Page 53 of Stardust Lost Prince

Eyes on me.

I slide into the car and close the door.

I go to Velvet Blush next, hoping to find Max there. He is the only person that could help me forget about bloody Caruso right now. I need someone else’s hands on me. Part of me feels stupid being so needy after the way he vanished on me, but, apparently, I still have room for small, humiliating hopes. When we pull up, I notice more security outside than usual.

Weird. Megara is upping protection.

Inside, I ask about Max. The girl at the desk says he’s gone and refuses to meet my eyes. Without waiting, I head straight for Meg’s office. Her office is all ruby velvet, dim lights, gold-framed mirrors and smoke curling from a vape that smells like watermelon. Meg sits behind her desk in the sexiest red dress I’ve ever seen, her breasts barely contained, her brown curls falling perfectly over one shoulder. Demon of desire. Undisputed queen of making people ruin their lives willingly for her.

“Finally,” she says. “I thought you’d forgotten about me.”

“Crazy couple of days.”

“Don’t tell me. My girls are running double shifts.”

“Why?”

“Silver Witches.” She exhales a sweet cloud of vapor. “They’re throwing parties constantly and hiring more succubi to raise the vibe. They’re opening a new club. Mercury.”

“I haven’t seen them this active in a long time.”

“Neither have I.”

I place the product on her desk, and Meg gets cash from the wall safe.

“Have you seen Max?” I ask. “He’s been ghosting me.”

Meg stills. That tiny pause is enough to make me worried.

“You don’t know?”

I straighten. “What?”

“He got beaten up badly.”

“What?” My voice comes out sharper than intended. “Who did it?”

Meg looks at me like she wishes I were stupider. “I think you know.”