pack, shooting me a smirk and a salute.

My jaw cracked as I watched them. Mercury was rising or something, because the universe was testing my calm and control.

I patted my jeans, but no cigarettes miraculously appeared.

Fuck.

JANUARY 16 – FRIDAY 9:15 PM

Ren

The bathroom hummed with the club’s music vibrating through the floor like a mini earthquake. Ivy hadn’t stopped crying since we came in here, and her mascara was now smudged in streaks down her face.

Strangely, the look felt symbolic for everything we’d all been through lately. I handed Ivy a damp paper towel and leaned against the counter.

“Here,” I said softly. “Before you look like a goth rocker unless that was your inspiration.”

She let out a wet snort. “More like crazy Halloween murder doll.”

“Ugh, why go there? Dolls are creepy,” I said with an exaggerated shudder.

She dabbed her eyes, slowing the tears, but her hands still shook.

“I didn’t mean for tonight to blow up like that. I’ve made such a mess of everything, and now I’ve lost both of them.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose as she tried to hold back the emotion.

“Hey, it’s going to be okay.”

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, giving her a one-armed hug and forcing her to turn toward me so I could hold her. Ivy clung to me as she sniffled.

“How can you be so sure?”

I shrugged. “I just am.”

The door opened, and Chantry walked inside.

“Can I come in?”