Page 115 of Echoes of the Banshee

“Oh and don’t forget to remind him everyone knows goblins have big dicks,” I say with a saccharine smile.

Benson’s hand flies to his mouth as Anita’s expression freezes between disbelief and horror.

A ripple of snickers spreads through nearby tables. Anita’s face goes scarlet.

“What?” I ask like I’d just mentioned the weather.

“You’re disgusting,” she spits.

“Disgusting? Oh no, sweetheart.” My voice drips with honeyed mockery. “I just have standards. And I’m thrilled to report that Benson here exceeds them. They don’t call him the human sandwich because he’s a pickle.” Benson chokes on a laugh as I give him a wink.

That’s the breaking point. The cafeteria erupts into laughter. I gesture toward Benson with exaggerated flair. “Why do you think he’s such a good goalie? Have you seen the size of those hands?”

Anita’s on the edge, her body trembling with anger.

“You do realize goblins are below beasts, right?” she sneers. “They’re so backwards, even their women chose extinction over breeding with them. What does that say?”

Gasps stop the laughter. Followed by low growls rising from some of the shifters. Benson stiffens beside me. The entire cafeteria holds its breath. The words hang there, filthy and sharp.

“If goblin women died out,” I say, slow and cold, letting the words travel around the dining hall. “It wasn’t for lack of love. It was the world that failed them, not their men. Goblins are everything you’re not: loyal, honest, kind. I have more faith in any goblin than I’ll ever have in you.”

“They’re disgusting, Thea!” she screams.

I have an idea. It’s reckless. Petty. Dangerous.

“No one could love them!”

Fuck it.

I’m doing it anyway.

I grab Anita’s wrist.

She flinches, caught off guard, eyes flicking down in shock.

“Enjoy,” I say, and let the curse wrap its way around her. The air thickens with the scent as a mark appears on her forearm; A heart with crossed hammers.

“Benson!” Anita calls, stumbling toward him. She tries to climb into his lap. He shoves her off and she lands on her ass with a yelp.

“Please let me love you,” she sobs. “You’re so handsome, and the best soccer goalie in the whole world! I love you, let me kiss your feet. I’d die happy just touching your shoes!”

The cafeteria erupts in laughter.

Benson looks her right in the eye, I see her looking at him with love and hope. “No, you’re disgusting.”

The moment he says it, she stiffens. The curse snaps and then resets.

“What’ve you done to me?” Anita yells, her eyes darting around the room.

Big mistake.

Her eyes land on a blue-haired goblin and it starts over again.

“Please,” she whimpers, crawling toward him, before clutching at his pant leg. “I’d do anything for you, I want to have blue-haired babies. Please let me love you.”

He steps away. “You’re disgusting.”

Again.