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Meg leans back, watching me carefully. “I’m not your mother, so I won’t tell you how to live your life. But please, Lara, be careful. This does not look like a problem you want to have.”
“I’m not asking for it!”
“Does it matter to men like him?”
I say nothing.
“I’ve heard stories from the South,” she continues. “Rumors. I wouldn’t be near him during a full moon.”
“I don’t plan to be near him during any moon.”
“You say that now.” Meg’s gaze softens in a way I hate. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
“Seriously, Meg?” I give her the look.
She shrugs. “You think your mother planned to end up with your father? Monsters love the hardest.”
“Been there, done that. No, thank you.”
“This one looks stubborn.”
He can be as stubborn as he wants. I’ve met worse than Antonero Caruso.
I look back at Meg. “You said the Silver Witches are opening a club. When?”
“Tonight. Some private pre-opening thing.”
“Can you get me in?”
“Lara.” Her eyes narrow. “Why?”
“I need to check something.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Don’t worry. I’m like a cat with nine lives.”
“So you have seven left.” I show her my middle finger.
“Be here at nine,” Meg says. “You’ll go with the girls.”
I stand to leave but pause at the door.
“Sorry about Max.”
CHAPTER 15
MERCURY
If Julian was at the Masquerade party, then he had to have been talking to the Silver Witches. He would have had to have gone there after our meeting. It had still been early enough.
The Silver Witches have been too active lately not to draw attention to themselves. Parties, openings, new clubs; it all has a purpose. I just don’t know what exactly.
It’s time to look around. In someone’s blood.
When I get to the Velvet Blush, it’s still early, and the girls are getting ready. Being around them brings a strange sense of calm. That’s how the succubi gift works.
In the mirror, my deadpan stare and sharp cheekbones blend right in with the other Eastern European girls. I fix my lip gloss and crush lilac stardust on to the makeup plate, only to realize it would make a perfect eye shade. Then I snort the whole line and wipe the surface clean. Now I’m ready.
