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“That,” he says, “I cannot promise.”

I kiss him on the cheek and disappear into the villa.

By the time I’ve pushed all the stardust, I don’t have the energy to find Ezra again. I text Sava and when I step outside the car is already there. On the ride home I count the money. Not bad. I charge more at events like this. Same product, but they’re far from the city, and I know they’ll pay. They always pay.

When I get home, only silence and darkness await me. I enter my top-floor apartment in an old, elegant building. The only things left in the fridge are electrolytes and yogurt. I sit at the marble kitchen island beneath a designer chandelier that stopped working years ago. Only one bulb still flickers weakly overhead.

I drink my electrolytes and sort through a stack of mail. Bills, utilities, overdue notices, more overdue notices. I barely look at them until I spot the envelope from Voss Institute. Five thousand dollars overdue on electricity.

Fuck.

I lean forward and press my forehead into my cold hands while my brain still vibrates with club music and stardust. Outside the massive windows, the sun slowly rises over Midnight City. I shove the papers aside and head toward the bedroom, passing closed doors I never open anymore. I reach my own room that used to be my childhood bedroom. I’ve stripped it bare, leaving only a bed so large I could hide myself in it. Nothing else.

Clothes hit the floor on my way to the bathroom. When I stand in front of the mirror, I see a ghost. But that’s just me. Pale skin, pale hair, white as a vampire. That’s what living during the night gets you.

After a shower, I sit on the edge of the bed. One last thing left to take, to help me fall asleep and stop me dreaming.

Stardust.

CHAPTER 3

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

Another night, another run.

I hit a few stops around the city before I head to the Moon. Werewolf club. Young wolves don’t usually come to me for stardust, they love being wild, aggressive and out of control. What I move here is nightrush, a cheap party drug. Human cocaine mixed with ecstasy until something worse came out. After that, you will fuck everyone and everything.

Wolves know how to run a club, I’ll give them that. The DJ is incredible, and the vibe hits you hard. Everyone here is unreasonably attractive. Girls in micro skirts working every angle, hunting for the guy with the Rolex watch. In every booth, men built like industrial equipment sit with murder in their eyes and tattoos from knuckle to jaw. They try to look civilized under their Prada shirts and Moncler jackets. But they’re not. They’re just animals with better tailoring. Wolves are new money in Midnight City, and not everyone is happy about it.

I’m standing at the bar when a heavy hand lands against my back. I turn and immediately see black fabric stretched across massive shoulders and tattooed arms. Buzzcut. A tattoo in the shape of a cross beneath one eye.

“Hi, Piro.” I kiss his cheek. He gives me the full werewolf grin.

“Hi, beautiful.” He pulls back slightly. “Haven’t seen you here in ages. How long are you gonna keep hanging around vampires?” “

“You know they’re my best customers.”

“You need a fucking man, Lara, not a job.”

“That sounds like significantly more problems.”

“Only because you have shitty taste.” I flip him off, but he’s not wrong. And that’s why my relationship phase is over. I’d rather die alone.

“I have your nightrush.” I lean in. “But please, take less than the last time. I don’t want you to fuck half the city.”

“Will you be in that half?”

“Fuck off, Piro.”

“See you later.” He disappears behind the VIP door, still smiling.

I work the floor for another hour, moving stardust to a few witches. They love wolves. They will probably end up in the VIP room later with Piro’s dick in their mouths. They usually do.

When I get back to the bar, the bartender catches my eye.

“Someone’s looking for you.”

One look. That’s all he gives me. It’s enough. I text Sava to pull around to the back exit, say goodbye to the door guys, and slip out. The alley is narrow and dark. I’m waiting on the BMW when a black Range Rover rolls in from the other end.